Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on June 29, 2021, 03:59:39 PM
-
24th June 2021
Fan Reps
Joe Costello Heroes & Villains
Jonathan Fear Vital Villa
Mo Razzaq AV Supporters Trust
Peter Warrilow AV Supporters Trust
David Michael My Old Man Said
Nilesh Chauhan Villans Together
Guri Nandra Punjabi Villans
Nick Sanders avillafan.com
Steve Gough AV Independent Supporters Clubs
Sarah Breslin Villa & Proud
Apologies
Scott Jones Villa Talk
John Gillett Lions Clubs
Joanne McKibbens AV Disabled Supporters Association
Club Reps
Christian Purslow Chief Executive Officer
Paul Tyrrell Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Adam Lowe Interim Chief Commercial Officer
Tommy Jordan Communications Director
Lee Preece Supporter Liaison Manager
Agenda items created by Fan Representatives received in advance and shown in italics. The submission began with the following thank you that was noted and appreciated by the club.
Thank you: The FCG would like to pass on their thanks on behalf of themselves and their members to the owners, the CEO, manager, and all staff, for the fantastic progress being made at Aston Villa, especially considering the Covid-19 situation.
Item 1.
The five-year plan on the pitch and commercial revenue developments off it: CP shared earlier the regret of how the last season panned out, after the promise and progress of the first half. With a good foundation in place already, is this summer’s transfer recruitment about getting the club into a position to challenge for qualifying for European football next season?
Clearly, the club would not want to comment on specific transfer business. However, qualifying for european football is very much part of our strategic plan. The Board, Manager & Players are all aware of our ambitions. We are approaching the fourth season with our owners. We have significantly reduced the average age of our squad, considerably improved the quality of our squad, and have a squad that is worth considerably more then we paid for them. The scale of our recruitment has reduced each year allowing us to focus on quality and to keep improving.
With our club now re-energised and ambitious, what plans are in place to close the gap revenue wise with the likes of Spurs?
Off field performance is no different. We recruit the best people and strive to continually improve. Commercial aspects are dominated by TV revenue. Qualifying for european football would provide opportunities to drive more revenue.
Item 2
With a growing season ticket waiting list and development with our stated ambition of competing at the top end of the league in mind:
Are there any updates on the plans for expanding the capacity at Villa Park?
We all know we have a unique stadium, four stands built at the turn of or before the 21st century. The first step of development is to understand our limitations and see what we can do to develop and improve. The waiting list is a key tool in assessing the need to increase capacity. The time scale for improvements would likely be between two and ten years with several stages to this process.
Is there a perceived period of ‘on the pitch’ success to trigger such stadium plans?
We have gone from mid-table Championship to mid-table Premier League in three years, which has led to our first waiting list for season tickets. Our fans have clearly bought in to our on-going improvement. Once the aftermath of Covid has settled down it is likely we will need a bigger stadium, and as stated, this would require a long-term strategic development involving three or four key stages along the way.
How big is the season ticket waiting list?
The waiting list currently sits at over 13,000. A well-run commercial operation will ensure that we cleanse the data on our waiting list to ensure the demand for season tickets remains genuine.
And how quickly does the club anticipate being able to meet demand? The club is encouraging people to join it, but some of our members have asked if there is any point and how long the wait is likely to be?
It is too early for us to be able to predict how long it will take to meet demand. We are at the very early stages of dealing with a waiting list, but we would urge anyone who is interested in becoming a season ticket holder to join. We will ensure we engage directly with those fans who are unsuccessful this season ensuring we remain in touch and offer other opportunities where we can along the way.
Do the club recognise the need to have a cap on the % rise of season tickets/tickets each season, so that fans do not effectively get large increases with some being priced out of the game, as the club become more successful? It is easy to notice the key component missing during Covid, to the ‘product’ was the fans after-all.
Aggressive price rises are not part of our commercial strategy.
Some fans have been unable to renew on-line, and telephone lines are always down.
90% of renewals have been transacted on-line. Covid has provided the shortest window for renewals we have ever experienced. Coupled with phenomenal demand for renewals this has led to our phone lines being inundated with calls and enquiries. We have used our social media accounts to advise fans and will continue to do so.
Some fans are also having difficulty floating tickets between family members and have had applications to transfer season ticket names refused.
Any requests we receive are judged with compassion, whist striving to maintain the integrity of operating with a waiting list.
Item 3
Fan led Government review: With the government review of football underway, how does CP view the proposed idea of some fan representation at board level and the concept of ‘golden shares’ when it comes to legacy decisions?
