Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: London Villan on May 23, 2021, 06:34:19 PM
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What was it like then, you lucky lot?
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Sounded amazeballs on the radio.
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Sounded amazeballs on the radio.
Sounded what?
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No idea why so many booed right at the start for you know what but yes good vocal back after the dodgy opening 20 minutes. Holte end seem more full than just having about 5-6k in there.
Interested what it was like getting in and out with restrictions in place. As much as I'd love to see it, I think 40k for first home game in August is a bit optimstic currently but can't see any reason currently why it won't be at least half capacity for next season at least, perhaps even up to 30k.
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Sounded amazeballs on the radio.
Sounded what?
Immense
*I was using it ironically, honest.
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The noise came from all round the ground so despite only 10000 being in the ground it sounded really loud.
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It as utterly brilliant and a bit emotional. Support was first class.
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Great to be back. Hugely enjoyable. I wonder what the situation will be with crowds come the beginning of next season.
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No idea why so many booed right at the start for you know what but yes good vocal back after the dodgy opening 20 minutes. Holte end seem more full than just having about 5-6k in there.
Interested what it was like getting in and out with restrictions in place. As much as I'd love to see it, I think 40k for first home game in August is a bit optimstic currently but can't see any reason currently why it won't be at least half capacity for next season at least, perhaps even up to 30k.
I did wonder about this as was watching on the telly. Where Villa fans booing the taking the knee? Or was it because Chelsea were kicking off?
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It was great to be back. I thought the club dealt with the social distancing issues well and it was very well organised. The atmosphere was excellent and people seemed genuinely happy to be there. With no away fans it was odd when Chelsea scored.
There were a few boos by us when players took the knee but they were drowned out by most people clapping.
All in all a good day.
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It wasn’t really any different getting in and out than normal to be honest, other than having to use designated gates. The stewards were just waving you through at the entrances to the Trinity, didn’t show any interest in checking photo ID.
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No idea why so many booed right at the start for you know what but yes good vocal back after the dodgy opening 20 minutes. Holte end seem more full than just having about 5-6k in there.
Interested what it was like getting in and out with restrictions in place. As much as I'd love to see it, I think 40k for first home game in August is a bit optimstic currently but can't see any reason currently why it won't be at least half capacity for next season at least, perhaps even up to 30k.
I did wonder about this as was watching on the telly. Where Villa fans booing the taking the knee? Or was it because Chelsea were kicking off?
We we're lucky enough to be there and I was disgusted by the booing. As soon as it started everyone else started clapping to drown it out. It was a minority but 'significant'.
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2 booed at the taking of the knee by us, but that seemed to encourage everybody else around to clap louder so they were drowned out. Face masks were being worn by approx a third of the fans in our section, so not quite mandatory unless masks in pockets or below chins count.
Tbh I think the whole afternoon went better than I thought it would (not just the result). Great to be back at VP with the fans being supportive and loud.
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Was amazing to be back.. disgusted by the boo boys at the start, proud of how the majority reacted to drown it out. Support was great all game.. the half time tribute to those who have died brought a tear it two to the eye.
Hopefully there will be full houses from next season.
Oh and only 10k, but people still left early to beat the virtually non existent traffic.
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Was amazing to be back.. disgusted by the boo boys at the start, proud of how the majority reacted to drown it out. Support was great all game.. the half time tribute to those who have died brought a tear it two to the eye.
Hopefully there will be full houses from next season.
Oh and only 10k, but people still left early to beat the virtually non existent traffic.
left early really? i guess old habits and all that !
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I was disappointed by the few who booed when the players took the knee but it was immediately and rightly drowned out by applause. The lack of mask wearing where I was made me feel a bit apprehensive. It did seem to be mostly middle-aged males. I found it quite emotional when the players came out of the tunnel just before kick off.
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Great afternoon. No problems getting in - really speedy - and I've never made it down from the back of the Upper Holte as quickly as I did today! You could hear the laughter in the voices when we were singing 'Shit support, my Lord'!
