Yes, it's anniversary time. And like it or not, we're getting into the spirit of maudlin nostalgia.

IT'S OUR PARTY

IT'S OUR PARTY

It's self-indulgent in the extreme. But b*ll*cks, it's our fiftieth and if you don't want to read about it then turn over the pages.

Anyway, for those who keep asking about the history and set up of your favourite publication with the words Heroes, and, & Villains in the title, here goes.

August 1989 it first saw the light of day, the bastard offspring of an awareness of football politics meeting with a sudden increase in free time due to redundancy.

If you can cast your mind back that far you'll remember that this was a time when football supporters were active as never before - there was a Football Supporters Bill to fight against and Hillsborough was a few months previous, the legacy of decades of mistreating supporters and ignoring their demands. We were at long last uniting in a common aim and supporters were showing both their strength and their capabilities. In fact, 1989-90 was a bit of a golden era for supporters. We could still stand, police were treating us with respect rather than as animals to be caged (and before the growth of stewarding led to uniformed morons from private security forms who haven't got a clue). Violence had died off, football was starting to be fashionable again. But, we hadn't got to the family entertainment, celebrity supporters, street-cred awfulness we have to endure nowadays. There was none of this face painting malarky and marketing giveaways either. Oh, no. Manchester United were a national joke and share issues didn't concern us. Sky was something the sun shone in and football was usually a Saturday afternoon game.

And so issue one hit the streets. To be followed by issue two, and so on until now.

Boy, have things changed. In the first issue we asked for criticism not to become personal attacks on individual players. That was a policy which lasted all of about two issues, due to that witless winger Nigel Cahaghan. And so the scene was set for seven and a bit years, so far, of slander, spite, vitriol, innuendo, rumour and outright lie.

There have, of course, been times when things haven't run smoothly. Not many, but they've been a right bummer. The crap football dished up on more than one occasion. The four games postponed due to bad weather in even seasons, all of which came on days when new editions were due out. And the campaign to free the Liverpool One, when a seller got arrested at Anfield. We have, though, managed to keep put of the courts, both legal and bankruptcy, although it's been a close run thing at times.

And there have been plenty of good times. Like the Euro-trips. Starting off with the tie against Banik Ostrava, the game against their supporters and the welcome we got over there. And here's a never before revealed fact. When English teams were allowed back into Europe, it was on condition we weren't allowed to take supporters to Germany, Holland or Italy. Because the first round went so well, and in particular due to the welcome we received in Ostrava, that restriction was lifted for the second round. Because of this, over 1,500 travelled to see , Villa's defeat in Milan. Yes it was a disappointment, but nowhere near as bad as it was reported at the time. We were beaten by a better team, one of the best in the world and they went on to win the trophy. We gave them a fright, won the first leg thanks to the whole team playing out of its skin and in the return leg were privileged to see the best ground in Europe.

Back into Europe again and Bratislava, an expensive thirty hour trip that only served me and others to start travelling independently. Corruna, and a fourteen hour train journey from the airport. Inter again and the best trip ever careful planning meant a holiday rather than just going to a football match. Bloody Trabzonspor. Let's forget this one and go to the next round. Helsingborg, an awful performance memorable only for the unofficial European Football Supporters Convention that took place in Copenhagen. See, we're not hooligans, we can get along fine if only we're allowed to. More of the some would be welcome, please.

Speaking of international football, the summer of 1990 when Aston Villa were making headlines throughout the world. England discover a new star, and he's ours. Our manager leaves when he's on the point of making us great again. We create history in appointing his replacement. It doesn't work and we have the sight, once more, of a club disintegrating before our eyes. Guess who we blamed for that?

BFR coming in and steadying the slide. But he did it by selling our heritage, after saying he wouldn't. Getting to an FA Cup quarter final and failing when, once again, the trophy was there for the taking. The season after, the club sticking two fingers up to the supporters, disgraceful price rises and the subsequent slump in attendances. The Dean Saunders fiasco and five months of sublime football. The reliance on his favourites which cost us the title and another wasted opportunity. The season after when the warning signs were there but we chose not to take any notice. Tranmere, we should have beat them no problem, but it's the Villa and nothing goes to plan. Wembley. We went praying we wouldn't get humiliated. But for once all the plans went right.

The Summer of '94. Excuse me Ron, do you actually want to manage this club, or what? The price for ignoring your day job. How could anybody seriously say he'd have got it right if he'd had more time when we'd been falling apart for twelve months? The Messiah returns. 7-1 then another falling apart, but it all came right in the end.

Last season, and 1989 all over again. You expect the worst, look what you get. The Greatest Fans in the World leaving in droves at half time. What a team. Every game and you were so proud of them. Arsenal in the semi. We're not going to lose this one. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE. Back to Wembley, but this time as regulars rather than day tripperers. The most one-sided final ever, "He'll score the, most important goal of the season". From the Holte to scoring in a cup final. And he had to get the last one. Then Old Trafford the week after. A game too far.

This season. A bit disappointing, but that's the Villa for you. It'll come good in the end it always has so far.