Christian Purslow is due to be interviewed by Tracey Crouch MP as part of the Government led review. Everyone employed at Villa Park should be part of an ongoing process of engaging with fans and treasuring feedback. We already have an excellent relationship with the FCG, hosting a minimum of two meetings with Christian Purslow, as well as Operational FCG meetings on numerous matters across the year. We are a club that listens to our fans.
With regards to the “golden shares”, the club has been instrumental in introducing an Owners Charter for all PL clubs that prevents legacy decisions being taken without fans consultation, ensuring sanctions for clubs that fail to do so. The Premier League is generally very good at self-regulation, something that will be improved greatly by the introduction of the Owners Charter.
Item 4
Kneeling: What position, if any, are the club taking on the kneeling issue should it continue next season, including if there are any plans in place should any booing occur.
It is crucial that some level of unity exists across clubs. There has been unity this season which has been extended by the England team. It is likely a review will take place after the Euros with our players being involved to identify plans for 2021/2022 season. We abhor booing of any sort whether it be England or Villa.
Item 5
VAR: Has the reported PL club & player review of VAR been completed yet? What was the club’s and Villa player’s input and have those concerns been addressed satisfactorily for next season?
As part of a PL review, Dean Smith and the club have had the opportunity to sit down with the PGMOL to give our input. The club believe we should take the lead from the Euros where the process clearly works well and there are many lessons in how this has been structured that could improve use of VAR in the Premier League. The margin used to define offsides has been increased in favour of the attacking side which should see the number of goals disallowed significantly reduced.
Other items discussed:
Christian asked the group for feedback on difficulties the club had experienced with social media in relation to reactions from certain groups in response to club Equality, Diversity & Inclusion messaging. It was recognised that the club can use our platforms to educate.
The club also raised caution with fans expectations that we are all set to return to full stadia when the Premier League resumes. There is ongoing debate in relation to the use of COVID passports (proving a fan has received both jabs). The results of major test events will also be significant.
The agenda items that follow were submitted to the club, and our answers were provided in advance of the meeting to allow more discussion with items 1 to 5.
Q. COVID: We recognise the ever-changing picture with COVID restrictions, but are there back up plans in place should a reduced capacity be required at Villa Park and if so, what are they?
Yes. We are confident that the evident success by using ballots for Chelsea and Liverpool would stand us in good stead should this be required.
Q. Updates on mobile connectivity and wi-fi – is there an ETA for 02(Virgin)
EE 4G/5G full system is installed and operational at Villa Park. First main testing opportunity was the Chelsea game. Just prior to kick off, one segment of the system suffered a power issue therefore reducing capacity to Holte and Trinity. Engineers located the problem and resolved in advance of the Youth Cup final the following day. With the system fully functional for this game, the test data was very positive. Electrical redesign is being considered for the system to reduce possible power issues moving forward. O2 / Virgin have not joined the system yet, discussions on going.
Q. Any updates on plans to update the ticket office?
Refurbishment of our ticket office will be part of our overall plans for developing Villa Park. When we can update FCG we will do so at the earliest opportunity.
Q. Updates on disabled facilities and capacity increase plans. Is there a date that club have in place to become fully compliant with current regulations?
We will increase accessible seats for next season by 16 per cent. This is the first in what we envisage will be a three-stage process. The work carried out this summer will end the need to have both home and away supporters mixing in Trinity by creating 13 new accessible seats in the visiting section of Doug Ellis Stand. This frees up much-needed seats in Trinity for home supporters and we will continue to utilise some additional space in North Stand for home supporters. We are grateful to Joanne who has provided us with some useful information that is being incorporated into the design.
Our plan is to further increase accessible seating capacity next summer for home supporters which involve substantial construction work which has not been possible to deliver this summer primarily due to COVID related issues in the construction industry. The number of new accessible seats will be confirmed after consultation with the Sports Ground Safety Authority.
The uplift in accessible seat numbers to meet current regulations needs to be part of the development of our overall plan to upgrade Villa Park. Should the capacity of Villa Park increase, the number accessible seats will also increase. Therefore, the two must go hand in hand. We will update FCG in the coming months of our progress.
Q. Updates on inclusivity/diversity initiatives
Lucy Keeling – Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, will brief FCG at the next meeting but we are delighted to confirm that the club has been awarded Preliminary Level of The Premier League’s Equality Standard for the first time. A great amount of work has gone into achieving this and we would like to record our thanks to those members of FCG who have helped us get to this level. The work continues.
Q. Updates on our celebrations for the league cup winners, European Cup winners, anniversaries, the former having been somewhat ruined by COVID.
Adam Lowe, our Interim Chief Commercial Officer, will update FCG at the next meeting.
Q. Environmental Sustainability: Do the club have plans to improve our environmental record, having come bottom of the league in a survey last January? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55790760. The group has previously asked about the club’s plans in terms of sustainability across its operation.
