Tom Hanks was in the UK yesterday, watching his favourite football team – Aston Villa.
The actor was spotted at the game in a claret and blue sweater in honour of his team, who were meeting Liverpool in the Premier League last night (May 13).
In a video posted to Villa’s social media before the game, Hanks said: “Hello Birmingham, Tom Hanks here, celebrating the penultimate match here at Villa Park. Looking forward to it – good news on the horizon, let’s hope so! Up the Villa, forever Villa!”
Hanks was delighted as player Jhon Duran scored twice in the final 10 minutes to earn Villa a 3-3 draw with Liverpool, moving them closer to Champions League qualification for the first time.
Before the game, Hanks posed for selfies with Villa fans and was interviewed pitch side.
Check out footage of Hanks at the game here:
UP THE VILLA! ???? @TomHanks pic.twitter.com/HJYrLeHmT9
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2024
A very special guest in attendance for tonight’s fixture!
????, @tomhanks! pic.twitter.com/lQTBsM0HtG
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 13, 2024
Hanks famously decided to support Aston Villa when he spotted the name in a list of results and thought it sounded “like a place you’d go on holiday in the summertime”.
“I’m an adopted fan but I love the team as though they’re my own,” he said in the past.
In recent years, many US stars have become involved in the UK game.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took full ownership of Welsh club Wrexham AFC in February 2021 something they chronicled in the documentary series, Welcome To Wrexham.
Creed star Michael B Jordan also became a minority stakeholder in AFC Bournemouth while NFL star Tom Brady has invested in Birmingham City.
Earlier this month, Will Ferrell bought a stake in Leeds United Football Club.