Aston Villa have announced their kit is set to undergo a massive change ahead of their round of 16 clash against Ajax in the Europa Conference League.
Villa return to their European campaign once again on Thursday night. The club haven’t played in the Conference League since mid-December after they topped their group.
However, Unai Emery’s side faces a real test in the round of 16 as they must knock out European giants Ajax if they want to progress.
It is the first time since the 2008/09 season that Villa have made it to the knockout stages of a European competition.
Now, it has been revealed that the club will be making a major change to their kit which will bring back memories of their previous European campaigns.
Aston Villa bring back Acorns sponsorship
It was revealed on Wednesday that the club will once again don ‘Acorns’ on the front of their shirt when they play Ajax on Thursday.
Dutch laws prevent Villa’s usual kit sponsor, BK8, from being used on the kit. As a result, the club have taken the decision to once again increase awareness of the charity.
Acorns Children’s Hospice is a charity in the West Midlands aimed at caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Villa famously had the organisation as its main kit sponsor between 2008 and 2010 under the ownership of Randy Lerner.
Since then, the club and the charity have kept a good partnership. Many of the players and management team have made regular visits to Acorns around Christmas and Easter to hand presents to the children.
Chris Heck, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, said: “Aston Villa and Acorns have a relationship that is world-renowned, which was brought to global attention some 16 years ago when the hospice’s name appeared on the front of those famous claret and blue shirts for the first time.
“We are delighted to be able to continue to work together for such a noble and important cause and we hope this exposure to such a large audience will be hugely beneficial to Acorns.
“On our previous visit to the Netherlands earlier in this competition, we were proud to wear the Aston Villa’s Foundation’s branding on the front of our shirts and we are extremely pleased that we’ll be able to carry Acorns’ message in a similar way.”
Another classy touch by Aston Villa
This is not the first time this season Villa have made a classy decision. In their previous away game in the Netherlands in the Conference League, the club donned the Villa Foundation on their kit in a 4-1 victory against AZ.
By bringing back Acorns against Ajax, it will once again help raise awareness of the organisation and its work on the biggest stage.
Acorns will also bring back good memories for Villa fans as they reminisce the seasons between 2008-10 when they were consistently battling in Europe.
Now, the club will be hoping that the charity gives them some luck on Thursday night as they aim to take a lead to Villa Park in their second leg next week.