We are developing a Sustainability strategy and have identified a member of the executive team to champion sustainability across the club.
Since the last survey was undertaken, the club has introduced the following initiatives:
Waterless urinals being tested.
LED concourse lighting being installed with automatic motion sensors.
BMS (Building management system) controlling the lighting and heating across the stadium and training ground to provide services to occupied spaces only, rather than heating or cooling large unoccupied areas.
Centralised control of all TVs across the estate to ensure they are not left running in unoccupied spaces.
Recycling stations installed across all office spaces and will also be trialled on some concourses.
Fanatics are in the process of moving to a supplier that provides a recycled see-through carrier made from entirely recycled materials.
Levy are working on new processes to reduce single-use plastics.
Q. Secondary sales: How will the club be dealing with secondary sales of season tickets – for instance, could a ST holder who cannot attend a match let a friend/relative use their ticket, but no one can buy ST’s and sell them for profit on a game-by-game basis?
There are no plans to use a secondary selling agent. We have the ticket exchange facility we operate internally for STH to surrender their seat for nominated matches and receive cashback.
Q. Price rise now and future: Some members have been annoyed at the season ticket price hike, (P8?) with no advanced warning or consultation. Is there any reason for the price rise whilst seemingly saying there were to be no increases this season?
Christian will address the question of Season Tickets as per Item 2 in main agenda, but it should be noted that we had the third cheapest adult season ticket last season and were the fifth cheapest across all adult pricing in the league.
Q. Kit Launch: Are there any dates yet for the kit launch and is there a confidence of availability of sizes, and fixes to the quality issues, that have arisen for so many previous seasons launches?
The new training range will go on pre-order next week and be available in store mid-July. The home kit will go on sale in mid-July, scheduled to coincide with the end of the Euros as the focus moves away from international football and back to club football. The away kit will then follow a couple of weeks later in early August, with third kit in late August.
Re: Availability, we sold a record number of shirts in 2020/21 and are not aware of any major issues on kit availability until Easter, which is to be expected in the annual cycle. Through to Christmas availability ran at 95%+ and we then had further deliveries in Jan and Feb for the first time to top up stock levels. Any other short term availability issues on certain sizes related to covid pushing demand online while the store was closed. We have increased the level of shirts we have by a further 20% for the coming season to match the increasing demand. There were availability issues on training range with some critical shortages – Fanatics acknowledged they under-brought in this area and so the number of units has doubled ahead of this season on those items. Additionally, there will be an injection range in November and a new spring/summer collection is in development too.
There have been no major quality issues reported on any technical product across playing teams, or retail, across the 20/21 range. Retail returns relating to quality issues are at their lowest levels since Fanatics took over in 2017, which was the final year of the Under Armour partnership. There have also been negligible returns relating to peeling.
Q. Pre-season: What plans are in place for pre-season friendlies, and can any be held locally so fans can attend, Covid restrictions depending?
We will be able to announce very shortly at least two trips to local clubs in pre-season with the home clubs planning to allocate tickets to our supporters and are still working on the rest of the schedule. As with all clubs, COVID protocols are still challenging. All our games will be available on Villa TV.
Q. Lions Club: What are the arrangements for Lions Club members, is the plan for the Holte Pub still to be used, or can they go back to the Lions Lounge on Witton Lane?
Lee Preece has provided this answer directly to the Lions Club network.
Q. FA Youth Cup: Would it be possible for the FA Youth Cup winning team to be on the pitch at half time for our first home game so fans can congratulate them?
We will look at this, but it is highly likely that at least some of the winning team will be in the squad for that first home game and some could be on loan at other clubs.
Q. Fan Zone: Is there any possibility of a fan zone with street food at all/or more home games after the success of the one at the Chelsea home match?
Adam Lowe will update FCG at the next meeting.
Q. Membership Scheme: Is the membership scheme ongoing, we cannot see details of it on the official site?
Adam Lowe will update FCG at the next meeting.
Date of next FCG scheduled to be 8th July (date and time tbc)
-
Thanks Dave, interesting reading. All feels positive and a long way from the poisoned days of Bendall vs fan shareholders many moons ago! You can probably tell I’m still scarred by those days. Can’t remember us ever having a waiting list for season tickets so we are entering a new era for our club
-
Next meeting less than a fornight later. Blimey, no rest for the Christian.
-
Are the accessible seats referred to wheelchair seating? TC is on the waiting list for one so this would hopefully be good news for us
-
It all feels very well thought through and being run professionally. No false narratives anywhere.
-
Tom Fox And The False Narratives! Playing Live at a Venue near you this Fall!
-
Christ, I had totally forgotten about the 'false narratives' thing.
