Matt Maher: Successful scarf search sparks whirlwind few weeks for Aston Villa fan

For Villa supporter Stewart Garratt, that has undoubtedly been the case these past few weeks.

What began as, in his own words, as a “search for a needle in the haystack” has ended with the 38-year-old from Quarry Bank becoming something of a minor celebrity at his beloved football club.

It was while making a cup of tea at work in Edgbaston last month Garratt noticed an appeal for help from fellow fan Grant Danskine, who while walking away from Villa Park after the previous night’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool had lost a 53-year-old scarf with serious sentimental value.

Garratt jumped in his car during his lunch break and drove over to Aston on the off-chance he might be able to locate the item. Remarkably, he found it hanging off some railings near Yew Tree School.

That meant Danskine, who lives in Hemel Hempstead, was quickly reunited with the scarf his mother had given him aged 12 and had travelled with him to matches around the world - including the 1982 European Cup final.

For Garratt the knowledge he had helped out was enough but his act of generosity had not gone unnoticed.

“I got a call from someone in Villa’s commercial department who said they’d been contacted by loads of fans about what I’d done and wanted to send me something,” he explains.

“They asked for my address and the next day I got a package through the post which contained a home shirt, away shirt and third shirt, along with a few other items of club clothing.”

Things didn’t end there. Garratt and Danskine were invited to be guests of Villa at the FA Cup tie with Cardiff and were interviewed on the pitch at half-time. They have also appeared on national radio, while a well-known brewery has gifted Garratt free beer for a year.

“It’s been a bit mad,” he smiles. “I never dreamed I would get to walk on the Villa Park pitch, or be interviewed on radio, or anything like that.

“It’s been a crazy few weeks. The club get a lot of stick off the pitch sometimes but they have been brilliant with us.

“Me and Grant shared a table together at the Cardiff match after being invited in for hospitality and we had a great laugh. I think I’ve made a new friend for life with him.”