Matty Cash: Prince William is a true Aston Villa fan — he even knows our nicknames

The Prince of Wales attends Aston Villa games Photo: Prince George and Prince William The Prince of Wales celebrates Villa's first goal at Aston Match Premier League Villa v Nottingham Forest

The Prince of Wales, Aston Villa's most famous fan, knows all the players' nicknames and regularly shouts at the TV while watching games at home.

Closeness Prince William runs deep with his beloved Villa and on Thursday night he attended the club's first European group game in almost 15 years.

The Villa players received a royal visit to the dressing room before and after the match, which they won 1-0 thanks to John McGinn's late goal four minutes into stoppage time.

The Prince watched the game as he watched. sitting nearby. to injured captain Tyrone Mings, while defender Matty Cash admitted there was no doubt he was a «big» fan.

The Prince of Wales watched Aston Villa win the Europa League on Thursday with Tyrone Mings. Photo: AMA/Matthew Ashton

“He knows all our names, our nicknames, everything. He's a real supporter. He loves coming here,” he said.

“He used to say that when he’s home, he screams and yells at the TV. He's a little calmer here. I'm sure he went crazy in the end.»

«He comes to practice. He's just a very nice guy. He talks to us like a normal guy. That's how we treat him when he comes.

“He just likes going out with the boys because he's a big Villa fan.”

Prince William has been a regular visitor to Villa Park in recent years and once admitted that he decided to support them because all his school friends were Manchester United and Chelsea fans.

The Prince of Wales is no stranger to Villa matches, celebrating here with John Carew in 2019. Photo: AFP/Adrian Dennis

Before Villa's FA Cup final against Arsenal in 2015, he told Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker: «I didn't really want to follow run-of-the-mill teams and I wanted to have a team , which would be closer to the middle of the table, which could give me more emotions.» rollercoaster moments.

“Honestly, looking back now, it was a bad idea! It could have been easier for me.»

Prince William has also made Villa a family affair in the past, taking his two eldest children, George and Charlotte, to home and away games.

< p>Villa returns to Premier League this Sunday with a trip to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.