Plan ahead, and you could catch a big name Premiership tie at Villa Park, where tickets are more easily secured than at most top-tier grounds.
If you have something slightly less high octane in mind, or if it’s out of season, booking a stadium tour is a good option. Take the long walk through the tunnel and muddy your footwear on Aston Villa's hallowed turf, before trying out the manager’s pitch-side seat. As part of the backstage portion of your experience, you’ll get a whiff of the first team's dressing room and a look at your favourite player’s shirt. Tours take place on selected Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays throughout the month and cost from £8.95 for under-16s.
Want to dine like an exec but mislaid that massive wad of cash again? Another reason to venture north of the city is Villa's highly acclaimed but surprisingly affordable restaurant, VMF (that's Villa Midlands Food to you and me). It’s situated in the salubrious surrounds of the Directors Suite, and offers dinner on Fridays and Saturdays together with sell-out roasts on Sundays. Though not on match days, of course – you’ll need to make finding that stack of cash a priority if you want the kind of views the VMF offers come a Premiership tie.