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
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The thing that made it even better was that it felt like a step back towards normality in life generally.
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Minor gripe that the stewards either forgot to open, or didn’t tell close the door at top of the stand to street level from the Upper Witton Lane. Meant a bunch of us having to go back up the stairs. Wouldn’t be great if it was full. Thought everything went really well otherwise but hardly any mask wearing once people were seated (near me anyway).
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Normally leave early, but stayed, getting the train back to south Birmingham is hard work, especially on a wet Sunday afternoon
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
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A bit surreal walking towards the Holte End, then up the steps into the Holte upper tier. Noise levels were really loud, especially Hi Ho Aston Villa! I feel so lucky to have been there and the result was great of course! A perfect return only slightly dampened by Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League on the back of Leicester's defeat to Spurs.
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Massive respect to the fans who drowned out the booing, massive fuck yous to anyone who booed.
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
Which would make more sense if there was one!
10k spread around the whole of VP isn't much of a crowd at all.
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
Which would make more sense if there was one!
10k spread around the whole of VP isn't much of a crowd at all.
It's still more people than they've probably been around for over a year.
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It's still more people than they've probably been around for over a year.
If it was that much of a worry than surely they wouldn't have gone in the first place.
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It's still more people than they've probably been around for over a year.
If it was that much of a worry than surely they wouldn't have gone in the first place.
And maybe they wanted to minimise the risk, or make sure they got on the bus, or any one of a dozen reasons, none of which are anything to do with the rest of us.
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Minor gripe that the stewards either forgot to open, or didn’t tell close the door at top of the stand to street level from the Upper Witton Lane. Meant a bunch of us having to go back up the stairs. Wouldn’t be great if it was full. Thought everything went really well otherwise but hardly any mask wearing once people were seated (near me anyway).
TBF when I'm on the train and there's no one else close by in the carriage I lower it for a bit if the glasses are steaming up a bit too much, guess it depends on how close they were to others in the ground. Or ignorance. And virus thankfully dosen't travel as much in open air.
What was it like at half time, could you mill around concourse/use the bogs/go out to vape? Seems like more of a normal matchday experience than what they did for trial events last December so feels promising for next season.
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
Which would make more sense if there was one!
10k spread around the whole of VP isn't much of a crowd at all.
You would think that but it was. Walking down Witton Lane towards the church and expressway I had to slow down several time to avoid getting too close to other fans or avoid fans coming from Holte End. If there had been 40K in there the ground would have emptied a little later but it would have made very little difference to people movement outside the ground. So yes 10000 leaving made the place busy outside the ground.
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
Maybe they were, & I can understand this, but maybe they could have thought about leaving it to people who would have stayed for the whole game? Usually, I have come to terms with people leaving early being their choice, but as someone who would have loved to have the oppportunity to be there, I can’t help but feel resentful of those who were and left early. It feels like they didn’t understand their privilege.
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
Which would make more sense if there was one!
10k spread around the whole of VP isn't much of a crowd at all.
It wasn’t push-against-you-tight leaving the lower Holte @FT, but it was being very close in a big crowd, absolutely no distancing efforts. The bizarre thing is the creed you had to agree to said stay in your seats and leave in an organised way directed by stewards. There was no reminder announcement to that effect and seemingly the idea abandoned, or someone took their eye badly off the ball & forgot to announce, but I suspect they just didn’t bother trying to control a crowd.
Beyond that it felt a privilege to go with my Dad again, grateful we were both around to be able to be lucky in the ballot, lost too many colleagues and patients since I was last there. My voice is suitably extra hoarse as I was aware I was representing others.
A bit odd seeing players for the first time in the flesh (Oli & Emi) that I’ve already developed great affection for.
It did feel the first semblances of a return to normality. No idea what next season will look like.
