In Memoriam
At Aston Villa, we recognise that many people spend a lifetime supporting the Club. In recognition of this support, the club offers a number of opportunities for families and friends to remember their loved ones at Villa Park. We also recognise the contributions made by those that have represented the club as players, managers or employees.
There are several ways however that the club and / or fans can honour those we lose ‘In Memorium’.
Each year, towards the end of each season, our Club Chaplain, Rev Jon Grant, will hold a Memorial Service in one of our suites. Family and friends of loved ones are welcome to attend a service that provides an opportunity for reflection at our Villa Park home. Please contact Memorial Service (contact details below) to let us know if you wish to attend this year's service which will be held during the close season.
Email: foundation@avfc.co.uk
Rev Jon Grant has been the club's local chaplain since early 2020. Jon is a lifelong Villa fan and season ticket holder. Jon is Associate Pastor at Bethel Church and CEO of Krunch – a charity that supports young people in Oldbury.
Jon is happy to be contacted by Villa fans regarding funerals, weddings, pastoral support or other matters. He can be reached on 07860 126599 or via email at villachaplain@sportschaplaincy.org.uk.
Our Memorial Book sits in a cabinet in our North Stand reception here at Villa Park. It gives supporters the opportunity to place a message of remembrance for those fans we have sadly lost. If you wish to make arrangements for a message to be printed in the book then please contact us. We will ensure that the Memorial Book is placed on display at Villa Park for years to come.
Please note that should demand be very high for this, we may need to apply exclusion to dates beyond a certain term. Email: foundation@avfc.co.uk
Should you wish for a funeral cortége to pass by Villa Park and / or our grounds then please get in contact in order for us to make the necessary arrangements.
Email: postmaster@avfc.co.uk
0121 326 1502
Regrettably, the club is unable to accept requests for the scattering of ashes. We no longer have areas of Villa Park that are suitable for ashes to remain, and we would not want to scatter ashes in locations that would not be fitting or appropriate
Fans can remember their loved ones who have passed away during the season as part of our ‘Holte Enders in the Sky’ tribute.
The tribute will take place at one of the last home matches towards the end of each season. Supporters at the match will be invited to join in with an emotional rendition of ‘Holte Enders in the Sky’ – a song for all generations - as the big screen flashes through a gallery of images of the claret and blue army members we have sadly lost in the last year.
We invite supporters to send in a photograph and the name of those close to them who have passed away. If possible, a photo of your loved one at a Villa match or wearing claret and blue. Please note, we will also need to know that the immediate family of anyone we have lost are aware their image will be used in the tribute.
To be included, please email postmaster@avfc.co.uk and we will acknowledge safe receipt of your email.
There are occasions when fans choose to celebrate a fan's life by holding a minute’s applause during a match. These applause are led and coordinated by fans via social media. The club is not in a position to offer use of our giant screens and / or promote such occasions as we sadly lose many fans each season, all of whom would be worthy of such an honour. This is why we created Holte Enders in the Sky to ensure we have time at Villa Park to reflect on the lifetime of support from all those we have lost.
At a selected home match towards the end of the season, we will hold a Period of Tribute.
In the event of our losing someone that has represented the club either as a player, manager or employee, we will give those attending the stadium on that day the opportunity to show their appreciation to the families of those that served the club.
We recognise that we are all part of the Aston Villa Family and that the legacy of your loved one continues In Memoriam. Therefore, we are honoured to offer our In Memory Service, whereby your loved one can be remembered through the work of Aston Villa Foundation.
The Foundation Team are happy to help you set up an In Memory page for your loved one. If you didn’t want to use an online donation page, there is an option to collect donations offline – please just let us know which you would prefer to do.
The donations we receive will be used to support a range of projects over our key themes – if you want to chat through a cause close to your loved one’s heart, we would be happy to do so. We will then keep you updated on the project your donations support.
The Aston Villa Foundation is the charitable arm of Aston Villa Football Club – the Foundation work to positively impact the lives of those in the local community through a range of different programmes.
More information about the Aston Villa Foundation can be found here.
For more information about an ‘In Memory’ page for your loved one, please email paisley.hipkiss@avfc.co.uk.