AVFC
CALIFORNIA
Official Supporters Club
Aston Villa F.C.
San Francisco Bay Area
AVFC California
Official Lions Club
Aston Villa Football Club
AVFC California is a family of Aston Villa Football Club supporters based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some are expats from Birmingham now living in the Bay Area. Others are American supporters who have adopted this historic and decorated club.
We come together as "Part of the Pride". We live out our love for Aston Villa enjoying time together on match days as part of the worldwide Aston Villa family, supporting charities, and welcoming those Villa supporters visiting the San Francisco Bay Area with "Villans By The Bay" hospitality. UTV!
We did not choose. We were chosen!
Who We Are
Our mission at AVFC California is to unite supporters of Aston Villa Football Club from around the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California and growing the "Claret & Blue Army" in this region of the world.
History:
Before 2009, an official Lions Club did not exist in the Western U.S. "AVFC California" was founded in 2009 and members came from all areas of California. As the California Lions grew in numbers, new Lions Clubs were established in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Today, the California Lions Club continues to cover the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California and is the resource to all #VillansByTheBay and Villa supporters visiting the area. Our home base is The Kezar Pub (770 Staynan St, San Francisco) where we gather for all televised matches.
If you are in Southern California, check out either the
Los Angeles Lions Club
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/762094653850339)
or
San Diego Lions Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1517656658458863)
We are also proud to be a member of the Lions Club network across North America and around the world.
2024/2025 Membership Registration
If you are an Aston Villa supporter in the San Francisco Bay Area or Northern California - join us! Unfortunately, the official Lions Club online registration is currently being re-designed. Until this is completed - indicate your interest in becoming a member of the California Lions by using the California Lions Club 2024/2025 Membership Registration Form. UTV!
Fan ID
The AVFC Fan ID system helps Aston Villa to track your ticketing history (which influences your priority for special ticketing opportunities such as FA Cup, League Cup, away fixtures, etc.). Also - YOU MUST have a Fan ID to be eligible to access match tickets through the Lions Club.
To register and be issued a Fan ID, go the the Aston Villa website and
create a digital account.
Upcoming Matchdays & Events
Bournemouth vs. Aston VillaSat, May 10The Kezar Pub
Aston Villa vs. FulhamSat, May 03Stream live on NBC Sports/USA Network
North American Lions Clubs
The California Lions Club is part of the worldwide network of official supporters clubs of Aston Villa Football Club.
Lions Clubs exist across North America and we come together annually for our marquee event - the North America Lions Club Meet-Up. The meet-up is hosted in a different North America city each year. We had the honor of hosting this Claret & Blue weekend in San Francisco in 2019.
Learn more about the Lions Club branches in North America by visiting the North American Lions website!
A Google Map is accessible online to locate an official Lions Club branch nearest you or when you are traveling in North America!
Acorns & N. America Lions Clubs
A Real Success Story
The North American Lions Clubs have developed a partnership with Acorns Children's Hospice in the UK to support their critical work of caring for children with life-limiting medical conditions, along with their families.
Annually we hold fundraisers, including our marque raffle and live auction at the NA meet-up. North American Lions Clubs have raised close to $40K USD for Acorns. Learn more about Acorns by visiting https://www.acorns.org.uk/
Acorns and Aston Villa
Historic Partnership
Aston Villa Football Club has supported Acorns since 2006 and has a long-standing relationship with the charity. Most memorable for all was when Villa became the first Premier League club to forego a main shirt sponsor fee and place our charity name on their shirts for free from 2008 thru 2010.
Annual Raffle/Auction
"Going Once, Going Twice..."
Each year at the North America Meet-Up, the North American Lions conduct a memorabilia raffle and auction as well as the sales of event t-shirts, badges, scarves, etc. to raise financial support for Acorns! Examples of prized items from previous auctions include: Jack Grealish signed boot, John McGinn signed boot, Paul McGrath signed shirt, team signed shirts, Jack Grealish art print, Villa flags from 2019 U.S. pre-season tour, Juan Pablo Angel signed shirt, Tom Hanks signed shirt and memorabilia.
