Villa in Canada - tour diary

Villa’s squad were last night given the option of watching the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team – but manager Martin O’Neill and the press surely had the best night out.

While half the squad went along to see the Jays beat Minnesota Twins 6-4 at the Rogers Centre, O’Neill and goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh joined the assembled hacks a few blocks away watching The Police perform the second and final date at the Air Canada Centre as part of their comeback tour.

The press got their tickets courtesy of a late phone call from Cannock-based Premier Entertainments boss Steve Gough.

Sting and Co had the 20,000 sell-put crowd in raptures, and no doubt O’Neill was tempted to send a “Message in a Bottle” to owner Randy Lerner, some 150 miles across Lake Ontario in Cleveland, Ohio!

• As manager of Villa, Martin O’Neill must get tired of being recognised.

But there was one occasion when the former Celtic boss was delighted to have been clocked.

At passport control in Toronto’s Lester Pearson airport, the customs official took a little longer over O’Neill’s documents.

Tired after the seven and a half hour flight, the Villa boss rested his chin on his hand but quickly adjusted his stance when the man stared at him, trying to match his photograph with the figure who appeared before him.

“And what do you do?” asked the customs official, presumably oblivious to O’Neill’s name.

“I’m with Aston Villa,” said the boss. “Do you play?” came back the reply.

“No, I’m too old,” said O’Neill, who was allowed to carry on his way.

• Villa don’t have to travel far to be reminded of one of their West Midlands rivals in Toronto.

Opposite the press hotel – the Delta Chelsea – there is a very British-like pub, called the Wolf and Firkin, which boasts pictures of wolves on its menus.

Bar staff have heard of Wolves, and they even have a function room downstairs called – yes you’ve got it – the Wolves Den.

With press turned away from Villa’s closed training session yesterday, the hungry hacks went in search of a hearty breakfast and thought they had found it next to the hotel.

But us bleary-eyed reporters had failed to notice the sign above the shop saying ‘vegetarian breakfasts’ and with an absence of the bacon and sausage options, had to settle for an omelette.