Throughout the summer, Dave Bridgewater will be looking at various aspects of Villa memorabilia.

From books to board games, magazines to newspapers, CDs to top trump cards, he'll be looking at a host of claret and blue collectibles.

This week, he leafs through the pages of magazines and newspapers about Villa.

1] Claret & Blue 

Villa's official magazine was first published in the early 1990s and was re-launched in 2002, although sales were disappointing on both occasions and before its demise a couple of years ago it was sent out free to season ticket holders.

It's a pity the magazine wasn't better received because it was always a good read, and some fascinating features were accompanied by superb photography.

The March 1995 issue included a five-page feature on Ian Taylor, who had become Brian Little's first signing a few months earlier.

2] Full-Time Villan 

It existed for only one season but this was quite an innovation, a single sheet "newsletter" published after every Villa game.

Initially, the idea was to print it immediately after games at Villa Park and sell it to supporters as they left the stadium, but most people had gone home by the time it was ready.

In the event, it covered every single Villa game in 2001-02, including the pre-season Intertoto Cup-ties and even the FA Youth Cup final, and although it comprised just two sides of A4 paper, it was a classy number which included match report, action pictures, quotes and line-ups.

If you're looking to make up a full set, there were a total of 52 issues.

3] The Villa Times

Outside any self-respecting newsagents in the early 1970s, you would find all the national and local papers on display.

And there, proudly alongside them, was the Villa Times.

First published in August 1972, the club's weekly newspaper contained 12 pages packed with Villa news, views and photos, with barely any advertising.

The paper was a huge success, too.

This is the second issue, which informed readers that the first had been a sell-out.

Editor Eric Woodward described the Villa Times as "yet another milestone in the history of Aston Villa" and fans couldn't wait to get their hands on a copy when it appeared every Wednesday.

4] JV-Life Comic 

This is one for younger Villa fans.

Four times a season, members of the JV-Life fan club receive a free comic as part of their membership package.

The comic, launched at the start of the 2009-10 campaign, contains comic strips featuring club mascots Hercules, Bella and Chip plus colour photos of Villa players.

Non-members can buy a copy for £2 at programme kiosks on matchdays but it makes far more sense to join the club!

5] FA Cup Final 2000 

When Villa reached the last FA Cup final to be staged under Wembley's twin towers, the Birmingham Post produced a superb 24-page souvenir which was given away free with the paper.

It contained match reports and pictures from all the previous rounds plus a host of other features about the players and manager John Gregory, and the club's history in Cup Finals.

There was even an article about what was housed in Wembley's famous towers - the stadium's generators in one and flags from all the country's clubs in the other.

6] Welcome Back Big Ron 

The Birmingham Mail have always excelled at producing special editions to commemorate major events involving the region's top clubs.

When Ron Atkinson was appointed Villa manager in 1991, the Mail deemed it worthy of a 28-page souvenir issue which included some fascinating photos of the new boss as a boy and as a reserve player with Villa during his teens - plus, of course, pictures from the press conference at which his appointment was announced.

7] Heroes & Villains 

There have been various Villa fanzines down the years but Heroes and Villains is the one which has stood the test of time.

First published in 1989, it's still going strong and you will see editor Dave Woodhall and his colleagues selling it around Villa Park on match days.

8] The First 100 Years (1974)

In 1961, Peter Morris's official history of Villa was published as a hardback book.

Thirteen years later, to mark the club's centenary, it was revised, updated and reprinted as a 100-page magazine.

For £1.20, readers were able to leisurely dip into and digest Villa's great achievements over the previous 100 years.

9 Whittock's Wembley

When Villa reached the 1996 League Cup final, the Birmingham Evening Mail came up with a novel publication to mark the occasion - thanks to the paper's resident cartoonist Colin Whittock.

Whittock's Wembley was a 44-page limited edition which celebrated Villa's achievement in reaching the final by means of a double-page spread on each squad member plus manager Brian Little.

The left-hand page was taken up by a photo of the player - and opposite was a caricature drawn by Whittock.

Click here to buy season tickets for the new term as Villa embark on a vibrant new era.