An Ode To Claret & Blue

I heard a rumour about a change of kit,
"No, they wouldn't dare..... they couldn't... not a bit?"
I would wake up and find it was only a bad dream,
That they changed again drastically the colours of my team.

But then my worst fears were very much confirmed.
A group of us were staggered, we squinted and we squirmed.
Whatever has happened to the claret and blue?
The claret's okay but the blue has a royal hue.

The blue sleeves are gone, it must surely be a mistake?
"Never again" they once said "For tradition's sake."
But no, "The manager likes it, the players do too"
But what about the supporters, they're forever claret and blue?

Surely the season ticket holders are deserving of a say,
How did we end up with a Crystal Palace throwaway?
Were profits so exhausted with last year's kit success,
for pockets to dig yet deeper for a shirt that's second best?

We'll still drive them on, we're still with Villa all the way.
But we very much look forward to the soon-as-possible day
When Villa Park is once again graced by a claret and blue,
That's instantly recognisable as Villa through and through.

Phillip Clover
Taken From issue 26