As a Villa supporter, I’ve got a confession to make: I’m not a big fan of Wembley Stadium. The national stadium, the so-called “home of football,” just doesn’t do it for me. And now that we’re heading there for the semi-final, I’m feeling even more put out. Don’t get me wrong—I’ll be cheering the lads on with every fibre of my being—but I can’t shake the feeling that Wembley is a prize we haven’t quite earned yet.
For me, Wembley should be the ultimate destination—a reward at the end of a hard-fought campaign. It’s where you go when you’ve actually achieved something, when you’ve got your hands on the trophy. Turning up there for a semi-final feels premature, like we’re gatecrashing someone else’s party. I’d much rather we slug it out at some other neutral ground, prove our mettle, and then march on to Wembley for the final. That’s how it should be.
It’s not just the timing, though. Wembley itself has never really clicked with me as a Villa fan. The place is massive, sure, and world-renowned—FA Cup finals, England matches, the lot. But it’s also a bit soulless. The steep ticket prices, the endless queues, and that sterile, corporate vibe—it’s a far cry from the raw energy of a traditional football ground like Villa Park. At home, you can feel the Holte End pulsating, the roar of the crowd shaking the stands. Wembley? It just doesn’t do it for me.
Back in the day, getting there was a proper occasion—you had to earn it. Now, with semi-finals and play-offs clogging up the calendar, it’s lost a bit of its magic. For us—Villa, a club with our proud history as European champions and the rest—Wembley should be the pinnacle. I’d rather we stayed away until we reached the final proper.
Remember the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay between Arsenal and Manchester United, played at our very own Villa Park? That match was an absolute belter—arguably one of the best semi-finals ever. The atmosphere was electric, the Holte End was rocking, and the tension was sky-high as two titans of English football went toe-to-toe. It ended with Ryan Giggs weaving through Arsenal’s defence to score that iconic extra-time winner, sealing a 2-1 victory for United. Villa Park’s raw energy and intimacy made it the perfect stage for such a classic. Wembley’s cavernous expanse could never match that night’s magic. Ever! UTV
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