'I liked their colours when I was at primary school' - Aston Villa fan from Carrickfergus hoping his boyhood heroes can end 30-year trophy drought
Aston Villa will hope tonight to end a 30-year wait for a major trophy as they take on German side Freiburg in the Europa League final.
It is fair to say that success is overdue for Villa and avid supporter Paul McCusker from Carrickfergus is hoping his heroes can get the job done this evening.
The two teams collide at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Türkiye, to get their hands on the second-tier competition of European club football.
You have to go back to 1996 for Villa's last silverware success when Dwight Yorke scored in a 3-0 win against Leeds United in the League Cup final.
McCusker said: "I'm feeling excited and nervous...I was 15 the last time we won a trophy and I'm now 45.
"My son is a big Villa fan as well as I'm sure he gets tortured in school about Villa not winning much, so it would be nice to put that right.
"The only saving grace is that we are going into the final after having already qualified for the Champions League through our league position.
"Of course, it's vital that we win tonight but it's nice knowing that we have that safety net as the squad will need a rebuild in the summer.
"Unai Emery (Aston Villa manager) is a bit of a master in this competition but Freiburg are seemingly a well-run club and they will pose their own problems."
Despite having the option of going to the big game this evening, McCusker put his family first and will go through the rollercoaster of emotions watching it in his native Carrickfergus.
"I could have got two tickets but my son is doing his A-levels two days later," he said. "There is going to be an open top bus parade in Birmingham on Monday if we win, so I'd like to attend that, but I won't get too excited or look that far ahead as I've watched us lose three finals.
"I'm currently the chairman of the Northern Ireland Lions, which is the Aston Villa supporters' group here. We have around 40 core members and some of us are meeting up in the Brown Cow in Carrick, which is owned by my mum.
"We will watch the game on a big screen in a private room upstairs, with food and Villa songs added in. I'm just hoping there will be some added celebrations."
Most kids growing up elect to usually support Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal or the Old Firm clubs of Rangers and Celtic - so why Villa?
McCusker replied: "I don't know...I liked their colours when I was at primary school.
"I remember they finished second to Liverpool in 1990 and I've stuck with them since.
"I'm glad they've been better in recent years as there were a few tough moments.
"I go over two or three times a season and I remember attending my first game when I was 11 years old."
Freiburg are currently seventh in the German top flight and have beaten the likes of Braga and Celta Vigo to reach their first-ever European final.
"I don't want to sound too confident or look stupid...but I'll go 2-1 to Aston Villa," said McCusker, when asked for his prediction.