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A planned celebration to mark Aston Villa’s existence has been disrupted by the recently-announced fixture re-arrangements, claim some supporters.

Villa fans are angry that Sky Sports have moved the home clash against Southampton on Saturday November 22 back two days to the Monday.

The clash had been earmarked as a day of jubilation as it fell less that 24 hours after the 140th anniversary (recent records suggest Aston Villa was formed on 21 November 1874 rather than March 1874) of the club.

But fans now fear that the celebration will not carry as much weight due to the date change and that it could be forgotten completely.

Some fans took to Twitter to voice their concerns while a post on My Old Man Said read:

“On Saturday 21st November 1874, Aston Villa FC was effectively founded when members of the Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel cricket team, meeting under a lamppost at the top of Heathfield Road, decided to form a football team.

“This season marks the 140th anniversary of that historic event and the football fixtures gods did Villa supporters a favour by granting them a home fixture on the 22nd November 2014 versus Southampton.

“It was perfect for a matchday celebration. Bearing in mind that meeting in 1874 took place at night, the Saints date would be less than 24 hours from the actual anniversary date. And significantly, it was on a Saturday, the same day of the week Aston Villa were formed and the traditional day for football fixtures.

“The annoying thing is Aston Villa vs Southampton is a game that has needlessly been changed.

“It’s not a high-profile game or a big audience spinner for Sky. Surely this is a situation that could have been avoided?”

The unfortunate fixture change was one of five Villa fixtures affected by Sky’s television schedule.

Supporters are now weighing up ways of marking the celebration.