This was written on the Mailing list regarding a relative of John Lerwill, think it is well worth reproducing here

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In April, 2009, I took down to Villa Park an elderly distant cousin of mine to see his first match at Villa Park in a few years.

Born within the roars of Villa Park, Ken Lerwill enjoyed his visit, and I wrote this article for the Vital Villa in commemoration of Ken’s visit.

Sadly, Ken lost his fight for life this week and will be missed. He wasa great character and a great fighter for just causes … just like many that were brought up in old Aston.

Here’s the main part of the article about his visit and the Villa vs Everton match that finished 3-3.

I only met Ken as a result of investigating the Lerwill family history some 20 years ago. We’d been friends ever since. God bless you Ken.

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I went to the match with an elderly distant cousin who had a severe heart attack a year ago. ‘Cor!’, he said, ‘if you want another heart attack, this is the place to come to!’, he said after 60 minutes’ play!
This 85-year-old had been away from Aston for near 60 years, and as he took his seat with nearly an hour to go before the kick off, he gazed at the new monolith that had grown since he’d last viewed it all those
years ago. ‘Look at that roof!’, he exclaimed, talking of the huge Trinity overhang, ‘… and what a pitch – it’s so green!’ But we both agreed that the quality of the tannoy had not improved much!

Filling in time we talked of the great names of his era that he could remember clearly … like the very late Harry Parkes, ‘… a clever player’, said Ken, and George Cummings … ‘a tough bugger!’ Ken was
brought up within the sound of Villa Park, and went to his first match during 1930-31, that great season when 128 Villa goals were scored, yet we only finished second.

He’d seen some great names and great games, and early in the match he was of the opinion that football was not as good as it once was. ‘Why don’t the players follow up?’, he asked, noting also that there was far
more emphasis in teamwork rather than individual inspiration. But by the 60th minute, he’d warmed up to the match and was in danger of another heart attack.

Coming out after the match, he was so enthused he tried to break into a trot to catch the minibus to take us back to the car park, and that nearly – and seriously – did ‘im. Out came the magic spray, and Ken was revived to re-live the memories of what he’d just seen.

Yes, he’d enjoyed his visit. And so did I. And I felt just a little pride that these two grand old teams could entertain the way they did, and also be close to challenging the very best in the country. They won’t finish in the top-4 this time around, but I reckon that if the domestic quota rules come into effect, and the credit crunch continues yet a few months, then there may well be a more level playing field for these two teams to really show their mettle.

I hope Ken – ex-toolmaker, soldier, greengrocer and dairy farm owner – stays around to see Villa back at the very top.