Express & Star

John McGinn 'The King' is on song for Aston Villa Wembley charge

Midfield ace John McGinn has driven Villa supporters to song – in more ways than one.

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The 24-year-old Scot has become a firm fan favourite since joining in a £2.75million move from Hibernian last summer.

McGinn’s all-action performances have been a factor in Villa reaching the play-off final for the second year running, with his name regularly heard ringing out from the stands.

But it has also now been committed to record by singer-songwriter Emma Flowers.

Flowers, a Villa season ticket holder, has released the song Walking with McGinn on the Bandcamp website.

An adaptation of the hymn, Walking with the King, it has been produced in conjunction with the Villa Supporters’ Trust, with all proceeds from sales going to community projects sponsored by the organisation.

Flowers was inspired by a Twitter parody by Villa fan, Jimmy Kessel, which first linked the hymn with McGinn.

She told Radio WM: “I picked up on what he had done, changed the lyrics and the melody. I literally woke up one morning with the song in my head. Villa fans are buying it, hopefully we can get as many as we can. It is for a good cause.”

McGinn, who finished his maiden Championship campaign with six goals and nine assists, was named both supporters’ and players’ player of the year earlier this month.

He said: “It was a surreal night for me. To get voted by your team-mates is probably the greatest award in football.

“To get the supporters as well. It could not have been better for me.

“When I joined I just wanted to try and make some sort of impact. To make the impact I have made is something I could only dream about.

“But at the same time it does not matter what is behind us.

“If I could swap both awards for promotion I would, any day of the week.”

Walking with McGinn is priced at £1.50 and can be downloaded by clicking here