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Aston Villa welcomed over 700 guests to Villa Park last week for a festive evening of carols, reflection, and community spirit at the annual Villa Carol Service. The event, facilitated by Club Chaplain Reverend Jon Grant in partnership with Aston Churches Together and Birmingham Churches Together, brought together supporters, local residents, and faith leaders for a celebration of Christmas at the heart of the club on Tuesday, December 9. Guests were greeted from 6:30pm, with stands supporting Toys for Birmingham, the local Foodbank, and the AVFC Foundation, highlighting the club’s commitment to giving back during the festive season. Videos showcasing the Foundation’s work and the fan-favourite All is Claret, All is Blue set the tone for an evening of unity and joy. The service featured uplifting performances from the choir, including renditions of Saviour’s Day, Joy to the World, and Once in Royal David’s City, alongside congregational carols led by Jeff and the choir. Special readings from the Christmas story were delivered by community members and Villa legends, including European Cup winner Kenny Swain, who also shared heartfelt reflections alongside homegrown hero Tony Daley on what Aston Villa and Christmas mean to them. Inspirational contributions came from Bishop Esther, Pastor Calvin Young, and Bishop Mike Royal, who led prayers and interviews, while Villa representatives Sam Ghataora, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead, and Maggie Murphy, Managing Director of the Women’s Team, spoke about the club’s values and vision. The evening concluded in traditional style as the crowd moved onto the iconic Holte End to sing Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing a cappella under the winter sky. As guests departed, the Aston Parish Bells rang out – a nostalgic echo of matchday victories from decades past. The Villa Carol Service once again proved to be a memorable occasion, blending music, faith, and community in a way that reflects the true spirit of Christmas. View a gallery from the evening below...

The festive season is well and truly underway at Aston Villa and, to celebrate, we’re recounting some of the most famous and impressive goals scored in claret and blue. Throughout the month of December, Aston Villa's Advent Calendar will reveal a goal which has been notched in Villa history by a player wearing the shirt number corresponding to the day of the month – every day up to Christmas Eve. We'll be counting down to Christmas in style, championing some of the best-ever players to pull on our famous colours, and indeed some of the most iconic goals to have ever been scored for our famous club. Opening the 16th window of the Aston Villa Advent Calendar on December 16, is Calum Chambers... Having arrived in B6 in January 2022, Chambers was making only his fifth appearance in claret and blue when the Villans travelled to Elland Road to take on Leeds United. After securing consecutive wins to end February and start March, beating Brighton 2-0 and Southampton 4-0, Villa were looking for a third successive victory and clean sheet. And, upon visiting Yorkshire, that’s exactly what they did. Philippe Coutinho had put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, before Matty Cash made it 2-0 shortly after the hour mark. And, 17 minutes from time, the points were secured when Chambers popped up to notch a memorable first – and only – goal in claret and blue. After a free-kick into the box was partially cleared only as far as Tyrone Mings, the towering defender took and touch and laid the ball off for Chambers who was lurking on the edge of the area. His fellow defender hit a sublime, swerving first-time effort into the far corner, leaving Illan Meslier rooted to the spot and sending the travelling Villans into dreamland. Chambers peeled off to celebrate opening his account for the club in front of the raucous away end, having sealed a win which saw Villa climb back up to ninth in the table. The Villans would go on to finish 14th in the Premier League that season, with Chambers making a total of 36 appearances in claret and blue before departing in the summer of 2024. Enjoy the goal in all its glory below, and keep your eyes peeled throughout the month for the remainder of the Aston Villa Advent Calendar.

Match report from third round clash in Yorkshire

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