By Lisa Smith.

Fans will soon have their chance to pen their very own message of support to skipper Stiliyan Petrov - on a giant wall in the Academy building at Villa Park.

The Cure Leukaemia 'Support Stan' wall was erected yesterday with Scottish International Barry Bannan and Villa's ambassador Ian Taylor among the first to sign goodwill messages.

They were joined by Warwickshire and England cricketers, Ian Bell, Chris Woakes and Jonathan Trott as well as Warwickshire coach Dougie Brown and Director of Cricket, Ashley Giles.

Woakes and Bell are Villa fans and wanted to show that support for the Villa skipper goes way beyond the world of football.

The wall will now be open to fans from 11am on Sunday ahead of the 2pm Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham so that as many supporters as possible can write a message for Stan.

Striker Darren Bent said the wall was a great way for supporters to pass on their good wishes to the Villa skipper who is currently undergoing treatment for leukaemia at a London hospital.

"People can leave him a message to let him know they're thinking about him and contribute to charities helping people who are in Stan's situation." 

Bannan said: "Stan has been an inspiration to us all in recent weeks and myself, Tayls and the cricketers are delighted to sign his wall and also encourage fans to do the same."

Tayls said: "The support since Stan has been ill has been brilliant and fans have shown with the applause in the 19th minute of every game how much he means to them.

"I am not actually sure this wall will be big enough - so many people will want to wish him well!"

Fans visiting the wall can also sign up for a fun run in Sutton Park on Sunday May 27 which has been organised by Cure Leukaemia.

Fans can run, jog or walk in return for sponsorship in a bid to help £25,000 to help fund a research nurse to administer life-saving drugs to patients.

There will also be a chance to register with the Anthony Nolan Donor Drive and help their fight against blood cancers like leukaemia.

Volunteers from Moseley Round Table will help fans provide a simple saliva sample to find match donors to help patients needing a lifesaving stem cell transplant.

If they do come up with a match they will be asked to donate their stem cells in a process similar to giving blood.

Anthony Nolan particularly needs young men aged 18-30 to sign up, as they make the best donors yet account for just 12 per cent of the register.

Click here to see an image gallery of the Villa and Warwickshire stars signing the Support Stan wall.