ASTON VILLA: The Trawler…
It was simply a trawler, built in Middlesbrough
By Smith’s Dock in 1937, out of steel,
For a steam fishing and ice company in Grimsby,
J. A. Marsden completed the deal…
The vessel was curiously named ‘FV Aston Villa’
But its fishing life lasted a mere two years;
Requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1939,
It was used to combat German submarine fears…
As Group Leader of the 16th Strike Force,
The boat was based at Aberdeen;
Patrolling and running operations
Around the North Scotland coastal scene…
It came under fire from enemy aircraft
Close to Norway in 1940;
The damage caused was heavy and disabling
From the Luftwaffe’s aerial sortie…
A sea-crossing was thus never an option
For the ‘Aston Villa’, listing in pity
And was sunk by fire from British Forces,
Though I guess the marksman supported Birmingham City…
Pete Ray
October 2017
True story about the ‘FV Aston Villa’ (GV428), rather interestingly built in Middlesbrough for a Grimsby firm, costing £29,352 and was later based in Aberdeen, as FY261, during WW2.
It was constructed 80 years ago this year and surely there ought to be a four-club pre-season tournament in 2020, between Villa, Grimsby, Middlesbrough and Aberdeen to mark its demise, 80 years on…
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