The Event Itself

Paul Lambert has made it clear he wants the fans and the players to bounce off each other - and here's the perfect opportunity for that to happen.

Lambert has organised for a special open training session to take place at B6 to help supporters and stars bond.

The exciting event, in association with Fiat, takes place on Monday.

Grandparents, mums, dads and kids are all invited as the new boss puts his young and hungry squad through their paces.

You'll be able to get up close and personal with the summer signings like Christian Benteke, Joe Bennett, Ashley Westwood, Matt Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Brett Holman, Karim El Ahmadi and Jordan Bowery.

Then there's established favourites like Darren Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor, Brad Guzan, Shay Given, Barry Bannan and Ciaran Clark.

Tickets for season card holders are free and available to snap up now. General admission prices for tickets are £2 [adults] and £1 [U16s] and are also on sale now.

The event is closing in but there is still availability so don't get caught out.

All attendees must be in possession of a paper ticket, whether you're a season card holder or not.

Tickets are still available by calling 0800 612 0970 or by visiting the Villa Village/City Centre ticket offices.

Tickets purchased from now will not be posted out but made available for collection from the Villa Village ticket office.

It is open from 8am on Monday prior to the turnstiles in the ground opening.  

We cannot guarantee there will be availability for people who turn up on the day - so don't delay and gets yours now!

Don't forget, your open training session ticket is free when you buy your Norwich City ticket.

Schedule of the Day

8.30am: Fan Zone opens
9.15am: Turnstiles open
9.30am: Crowd Warm-up (Claret or Blue challenges with Ian Taylor and Lee Hendrie)
10.15am: Paul Lambert Interview
10.25am: First team training starts
11.45am: First team training ends
11.45am-12.30pm: Fan competitions and player autographing
12.30pm: Family Lunch in McGregors

Downloads

Hendrie v Taylor

Lee Hendrie and Ian Taylor will go head to head at the opening training session - in Villa's own version of popular TV show Red or Black.

Hendrie and Taylor, so often team-mates in claret and blue, will captain their respective teams on the day, which will be made up of kids in attendance.

The competition will take the form of skills challenges, goals targets - and tough teasers for members of each team.

And the final challenge will be the toughest of them all, with a 'race with a difference' across the Villa Park pitch tipping the event in one of the side's favour.

The Claret or Blue challenge begins at 9.30am - but that forms only one part of the exciting event.

EA SPORTS Dugout

EA SPORTS are bringing their FIFA 13 Dugout to Villa Park for the open training session.

You will have the opportunity to play the new game as well as take part in exclusive competitions on the day.

The FIFA 13 Dugout will be on-site from 9am.

Family Lunch

Why not take your open training session experience into extra time with lunch in one of our executive suites with club mascots Hercules, Bella and Chip?

A tasty two-course lunch will be served from 12noon with face painters on hand to entertain the kids.

Prices for the lunch are £10 for adults, £7.50 for U16s and free for U2s.

Call 0800 612 0950 or book online.

Amazing Ticket Deal

Villa fans will be on a high at the open training session - but tickets for home games will be reduced for all attendees.

Supporters can save 20% on any home match ticket* on the day of the Villa Park session.

Tickets for Norwich, Manchester United, Arsenal, Reading, Stoke and Spurs will all be discounted - for one day ONLY.

The discounts apply to adult, junior combo and all concession tickets.

The special offer applies from 9am to 6pm at the Villa Park ticket office.

Remember though, the deal is only available for home match tickets.

Fans who attend the open training session will be handed a voucher book which contains the 20% off discount.

There's also 20% merchandise vouchers** for use in the Villa Store on the day.

This is not applicable to items already on sale or on shirt printing.

*20% discount does not apply to tickets in the Doug Ellis Stand or Early Bird tickets
**Offer in store only and not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.

Given, Delph and Weimann Press Conference

Selected members of our junior scheme, JV-Life, will act as reporters for the day as they put the questions to Shay Given, Fabian Delph and Andreas Weimann in a special press conference.

Following the open training session, a group of lucky junior members will be in the presence of our first team stars as they look to grill them on a host of topics.

Whether it is a question about a favourite goal, best moment or an off-field hobby, it is their chance to quiz a Villa star.

Last year Marc Albrighton, Ciaran Clark and Andreas Weimann were in the hotseat as young Villans asked questions in the Villa Park press conference room.

Only JV-Life members who are attending the open training session are eligible to take part.

Player's View

Jordan Bowery admits it will be a "real buzz" to train in front of the fans at the open training session.

Bowery, who joined Villa this summer, can't wait to get out there on the Villa Park pitch to entertain supporters who have travelled to watch their heroes.

He said: "I can't wait for open training. It should be great.

"I haven't experienced that kind of thing before. It'll be good to show the fans who cheer us every week what we do every day at Bodymoor Heath.

"It's important for the fans to have the chance to interact with us and it's great for us to get to know the supporters a bit more.

"It will be a real buzz for us. We're all looking forward to it."

Past Picture Gallery

Check out our picture gallery from the open training day of previous years.