Villa team sets a new benchmark

Premiership footballers, eh? Pampered within an inch of their life. Look at this lot, for instance. Sat there on the bench, probably won’t even have to play this afternoon, but nonetheless they get coffee and cakes delivered to them.

Not really. This is Aston Villa’s conference and banqueting team, doing their bit for the UK’s Barmiest Meeting Venue competition – organised as part of National Meetings Week – by holding their sales conference in a pitch-side dug-out.

All very well for the sales staff, but judging by Villa’s performance (eight points from eight games so far this season),Villa Park may well be a conference venue in more ways than one before long…