Soldiers in lap of honour at Villa Park

HOMECOMING soldiers returning from Iraq received a standing ovation from thousands of football fans during a lap of honour at Villa Park.

A total of 60 troops from the First Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers were welcomed at the stadium during the match against Chelsea on Saturday. The Fusiliers returned from Iraq in December after a six-month tour of duty in Basra. Among the soldiers turning out at the game was 24-year-old Blues fan Fusilier Tom Williams, who flew back to Birmingham in December for the birth of his first daughter, Kiera.

He said: “When you are out on tour you are never sure how much support you have from people back at home. I’m a Blues fan but it still means so much to me that we get support from people from across the city.”