Top league referees Howard Webb and Chris Foy were also in attendance as thirty children aged 11-14 were put through their paces in a refereeing master class.
Professional coaches took them through a coaching session to reinforce the Premier League's 'Get on with the Game' message and they then got the chance to ask questions of Foy, Webb and their Villa hero Sidwell.
The Barclays grassroots event was the first of four events, with the others taking place Sunderland (5/11/2008), Everton (20/11/2008) and Tottenham Hotspur (11/12/2008).
Referee Webb, who is widely considered to be one of the top referees by fans, is really excited by the project. He said: "The 'Get on with the Game' programme is a really positive move for the Premier League, but influencing children at a young age is just as important as they are the future players and fans.
"The Barclays events will introduce the notion of getting on with the ref in a fun environment, but having the support from the club and players, will have a huge impact on the children. I look forward to refereeing the stars of the future!"