The booing at the start was a bit shocking & upsetting, I couldn’t quite believe it and so it took a moment to register and get clapping to drown it out, Tyrone has suitably addressed it on social media. I’ve additionally seen report of racist noises on twitter in response to his tweet sadly.
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The booing was disappointing, but it is called freedom of speech, if you don't like something you have the right to disagree with it.
Good day out, well organised nobody looked at my photo on my ticket, to see if it matched.
Thought it went a bit quiet at times, and why were we singing about that lot from across the other side of the city so often during the game?
We need more variety of songs.
I was told yesterday up to 25,000 next season for the first few months, I assume it will be season ticket holders and when / if away travel is allowed to other grounds it will be a ballot where all season ticket holders will be able to apply for a ticket.
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did people get there ticket checked with the id photo before entry
or would it have been possible to have got in on someone else’s ticket
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John e - no one checked my photo
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No one checked our photos and coming out after the game was not social distanced at all. There was someone sitting behind me (in a row that was supposed to be left empty) for ages talking to his mate who was 2 seats away from me and someone in front had a disposable bottle of coke from Tesco. No stewards by the toilets, in fact most of what was in the instructions they sent before the game was not adheared to after entry to the ground. One steward did say "welcome back" as we got through the turnstile.
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People leaving early? That's surely up to them?
Of course it is, but given the result was in the balance and the fact that there was no traffic, deliberately missing the end is more than a bit odd.
Maybe they were worried about leaving in a crowd?
Which would make more sense if there was one!
10k spread around the whole of VP isn't much of a crowd at all.
In fairness the the Witton upper concourse and Witton Lane were very busy at the end. If people were nervous I kind of get it. Equally, they could have stayed an extra 5 mins and would have been fine.
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did people get there ticket checked with the id photo before entry
or would it have been possible to have got in on someone else’s ticket
Would have been fine with someone elses ticket
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What was it like at half time, could you mill around concourse/use the bogs/go out to vape? Seems like more of a normal matchday experience than what they did for trial events last December so feels promising for next season.
Officially you were told not to leave your seat unless you had to use the toilet and round by me most people seemed to follow that.
Other than the toilet there was no point going to the concourse. All the outlets were closed and there were no smoking/vaping areas. It was great to be back at Villa Park obviously, but I really hope when we're back in August it's back to normal - sitting in the stand for almost 3 hours without any food or drink is a bit of a pain in the arse.
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Was really shocked to see a fair number of young people amongst the the Holte Enders In The Sky tributeyesterday. So sad.
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thanks everyone for answering my question
Much appreciated
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No check of photo ID and no temperature check either.
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Generally it was great, the stewarding was fine without being over bearing. The distancing between the seats was plenty and I'm not sure wearing a mask during the game was really necessary. The loos were ok, a bit busy at the end but nothing excessive.
The atmosphere was pretty good given the numbers. It was suprising how loud it go at times, but there were spells when it was too quiet too. The booing was pretty lmited and very quickly drowned out. Still pissed me off though.
Was great to see Emi, Oli etc get such a good reception, must have been nice for them. NIce to hear a the Kodjia song for Emi - think that one will stick. Ollie got "Do do do doo, Ollie Watkins"
Generally a really good afternoon and it was brilliant to be back.
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Was anybody who attended close to any of those people booing? If so, did you say anything to the individuals involved?
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Was really shocked to see a fair number of young people amongst the the Holte Enders In The Sky tributeyesterday. So sad.
It was noticeable from my position in the lower north with eyes on about 4 boxes above me how no-one in those boxes stood to pay tribute. It was obvious what was going on from the giant screens and fans standing, clapping and singing heits. Being kind maybe people in corporate boxes forget how to pay respects once they enter their protected bubbles of hospitality.
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Being back felt like for the first time in a long time that things are going to get better. I live in London so have hardly seen any of my family for the past 12 months. It’s hard not to get detached from everything after such an extended period of isolation. My three enduring memories from the game:
Goosebumps before kickoff. There are brighter days ahead.
