Image Credit: avfc.co.uk – www.avfc.co.uk
Villa Park came together to pay tribute to the late Benjamin Zephaniah on Friday evening, ahead of Aston Villa’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.
A legendary poet and huge Villa supporter, Zephaniah was named one of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers in 2008 and held close ties to the club, as an ambassador for the Aston Villa Foundation up to his passing in December 2023.
Ahead of kick-off on Friday, as Unai Emery’s men prepared for their final home outing of the season, Benjamin’s life was celebrated, with his widow watching on from pitchside.
A touching video was played on the big screen at Villa Park, featuring a famous quote synonymous with the club and its fans, from his poem ‘Ode to Aston Villa’.
“Form is temporary, boys and girls. But class… that is permanent. And, you know what, we have class.”
As those words from the poem uttered around Villa’s iconic home, a breathtaking tifo banner fell before The Holte End, featuring Benjamin Zephaniah complete with the club’s unmistakeable claret and blue colours, as we remembered one of our much-loved Holte Enders in the Sky.
