Holte's Last Stand

[silhillvilla]

Got the certificate at my moms house saying I was there that day.
The last day of the holte.

[dave.woodhall]

IIRC it was down to about 20K by last day. Before that it was at various times 24K, 28K and over 30K. I'm sure Dave will confirm/rubbish what I remember.

It was about 28k in the seventies then gradually came down when it was split and after various bits of legislation. I think for the last day it was 19,000-odd

[villan from luton]

It was certainly 28k in the 70's, remember the game v Sunderland in second division when 58k in the ground and several more thousand outside the ground from both teams

[Rico]

When full, the old Holte End was the most awe inspiring sight in British football.  The Kop at Anfield, The Stretford End at Man Utd or the North Bank at Arsenal were minnows in comparison.

Bottom right for me, with the lads from the Yenton.

[aj2k77]

I started off bottom right when we were in the second division. First season back in the top flight we moved to the bottom left, the corner where it joined the Trinity and I used to hang off the metal fence with some other kids. Then we moved to the side of the left hand side and I used to sit on the wall that trailed all the way up the side of the terrace.

We eventually settled by the pillar towards the back of the left hand side. My dad could never keep still and even during games would wander from place to place before settling down with about 25 minutes left.

[richard moore]

When full, the old Holte End was the most awe inspiring sight in British football.  The Kop at Anfield, The Stretford End at Man Utd or the North Bank at Arsenal were minnows in comparison.

Bottom right for me, with the lads from the Yenton.

Aloueta, Yenton aloueta...

[exigo]

Can't believe it's 20 years ago today. It was also the last game my Dad ever went to.
So many happy memories that I can remember like yesterday. Be nice to add some more today.

[Walmley_Villa]

Tarzan

[richardhubbard]

Remember jumping the turnstiles in 89 to get in game v man united , and 1994 being in there for last game , great days

[Villan For Life]

As a kid the Tiswas Swap Shop chants were great. The only problem was that I thought the chant was Tiswas Was Was.

The left side. Three quarters of the way back against the centre fence.

[Villan For Life]

Remember jumping the turnstiles in 89 to get in game v man united , and 1994 being in there for last game , great days

Was the Man U game the Boxing Day one?

The Holte was rammed and I didn't see any of the first half. As people moved at half time for toilet breaks and Bovril, I got a decent spot and saw all three  second half goals.

[IAmTheOneIanOlney]

89-90 was an amazing season to be on the Holte. From about October onwards anyway. Amazing that a year later, we were singing "You've lost that scoring feeling".

[Rudy65]

It was certainly 28k in the 70's, remember the game v Sunderland in second division when 58k in the ground and several more thousand outside the ground from both teams

Was there as a 10 year old.

I think people were sitting around the edge of the pitch as the game went on, as it was so packed.

Ian Ross penalty and Brian Little......I think

[andyh]

Watching the naughty boys tying an away team scarf around the roof beams at the back and setting fire to it!

The Barcelona super cup game, one of the most incredible atmospheres ever.

Brilliant memories.

[Villa in Denmark]

Really can't believe that's 20 years ago.
We used stand about half way back on the left side, roughly in line with the left goal post.

I took a stripey and Wolves fan to the Inter game. I'll never forget the stripey's response as we game up the steps onto the terrace.
"What the fuck is this, it's huge."
"Yeah, we can probably get the whole of your piss pot  hovel in here."

After Kent scored I didn't see the Wolves fan again until full time - he'd ended up about 20 feet away as we all went mental.

The thing I miss most, is that although you can still sit by the same strangers game after game, I just didn't get the same sense of camaraderie, when I could still go regularly.