{"id":349176,"date":"2025-08-16T12:55:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T12:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/349176\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T12:55:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T12:55:10","slug":"aston-villa-fc-pay-tribute-to-ozzy-osbourne-before-their-first-game-of-the-new-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/349176\/","title":{"rendered":"Aston Villa FC pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne before their first game of the new season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aston Villa FC have paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> at their first game of the new football season.<\/p>\n

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The Black Sabbath<\/a> singer played his very last show<\/a> at the club\u2019s home ground, Villa Park, on July 5, just 17 days before his death at the age of 76.<\/p>\n

Villa honoured Ozzy at their home game against Newcastle at the ground on Saturday August 16 with a video tribute following the players\u2019 warm-up ahead of the 12.30 kick off. The teams walked out to footage of Ozzy performing Crazy Train<\/a> at the Back To The Beginning show<\/p>\n

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Bostin\u2019 Brass, the band who performed at Ozzy\u2019s funeral procession<\/a> in Birmingham, also played brass-style versions of the singer\u2019s solo hits and Black Sabbath classics in the stadium\u2019s \u2018fan zone\u2019, while the club opened a book of condolences. in the club store,<\/p>\n

The club have commissioned a mural on the outside wall of the nearby Holte Pub, featuring an image of the singer and the words \u2018Ozzy Forever\u2019.<\/p>\n

The cover of the official matchday programme also features a tribute, with an illustration of a figure resembling the Prince Of Darkness walking up the steps to the ground wearing a No.9 shirt with the word \u2018Ozzy\u2019 above it.<\/p>\n

Ozzy grew up on Lodge Road in the Birmingham suburb of Aston, less than a mile away from Villa Park. \u201cI was born in Aston and spent my childhood watching carloads of people going to the Villa football matches,\u201d he told The Athletic in 2024.<\/p>\n

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Villa teams have previously walked out to both Paranoid and the original version of Crazy Train. In 2024, Adidas launched a limited edition Aston Villa shirt featuring the names of Ozzy and Sabbath bassist\/diehard Villa fan Geezer Butler on the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy absolute favourite colours in the world have always been purple and black,\u2019\u201d Ozzy said in a statement at the time. \u201cIt\u2019s been Black Sabbath colours for over 50 years. Tony, Geezer, Bill and I look at this as a huge honour. UP THE VILLA!!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Back To The Beginning show took place at Villa Park on Saturday, July 5 and featured a line-up that included Metallica, Guns N\u2019 Roses, Slayer, Tool and more, as well as a finale featuring sets from both Ozzy and Black Sabbath.<\/p>\n

Ozzy died at his home in Buckinghamshire on July 22. The cause of death was given as a heart attack, though he had suffered from health issues for several years.<\/p>\n

His bandmates and fellow musicians paid tribute to the singer in the wake of his death. \u201cGeezer, Bill [Ward] and me have lost our best friend,\u201d said Tony Iommi, while Butler wrote on Instagram: \u201cGoodbye dear friend \u2013 thanks for all those years- we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston \u2013 who\u2019d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement before Saturday\u2018s tribute, the club said: \u201cAston Villa is proud to remember Ozzy Osbourne, a music legend, and his connection to our club.\u201d<\/p>\n

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IN MEMORY OF OZZY \u2764\ufe0fAston Villa and Newcastle players walked out to his live \u2018Crazy Train\u2019 performance.#AVFC #NUFC #OzzyOsbourne #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com\/LqxC1DThsSAugust 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Aston Villa paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne ahead of their first match of the Premier League season \ud83d\udc9c pic.twitter.com\/hCOwiWogDgAugust 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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All aboard Beaut front cover for Aston Villa’s first matchday programme of the season – with a nod to Ozzy \ud83e\udee1#AVFC #AVLNEW pic.twitter.com\/u07UeLjlK1August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n