Disgust at the booing imbeciles. I so wish football didn’t attract the utter scum that it continues to in large numbers.
Profound sadness during the half time tribute. Many of us have lost somebody throughout this... but seeing all those pictures, old and young, so many of them was emotional.
There was a pre-check out on the street before you arrive at the turnstiles (metal detectors, but no body thermometers that I saw), and from the turnstile onwards it was just like a normal day.
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Was really shocked to see a fair number of young people amongst the the Holte Enders In The Sky tributeyesterday. So sad.
A friend of mines baby granddaughter was on there, and whilst its sad to see anyone of any age, seeing her was just heartbreaking. The Holte End did them all proud with the applause.
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Was in the Trinity, well sorted access etc by the stewards. Everyone seemed to be happy and smiling. Was quite emotional seeing the team come out and they looked pleased to see us! A lot of love shown to Emi during the match and he did all the right things with waves etc. Really impressed with Ollie and his intelligent runs and close control which I hadnt really appreciated watching on TV. Also, really brought it home how good Tyrone is as a leader, constantly organising everyone, again which you dont always get from TV. Nice lap at the end by the players - no solo effort from Jack (a la Kane) so hes not going anywhere! When El Ghazi got subbed he walked off the pitch on the Witton side to get the applause and a few fist bumps. Great day, "you never know what you've got till its gone" as the song goes. I have a spare programme if anyone wants it.
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I also have a spare programme if anyone wants it
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The tribute at halftime was very moving. Shocked at how many young people had passed away.
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When El Ghazi got subbed he walked off the pitch on the Witton side to get the applause and a few fist bumps. Great day, "you never know what you've got till its gone" as the song goes. I have a spare programme if anyone wants it.
He was told by the ref to leave at the closest point as per the rules. He got a very good reception all the way round though.
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Holte upper. Some idiots behind me were booing at the taking of a knee but were drowned out by the applause. A few minutes later they are loudly joining in chants about McGrath, Dalian and Ugo.
I despair about some of our “fans”.
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Holte upper. Some idiots behind me were booing at the taking of a knee but were drowned out by the applause. A few minutes later they are loudly joining in chants about McGrath, Dalian and Ugo.
I despair about some of our “fans”.
They will argue they're not racist, they just don't agree with the politcal BLM movement. They'll obviously ignore the fact that the BLM tag line was dropped some time ago and it's just a gesture to stand up to racism. They'll point out that they have some black friends. They'll probably say they'd only kneel for the Queen. They almost certainly voted for Brexit. Their knuckles will be scraping the ground when they leave.
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i like it when they say they're booing the knee because it's marxist, and then talk about 50+1 fan ownership in the next breath....
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On a slightly separate note, does anyone know what the plan is for renewing season tickets, for next season?
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Holte upper. Some idiots behind me were booing at the taking of a knee but were drowned out by the applause. A few minutes later they are loudly joining in chants about McGrath, Dalian and Ugo.
I despair about some of our “fans”.
They will argue they're not racist, they just don't agree with the politcal BLM movement. They'll obviously ignore the fact that the BLM tag line was dropped some time ago and it's just a gesture to stand up to racism. They'll point out that they have some black friends. They'll probably say they'd only kneel for the Queen. They almost certainly voted for Brexit. Their knuckles will be scraping the ground when they leave.
Do you know my brother? This is the sort of thing he says! Ignores the fact that taking the knee isn't kneeling for someone but is symbolic of what happened to George Floyd
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The booing was disappointing, but it is called freedom of speech, if you don't like something you have the right to disagree with it.
That all depends on what you're disagreeing with. I can't imagine for a second and reasonable human being feeling the need to boo players for showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement for the persecution and discrimination that people have and do face.
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I'm pleased to hear that Villa fans are 'beating the Covid' by leaving early. Did people leave their seats to get chips and curry sauce before the end of the first half?*
* I don't know if refreshments were being served.