Graham Potter has revealed his family’s brush with Aston Villa’s greatest triumph.
But that does not make him a fan of tomorrow’s opponents at the Amex.
Potter comes from Solihull and knew plenty of Villa supporters growing up.
He started his own career as a youngster at Birmingham City.
But his first footballing memories centre on the Villa side who won the European Cup in 1982.
Peter Withe forced home the only goal in Rotterdam to clinch a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich.
It was a brilliant result secured despite the early loss of first-choice goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer.
They were living the dream – and that dream took in the Potter family’s local British Legion in the Shirley area of Solihull as they showed off the prize.
Put on the spot as to whether he was a Bluenose or a Villain, Potter offered a novel angle on football culture in the second city.
He said: “I was one of the strange ones in that I wasn’t so passionate about supporting a team.
“The first team I started to get interested in was the Aston Villa team that won the European Cup.
“This is how times have changed.
“The European Cup winners brought the cup to my dad’s working men’s club.
“There’s a photo at home of my brother in the European Cup.
“I think it was Ken McNaught and Peter Withe who came to the Shirley British Legion.
“I don’t think you’d get that today, would you?
“So I was interested in Aston Villa then – Gary Shaw, Tony Morley.
“Then, as I got older, I started to play for Birmingham City.
“I started to play for their centre of excellence and I ended up having an affinity for them.
Graham Potter at Villa Park this season
“Most supporters will tell you, ‘Hold on, you can’t be Aston Villa AND Birmingham! You have got to be one or the other!’. But I think I pretty much was.
“Most of my friends are Villa fans so they aren’t my friends this weekend. They are begging me for tickets.”
Potter did not get to know Villa fan turned manager Dean Smith until recent years.
But he has experienced the highs and lows at Villa Park in the last year or so.
His Swansea side kick-started an FA Cup run by winning 3-0 at Villa last season.
But the final moments back there this term, when Albion lost 2-1, were a massive low.
That one came up in conversation, as did the part played that day by the latter-day Villa hero, Jack Grealish.
Potter said: “It was an eventful game. We started really well and got the lead and probably at that point looked as if we were going to have a good afternoon.
“But things change quickly. We had a man sent off which affected it, Villa Park got really involved in the game.
“Even though we did quite well, we weren’t able to hold on.
“It was a painful, painful experience if I am being honest, conceding in that stage of the game.
“Having 40-odd thousand people celebrate is not a pleasant experience when you are on the receiving end.
“Jack Grealish, certainly against ten men, was very good on the day.
“He is a very talented player and you can see why he is linked with the national team.
“But, at the same time, Aston Villa are still a Premier League team with other players.”
Potter plays down suggestions tomorrow’s game is a six-pointer.
He said: “I think it is a dangerous way of looking at it.
“If we win, or Villa win, and it is the only win we get, then we are in trouble, that’s the reality.
“It is about getting the points over the season, the situation for us doesn’t change.
“We know where we are at and we fight for every point.”
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