‘He comes to training. He speaks to us like a normal guy – we treat him that way when he comes,’ Matty Cash said
The Prince of Wales attends Aston Villa games
The Prince of Wales, Aston Villa’s most famous supporter, knows all the players’ nicknames and regularly “screams” at the television while watching games at home.
Prince William’s affinity with his beloved Villa runs deep and on Thursday night he was in attendance for the club’s first European group game in nearly 15 years.
Villa’s players received a royal visit in the dressing room before and after the match, which they won 1-0 thanks to a late goal from John McGinn four minutes into added time.
The Prince watched the game sitting next to injured captain Tyrone Mings, and defender Matty Cash has admitted there is little doubt that he is a “massive” fan.
The Prince of Wales watched Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League win on Thursday along with Tyrone Mings Credit: AMA/Matthew Ashton
“He knows all our names, our nicknames, everything. He is a proper supporter. He loves coming here,” he said.
“He was saying normally when he is at home he is shouting and screaming at the TV. Here he is a bit more calm. I’m sure at the end he was going crazy.”
“He comes to training. He is just a really good guy. He speaks to us like a normal guy. We treat him that way when he comes.
“He just likes to be out and around the lads because he is a massive Villa fan.”
Prince William has been a regular guest at Villa Park in recent years and once admitted that he opted to support them as all his friends at school were fans of Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Prince of Wales is no stranger to Villa matches, celebrating here with John Carew in 2019 Credit: AFP/Adrian Dennis
Before Villa’s FA Cup final against Arsenal in 2015, he told Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker: “I didn’t really want to follow the run-of-the-mill teams, and I wanted to have a team that was more middle of the table, that could give me the more emotional rollercoaster moments.
“To be honest, now looking back, that was a bad idea! I could have had an easier time.”
Prince William has also made Villa a family affair in the past by taking his two older children, George and Charlotte, to games home and away.
Villa return to Premier League action this Sunday with a trip to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.
