Villa's impressive on-field exploits may have attracted praise so far this season, but it's the clubs efforts off the pitch which have drawn admiring glances from fans nationwide.
The unique partnership with Acorns childrens hospice - which sees the charity's name emblazened across the shirt in place of a commercial sponsor - aims to raise funds to provide care for an extra 1000 children in the West Midlands, and supporters of Villa's Premier League rivals are queueing up to applaud the scheme.
Manchester City's recent takeover has made them the world's richest football club, and the signing of Robinho signalled their intent to challenge for major honours.
However Ric Turner, editor of City fanzine Blue Moon, says the gesture Villa made in replacing former shirt sponsors with the Acorns logo shows class in a game becoming too obsessed with money: "I love what Aston Villa have done," he says.
"It shows a touch of class which is all too rare in the modern game, where greed usually prevails."
Pinnacle
He says he would love for his club to follow suit: "City fans would be delighted if our new owners put a Manchester based charity such as Christies on the front of our shirts. It would be a great gesture, but I won't hold my breath."
Arsenal are a club that have long been admired for their charity work, which sees them choose a 'charity of the year' to raise funds for every season.
Despite the success they have had linking up with the likes of Childline, fanzine editor Kevin Whitcher says compared to Villa's efforts, the Gunners virtually pale into insignificance. " Arsenal's efforts are drop in the ocean stuff compared with the money sacrificed by Villa," he explains. "Still, better a drop than a complete drought."
The Acorns deal, signed in June, is a first in England and saw the club sacrifice an estimated £2 million in sponsorship.
A statement issued by Villa at the time said the link up with Acorns was 'more important and valuable to us than any commercial opportunity.' The gesture was the pinnacle of an already successful two year partnership between club and charity, which saw Villa players frequently visit children in each of Acorns' three hospices, based in Selly Oak, Walsall and Worcester.
The move echoed that of Spanish giants Barcelona, who, in 2006, broke their famous tradition of keeping their shirts free of slogans, by publisizing UNICEF.
Soul
The agreement remains in place and is a source of immense pride to the players and Catalan fans, highlighted by Brazilian star Ronaldinho: "For me it's perfect that the team is wearing this charitable logo," he said.
"I hope people will take it as an example."
Although thus far it is only Villa who have followed Barca's lead, the current financial climate means more clubs could be about to follow suit.
The global crisis hit West Ham United earlier in the season, when the club had to terminate their deal with holiday company XL after the firm went bust. Although the club has yet to make a decision on a replacement, an online fans campaign has been set up to petition the club to allow the Bobby Moore Fund logo to grace the front of their shirts.
The website cites the examples of Villa and Barcelona and the petition has so far been signed by over 11,000 Hammers fans, almost a third of their average gate of 35,000.
Despite the money troubles faced by some clubs, it seems Villa's example could yet help to recover what some interpret as the games lost soul.