ABOUT
THE HOSTS

Frankie Maguire & George Zielinski host the All Villa No Filler podcast.

The lifelong Aston Villa fans and broadcasters from The Midlands first met at university during a particularly low point in the Paul Lambert era. They sustained that friendship through the even greater lows of the Remi Garde season & highs of Dean Smith guiding Villa back to the Premier League.

FRANKIE MAGUIRE

Aston Villa is in the family for Frankie as his uncle John ‘Dixie’ Deehan is a former Villa striker and assistant manager. He has supported the club since 1992. Frankie is a freelance broadcaster and worked for Reuters and the Premier League.

First Game?
A 3-2 home loss to Norwich in 1992. I was six years old and remember it vividly. Both Villa and Norwich were impressive that year and finished second and third in the inaugural Premier League season. It was probably the only time I could have supported Villa while I’ve been alive and had someone accuse me of being a glory supporter.

Favourite Villa Moment?
Being at Wembley for the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup Final. Beating Manchester United 3-1 was sensational, particularly as they felt almost invincible at the time. That game has taken on even more meaning over the years as we’ve only won one trophy since (unless you’re counting the InterToto Cup or that bizarre ‘Man Walking Out of The Ball Trophy’ we won during pre-season a couple of years ago).

Favourite Player?
Paul McGrath. I remember him being a colossus for both Villa and Ireland. He was just an outstanding player.

Worst Moment?
Weirdly, it wasn’t the relegation season, as I knew we were down from about November that year and had grimly accepted it. The lowest point was being in the stadium for a 3-0 home loss to Wigan in 2012, who were later relegated that season. It came off the back of an 8-0 battering by Chelsea and a 4-0 demolition by Spurs. It really was a moment of perfect clarity, where it became so clear the Randy Lerner era was on a downward spiral. The final years under Lerner felt like listening to the saddest Radiohead song on repeat every day for about five years until we got relegated. Thankfully things are much better now!

FRANKIE MAGUIRE

Co-founder & host

GEORGE ZIELINSKI

The 27th November 1994 was a sliding doors moment for six year old George Zielinski. The football mad youngster was desperate to watch his first live match, and as his dad thumbed through the fixtures list, he decided to take him to whichever Birmingham based team was playing at home that day. Luckily for George, Birmingham City had played away the day before. It was Aston Villa at Villa Park under the lights that night. The rest is history.

George is a broadcaster for the BBC and has previously worked for ITV news.

First Game?
Aston Villa 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday. Yes, we didn’t win and yes, the impact of the halftime Snickers and hot chocolate can’t be underestimated, but overall it was the atmosphere of a rocking Villa Park that turned me into the die-hard Villan I am today. It was Brian Little’s first game in charge and looking back, I’m grateful I witnessed the managerial debut of the last manager to win us some silverware.

Favourite player?
Mark Bosnich. He had his unsavoury moments both off and on the pitch, but he was an icon for me growing up. The Antipodean shot-shopping machine. Will never forget THAT penalty shoot-out against Tranmere in ’94 that sent us to the League Cup final, and those goalkeeper jerseys that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the dancefloors of the Hacienda.

Worst moment?
Losing the Championship play-off final against Fulham in 2018 and the financial turmoil in its aftermath. The threat of a HMRC winding up order made me fear for the future of our great club. We’re in ruder health now, but we came close to a terminal end.

George Zielinski

Co-founder & host

CONTRIBUTORS

Roisin Mendonca

Co-founder, Interviews, All Villans, Visiting Brum

Roisin is a lifelong Villan and co-founder of the podcast. She worked with Reuters International and later at the BBC before leaving journalism to take up a career in the classroom. She now spends her days converting students to support the Mighty Villa and loves a weekend at Villa Park.

S04 E06: Tactics Special: Aston Villa’s Pre-Season Evolution / Guest: Daniel Pritchard, Data Specialist

S04 E05: Why Aston Villa Would Want Tyler Adams / Guest: Jack Douglas, Breaking The Lines

S04 E04: Jeremy Doku, Brennan Johnson…& Why Villa Signed Diaby / Guest: Dougie Critchley, Football Daily

THE TEAM

ABOUT
THE HOSTS

Frankie Maguire & George Zielinski host the All Villa No Filler podcast.

FRANKIE MAGUIRE

FRANKIE MAGUIRE

GEORGE ZIELINSKI

George Zielinski

CONTRIBUTORS

Roisin Mendonca

GET IN TOUCH

FOLLOW

LISTEN

S04 E06: Tactics Special: Aston Villa’s Pre-Season Evolution / Guest: Daniel Pritchard, Data Specialist

S04 E05: Why Aston Villa Would Want Tyler Adams / Guest: Jack Douglas, Breaking The Lines

S04 E04: Jeremy Doku, Brennan Johnson…& Why Villa Signed Diaby / Guest: Dougie Critchley, Football Daily

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Frankie Maguire & George Zielinski host the All Villa No Filler podcast.

FRANKIE MAGUIRE

FRANKIE MAGUIRE

GEORGE ZIELINSKI

George Zielinski

CONTRIBUTORS

Roisin Mendonca

ABOUT
THE HOSTS