BirminghamLive announces new Aston Villa correspondent ahead of Premier League return
‘What Great Barr thinks of Dean Smith’ felt like the ideal way to introduce Ashley Preece to his new role as BirminghamLive’s Aston Villa correspondent.
Like Villa boss Smith, Ashley is a son of Great Barr, a claret and blue stronghold in the suburbs of Birmingham.
He made his name as a news reporter, firstly for weekly titles around Great Barr and Tamworth in 2014 and over the past 18 months on BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail
For his first assignment he was tasked with going into the heart of Great Barr to get the inside track on the club’s promotion-winning manager.
It played to Ashley’s strengths of using his contacts, his people skills and his work ethic to tease out a story that would otherwise remain untold.
Ashley managed to track down Smith’s uncle Reg, in a friendly little social club no less, and what followed, over a pint, was an insightful tale of the family upbringing and community spirit that has underpinned Smith’s managerial rise to the Premier League.
As for Ashley’s rise to covering Villa, football editor Mat Kendrick explained why the 28-year-old Villa fan is perfect for the role.
“First and foremost Ash is a brilliant journalist,” said Mat.
“From seeing his work as a news reporter at close hand across the office, it was obvious he has the talent and tenacity to get stories.
“He really has been the star of the newsroom and I am confident he’ll transfer those qualities to covering Villa.
“From my experience football fans want to know that the local reporter is rooting for them, feeling what they are feeling and asking the questions they need answering.
“Ash will do all of those things and he’ll do it with a modest efficiency, combining his strong news sense with a passion, understanding and love of football.”
