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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Aston church protests at Easter Premier League game | Aston church protests at Easter Premier League game |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A protest has been held by churchgoers in Birmingham over the decision to play a football match on Easter Sunday. | A protest has been held by churchgoers in Birmingham over the decision to play a football match on Easter Sunday. |
| Worshippers at Aston Parish church staged the demonstration outside nearby Villa Park before Aston Villa's match with Liverpool. | Worshippers at Aston Parish church staged the demonstration outside nearby Villa Park before Aston Villa's match with Liverpool. |
| The vicar, the Reverend Andy Jolley, said Easter Sunday "should remain a special day for families." | The vicar, the Reverend Andy Jolley, said Easter Sunday "should remain a special day for families." |
| He said he had written to the Premier League and BSkyB, which broadcast the game, but neither had replied. | |
| Aston Parish Church on Witton Lane is a third of a mile from Villa Park. | Aston Parish Church on Witton Lane is a third of a mile from Villa Park. |
| Previous protests | Previous protests |
| Mr Jolley said they had held a "generous protest" by handing out hot cross buns and giving their Easter message to fans arriving for the match. | Mr Jolley said they had held a "generous protest" by handing out hot cross buns and giving their Easter message to fans arriving for the match. |
| He said: "It's the third time we've had matches on Easter Sunday in the last eight years and it is frustrating. | He said: "It's the third time we've had matches on Easter Sunday in the last eight years and it is frustrating. |
| "All the shops around here will be closed today because they are not allowed to trade on Easter Sunday. | "All the shops around here will be closed today because they are not allowed to trade on Easter Sunday. |
| "It's a day which legislation has recognised as a special one for families. | "It's a day which legislation has recognised as a special one for families. |
| "[The match] takes people in Aston's attention immediately away from what is the focus of the day which is Easter and Jesus's resurrection." | "[The match] takes people in Aston's attention immediately away from what is the focus of the day which is Easter and Jesus's resurrection." |
| Mr Jolley said he had had meetings with Aston Villa and the club had offered parking spaces and a minibus to help members of the congregation go to church. | Mr Jolley said he had had meetings with Aston Villa and the club had offered parking spaces and a minibus to help members of the congregation go to church. |
| Protests first took place at Aston Parish Church over Easter matches in 1999 when the vicar at that time, Reverend Keith Sinclair, rang church bells during a match with Chelsea. | Protests first took place at Aston Parish Church over Easter matches in 1999 when the vicar at that time, Reverend Keith Sinclair, rang church bells during a match with Chelsea. |