The Holte’s Last Stand

[thick_mike]

Couldn’t find the older threads that have surely existed, so I thought I’d share a couple of photos from the last day of the Holte End terracing. Villa vs Liverpool 7th May 1994.

I didn’t have a season ticket that year, so I had to buy one on spec from a bloke up by Aston Station. I am convinced to this day that it was Nigel Kennedy in disguise (big sunglasses, fake moustache, hoodie).

Sad day was brightened up by Dave Chance, or was it Dave Ismay, (one of the Daves anyway) singing YNWA to a chorus of boos from the home fans.

Came back from 0-1 down at half time to win with two Dwight Yorke goals in the second half in front of the Holte End.

Kids today think we made up the tales of beer crates, or were they milk crates (one of the crates anyway).

Smoke bomb or hotdog steam?

When the Evening Mail was a real newspaper

The other old lady we lost a few years later

My piece of heaven, behind the “V” floodlight Left Side

[Kimaster1976]

My first 2 games in the Holte standing are the Man Utd 3-0 boxing day game I was like 12 or 13 and went from middle stand to front and back many times with the waves of fully grown men surging forward all game, looking back im amazed i didnt get injured lol

And in pouring rain beating Port Vale 6-0 in the cup, and im sure all the goals were at the other end.

[JD]

Brilliant photos. H&V put out a Holtes last stand edition which I still have. On Saturday I shall return to Villa Park for the first time since 1993 and it will be the first time I have had a seat at Villa Park.

[thick_mike]

My first 2 games in the Holte standing are the Man Utd 3-0 boxing day game I was like 12 or 13 and went from middle stand to front and back many times with the waves of fully grown men surging forward all game, looking back im amazed i didnt get injured lol

And in pouring rain beating Port Vale 6-0 in the cup, and im sure all the goals were at the other end.

I got soaked at that Port Vale game too...was it  before they extended the roof?

[thick_mike]

Brilliant photos. H&V put out a Holtes last stand edition which I still have. On Saturday I shall return to Villa Park for the first time since 1993 and it will be the first time I have had a seat at Villa Park.

I will be there too in A5 Trinity Road. You will notice some subtle changes

[somec]

Nice photos, thanks for sharing!

Looks like you were standing close to where I was that day although I can't see me or my Dad in any of the photos.

I also still have my copy of H&V The Holte's Last Stand, an absolute classic.

When the game had finished and a lot of people had invaded the pitch I found myself standing next to someone in my year at school.

I didn't even know he was a Villa fan but we became friends and started going to away games together.

Happy daze!

[thick_mike]

Nice photos, thanks for sharing!

Looks like you were standing close to where I was that day although I can't see me or my Dad in any of the photos.

I also still have my copy of H&V The Holte's Last Stand, an absolute classic.

When the game had finished and a lot of people had invaded the pitch I found myself standing next to someone in my year at school.

I didn't even know he was a Villa fan but we became friends and started going to away games together.

Happy daze!

We started standing there because the crowd was thinner due to having to watch through the floodlight pylon. When I was a kid I couldn’t see over the crowd in front, so I got a better view there. After a while you didn’t notice the steelwork, you started to bob and weave unconsciously like a boxer.

[Damo70]

My first time on the Holte was to see us play Liverpool in 1982 so it would have been appropriate if I had been at 'The Last Stand' game against them. However I moved abroad to work a week or two before so my personal last stand on the Holte was against Arsenal in the last but one home game, which of course was most people's last but one stand.

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

My last Holte End stand was 1967 against Hull. 2-0 up (Greenhalgh if I remember OK) and we lost 2-3 with a pathetic display from midfielders Park and Parker. From then on, for luck, I went Witton End/Lane or Trinity. Took a few years, but the move paid off. Honest.

[JD]

It was great going back to Villa Park last Saturday, despite the result. The Holte still looks splendid, although it was a bit strange sitting down the other end looking at it.

[Axl Rose]

Mike, fantastic photos. They've really brightened up my morning here.

And JD, 1993? That's a long time, mate. I'm sorry that they lost for you. Family aside, Villa and Villa Park are the only things I get homesick for. 

When I do come home on occasion, it's pretty much the first thing I plan to go and see, whether it's a match or just to wander around and think of all the great times I've had there with great people.

[dave shelley]

My last Holte End stand was 1967 against Hull. 2-0 up (Greenhalgh if I remember OK) and we lost 2-3 with a pathetic display from midfielders Park and Parker. From then on, for luck, I went Witton End/Lane or Trinity. Took a few years, but the move paid off. Honest.

I so remember that game, such utter dross, needed seeing to be believed.  The sad thing is, it wasn't a one-off.

[Damo70]

Couldn’t find the older threads that have surely existed, so I thought I’d share a couple of photos from the last day of the Holte End terracing. Villa vs Liverpool 7th May 1994.

I didn’t have a season ticket that year, so I had to buy one on spec from a bloke up by Aston Station. I am convinced to this day that it was Nigel Kennedy in disguise (big sunglasses, fake moustache, hoodie).

Sad day was brightened up by Dave Chance, or was it Dave Ismay, (one of the Daves anyway) singing YNWA to a chorus of boos from the home fans.

Came back from 0-1 down at half time to win with two Dwight Yorke goals in the second half in front of the Holte End.

Kids today think we made up the tales of beer crates, or were they milk crates (one of the crates anyway).

Smoke bomb or hotdog steam?

When the Evening Mail was a real newspaper

The other old lady we lost a few years later

My piece of heaven, behind the “V” floodlight Left Side

Some time just before Christmas around about 1982 we played host to Liverpool. Bob Warman, John Caine and Oscar the Newshound dog led the Holte End in a good natured rendition of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'. It then quickly went pear shaped when they tried to conduct the fans on The Holte for a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' to be broadcast on the show . My beer crate in my early days on The Holte was a plastic claret one from Aston Manor brewery. For years after I had stopped needing the crate the older blokes I grew up with around me on The Holte found it very funny to occasionally ask me where my crate was.

[dave.woodhall]

Talking of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, does anyone want to hear - yet again - the story of Doug and the cassette recorder?

[Villa in Denmark]

Talking of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, does anyone want to hear - yet again - the story of Doug and the cassette recorder?

Having not heard it, or at least if I have I can't remember it, yes please.