Oak Tree Award
&
Lavish Lion Award
N. American Lions Clubs
Annual awards presented to the Lions Club member that donates the single auction item that earns the highest winning bid at the annual N.A. Meet-Up (Oak Tree Award) and the Lions Club member that wins the single auction item with the highest winning bid (Lavish Lion Award).
Oak Tree Award:
2019 Simon Tissington
2022 Steve Whale
2023 Rick Leong
2024 Mark "Yam Yam" Hewson
2025 Aston Villa F.C.
Lavish Lion Award:
2022 Paul Whitecross
2023 Brian Asquith
2024 Paul Limpitlaw
2025 Charlie Littejohns
2025 North America Meet-Up
North Carolina!
Annual Marquee Event!
4-6 April 2502
Middle James Brewery
400 N. Polk St. B.
Pineville, NC 28134
Check out exclusive California Lions Club apparel designs at our TeeSpring Store
(Net proceeds support Acorns Children's Hospice!)
2019 Wembley playoff final 01
2019 NA Meet-Up Karaoke
2019 Wembley playoff final 02
California Villans in the Public Eye
Tom Hanks
Actor
American actor, filmmaker, and producer who has had an extensive career in films, television and on the stage. 5-time nominee/2-time winner* Best Actor Academy Awards (1989 - Big; *1994 - Philadelphia; *1995 - Forrest Gump; 1999 - Saving Private Ryan; 2001 - Castaway
Bob Stephenson
Actor
American film and television actor, film producer and screenwriter who is probably best known as Sheriff Jimmy Taylor on the CBS TV series Jericho and recently was in the blockbuster "Top Gun: Maverick".
Chris Dangerfield
Football Presenter
Former English footballer who spent most of his career in the United States. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) Hall of Fame and current television broadcaster for San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) Clubs: Wolverhampton (youth), Portland Timbers (NASL), Port Vale (EFL), Las Vegas Quicksilvers (NASL), California Surf (NASL), Los Angeles Aztecs (MISL), San Jose Earthquakes (NASL), Minnesota Strikers (MISL)
Kate Scott
Sports Presenter
The first woman to call a National Football League (NFL) game on the radio, the first to call American college football for the Pac-12 Networks, and the play-by-play announcer for the first all-female National Hockey League (NHL) broadcast in the United States, Kate Scott continues to break barriers as a leader in sports broadcasting. In 2021 - Kate was introduced as the new play-by-play announcer of the Philadelphia 76ers (National Basketball Association) on NBC Sports Philadelphia television. Kate also was the pre-season voice for the Seattle Seahawks (National Football League) for the 23/24 season. Congrats Kate!
The Kezar Pub
770 Stanyan St.
San Francisco, CA
The Kezar Pub is the "home" of the California Lions Club on matchday. Whether you are one of our "regulars", a new member, or a Villa supporter on holiday or business in San Francisco - you'll be treated with "Villans By The Bay" hospitality!
"For a boisterous good time, San Francisco locals gather at the Kezar Pub – a pub-style establishment offering traditional American eats in the Haight-Ashbury District. Situated within walking distance to Golden Gate Park, many come to the pub to enjoy a good meal, as it is noted as one of the best places in town to watch soccer and other sports. With a variety of beers and multiple televisions for sports enthusiasts" (GoldenGatePark.com)
Affiliate Pubs - California Lions
Because the California Lions Club covers a very large geographic area (the San Francisco Bay Area and ALL of Northern California), affiliate pub locations are beginning to be identified that some of our members have found closer to where they reside. This makes it more convenient for them to meet-up rather than facing significant travel time to San Francisco/The Kezar Pub.
Pacific Grove, CA
The Monarch Pub & Restaurant
617 Lighthouse Ave. Pacific Grove, CA
http://www.facebook.com/TheMonarchPubPacificGrove
Get in Touch
We’d love to hear from you! Contact us if with your questions, comments and suggestions. Also, let us know if you are a Villan visiting from from out-of-town and looking to join some fellow Villans to watch a match at The Kezar Pub and for a pint or two!
