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The absolutely, unquestionably best part of being the manager of 7500 to Holte is the staff that I have the pleasure to work with. This combination of individuals are here because they are both passionate fans and excellent writers. It's a huge comfort to me to know that if I've got a busy day in which I won't have a chance to check the site, then everyone below is totally capable of stepping up and providing anything from breaking news coverage to emotional reactions to analysis.
In the past year, these people have allowed the site to grow to become bigger than it has ever been. And in light of our nomination for the Football Blogging Awards Best Football Club Blog category, I thought it was time to formally introduce you to the staff that you're reading every day.
Adam Clark
How long have you been a Villa fan?
About 13 years, since I was a 9 or 10 year-old. After early glory-seeking flirtation with Manchester United, my Birmingham-born Grandad and Mum brought me round to the Claret and Blue.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
New Year's 2008, watching at Villa Park with my family, when Zat Knight lashed home an injury-time equaliser against Arsenal for a 2-2 draw.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
How Villa won the 1957 FA Cup: Aston Villa 2 - Manchester United 1 Tactics
Alex Carson
How long have you been a Villa fan?
I started following the sport, and Villa, off the heels of the 2010 World Cup, so it's been five years already. Damn.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Probably the aftermath of the FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool, when telling someone you supported Villa didn't result in pity. That was fun. Either that or actually going to a match at Villa Park in 2013.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Anticipation, nerves and heartbreak: The life of an underdog
Bennett Berry
How long have you been a Villa fan?
It's hard to pin down. For the past five or so years I've been a dual Villa and Everton fan. When trying to pick a team to follow and not knowing a great deal about the Premier League, I went with ties to the United States, team history, team colors and kit, and the "are they a bandwagon team?" factor. Sometime around December of last year I decided it was time to stick with one team and while I don't have any animosity towards Everton, I think I made the right call.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Having only been a fan for a few years, there aren't that many but there are a few. I'd have to go with the win over Liverpool in the FA Cup.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
FA Cup final infographic: Everything you need to know for Villa-Arsenal
Brian Lavelle
How long have you been a Villa fan?
I started following Villa during the summer of 2010, right before O'Neill left. I remember walking with Robert as we were picking our EPL team to follow, joking about how anticlimactic the push for 4th sounded. Now, eeeesh. So... sorry about that.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Traveling to Houston to watch Villa play the Dynamo in the preseason last year. Joe Bennett scored about 20 feet from where I was sitting, and I was there to witness them lifting the silverware. Yeah, yeah, I know it was just the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Villa get unexpected positive injury news ahead of Manchester City clash. It was the first article I wrote, and it was such a rush seeing how many people were reading it.
Elis Sandford
How long have you been a Villa fan?
I started supporting Villa during the 03/04 season when I was 7 years old, after seeing them beat Chelsea 3-2 at Villa Park- I had just started watching football at this time and I was a bit of a Chelsea fan, so I guess I'm the dumbest glory supporter ever!
What's your favorite Villa memory?
I currently live in Birmingham, so I'm lucky enough to have a number of memories of going to see Villa play.
The one that sticks out the most is seeing Villa beat Swansea 2-0 during the 12-13 season. Not only did we see Christian Benteke scoring on his debut, but as I grew up near Swansea, it was satisfying to get one over on my friends from home! The 3-2 win over Man City the year later is a definite close second.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Season review: The loan report
Herbert Crowther
How long have you been a Villa fan?
Ever since I became exposed to and fell in love with soccer (which here in the U.S isn't immediate) so only a couple of years.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
This year's Wembely triumph over Liverpool was really something else. Playing a top side in front of the entire nation with so much on the line is exciting enough, but to perform the way we did, outclassing and outmanaging a team supposed to compete for Europe was a great feeling.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
On Tim Sherwood's opening day dilemmas
Jack Grimse
How long have you been a Villa fan?
Let's call it 2009. Didn't start paying closer attention until the following year, which is when I got addicted.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
For my 21st birthday, I went to Villa Park for the match against West Ham (Feb. 2012). Benteke scored a penalty, and N'Zogbia (!) netted a fantastic free kick.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Aston Villa 2-1 Bournemouth. It's less about the article and more about the feeling after the match. Gil scored a stunning goal, and it was the start of a great cup run.
James Rushton
How long have you been a Villa fan?
All my life, pretty much. My Dad's family were from Smethwick, so a few of them are West Bromwich Albion fans. Early in my life, I supported Chelsea, but this was before I had developed the capacity for critical thinking (like many Chelsea fans). I started following Football properly when I was 9 for the 2002 World Cup and I got my first season ticket not 5 years later.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Olof Mellberg holding his fist to the air after beating the Blues 5-1. It's an iconic photo and seeing it happen in person was absolutely incredible. A truly religious experience.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Arthur of the Albion: Why I don't hate West Bromwich Albion
Matt Ferenchick
How long have you been a Villa fan?
I really started to follow and support Villa at the start of the 2008-09 season.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
The 6-4 win over Blackburn in the 2010 League Cup semifinal second leg.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Emile Heskey released by Australian club; should Villa bring him back?
RJ Sepich
How long have you been a Villa fan?
Going on a decade now. I remember watching Arsenal v Aston Villa in the first game at the new Emirates Stadium in 2006 right after the World Cup. I was a growing fan of soccer, and something clicked with me after hearing the Villa fans make more noise than the Arsenal fans that day. I did some research on the club, it was a fit, and I've been along for the ride every since.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Ashley Young winner at Everton in December 2008. That match was just incredible and it felt like the type of win that could propel Villa to a Champions League push. Ashley Young was the first Villa player to grab my heart, and that goal, along with Matt Lowton's wonder volley at Stoke, resulted in one of those rare amazing moments where Villa make me jump up and let out a primal roar.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Player Ratings: Aston Villa stun Liverpool at Wembley to reach FA Cup Final
Rory Skehan
How long have you been a Villa fan?
I'd say the 2006-2007 season was when I really started to gravitate towards Villa, so it's been almost a decade.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Obviously the upsets over City and Chelsea are fantastic memories, but I'll always remember Villa's 3-2 victory over Everton in 2008. Ashely Young scored in the last second, immediately after Lescott scored an injury-time equalizer for Everton. It encapsulated the emotional roller-coaster that is Aston Villa. I went from content to exasperation to despair to pure joy in the span of a minute.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
It's so hard to Shay goodbye - Given set to join Middlesbrough. I haven't done a ton, but the one that sticks out to me is when I wrote on reports of Shay Given going to Middlesbrough. I wrote that piece late at night, when the deal was all but done, only to wake up the next morning and see he was on his way to Stoke. Welp.
Thomas Jones
How long have you been a Villa fan?
About 12 years. My first live game was Villa 2-0 Charlton in 2006. Before that I supported United (I'm from Surrey, duh) but my Dad eventually swayed me to become a Villa fan.
What's your favorite Villa memory?
Watching Villa beat Mourinho's Chelsea 2-0 at Villa Park. It was one of my first live matches, I remember we were struggling to keep hold of the game in the 2nd half then Reo-Coker put in a few big tackles that got the crowd roaring. A lightning counter from Young and Agbonlahor sealed the game with a brilliant 2nd goal - I don't think I've ever celebrated so much in my life.
What's your favorite thing you've done for 7500?
Most of my best ones are really depressing! But this one isn't and I believe this as much as when I wrote it 6 months ago: Why I support Tim Sherwood's appointment despite Spurs fans predicting disaster.
7500 to Holte have been nominated for the Best Football Club Blog award in the 2015 Football Blogging Awards! If you'd like to vote for us, the easiest way is to send a tweet, which you can do by clicking here, or by tweeting "I'm voting in @TheFBAs for @7500toHolte as the Best Football #Club Blog" (without quotations). If you'd rather not vote via twitter, you can do so by choosing us from the Best Football Club Blog dropdown at the FBA's voting page. Our community is a huge part of what makes this such a great place to be an Aston Villa fan so thank you for your support!