Amazing how this stuff slips into history.
-
Tom Fox And The False Narratives! Playing Live at a Venue near you this Fall!
A new entry at no. 20 on this week's Deloitte Top 20.
-
Tom Fox And The False Narratives! Playing Live at a Venue near you this Fall!
A new entry at no. 20 on this week's Deloitte Top 20.
Bravo!
-
Are the accessible seats referred to wheelchair seating? TC is on the waiting list for one so this would hopefully be good news for us
I think so.
I hope you get sorted.
-
I hope the whole away ticking issue gets brought up. Firstly the late sale and distribution of tickets and discussion as to criteria for sales. Still a lot of resale going on
-
Wifi for the first 2 home games is still poor.
-
There's wi-fi?!
My (3) mobile signal seemed worse than ever at the Newcastle game.
-
Genuine question, why is good Wifi needed at a live football match at a stadium?
-
Genuine question, why is good Wifi needed at a live football match at a stadium?
To know how other games are getting on?
To read something other than the vastly overpriced programme at half time?
-
13,000 waiting list for season tickets!
That's got my hopes dashed.
-
13,000 waiting list for season tickets!
That's got my hopes dashed.
I think you'll find it's more like 18,000 now according to DS....
-
Wifi for the first 2 home games is still poor.
Having just upgraded to 5g on EE, Saturday was the first time I've ever had a signal at half time on the Holte.
-
No SKY coverage or alternative feed on screens on concourses, seeing other scores at half time is traditionally essential. Wi-fi is shocking worse than before
-
One subject I would like to bring up in such meeting would be access across the rear of the North Stand on match day. I come in from Trinity Rd, and at the end of the game we have no clear access back to the path leading back that way meaning thousands of us have to squeeze between parked cars to get out, including people in wheelchairs. You'd think clearing a couple of rows of cars near the barrier would sort this and cost the club buttons.
-
One subject I would like to bring up in such meeting would be access across the rear of the North Stand on match day. I come in from Trinity Rd, and at the end of the game we have no clear access back to the path leading back that way meaning thousands of us have to squeeze between parked cars to get out, including people in wheelchairs. You'd think clearing a couple of rows of cars near the barrier would sort this and cost the club buttons.
I always wonder, when the roads are already closed, that they park those lorries across the road so that it bottlenecks everyone into a tight space on either side. There just seems no point to it.
-
One subject I would like to bring up in such meeting would be access across the rear of the North Stand on match day. I come in from Trinity Rd, and at the end of the game we have no clear access back to the path leading back that way meaning thousands of us have to squeeze between parked cars to get out, including people in wheelchairs. You'd think clearing a couple of rows of cars near the barrier would sort this and cost the club buttons.
I always wonder, when the roads are already closed, that they park those lorries across the road so that it bottlenecks everyone into a tight space on either side. There just seems no point to it.
It was done a few years back in response to vehicular terrorist attacks. It was around the same time the council installed vehicle barriers around the German Christmas Market.
As we've seen with events in Kabul, lots of people crammed together is quite appealing to terrorists.
-
How do you get WiFi? Every link I could see was password-protected. Would have been nice to be able to check how the other games were getting on while Brentford were taking fifteen minutes over each throw in.
-
How do you get WiFi? Every link I could see was password-protected. Would have been nice to be able to check how the other games were getting on while Brentford were taking fifteen minutes over each throw in.
May as well have taken “War & Peace” to cover each time one of them fell over when we attacked.
-
One subject I would like to bring up in such meeting would be access across the rear of the North Stand on match day. I come in from Trinity Rd, and at the end of the game we have no clear access back to the path leading back that way meaning thousands of us have to squeeze between parked cars to get out, including people in wheelchairs. You'd think clearing a couple of rows of cars near the barrier would sort this and cost the club buttons.
I always wonder, when the roads are already closed, that they park those lorries across the road so that it bottlenecks everyone into a tight space on either side. There just seems no point to it.
It was done a few years back in response to vehicular terrorist attacks. It was around the same time the council installed vehicle barriers around the German Christmas Market.
As we've seen with events in Kabul, lots of people crammed together is quite appealing to terrorists.
Thanks Adam, makes a bit more sense now,
-
How do you get WiFi? Every link I could see was password-protected. Would have been nice to be able to check how the other games were getting on while Brentford were taking fifteen minutes over each throw in.
there was a matchday one which was open (picked up in lower holte) but even then you had to give all your personal details, including your date of birth.
there was no signal at all on O2, but there are people around me on EE, who have signal and can check scores etc.
-
No SKY coverage or alternative feed on screens on concourses, seeing other scores at half time is traditionally essential. Wi-fi is shocking worse than before
Is the lack of TV coverage, live feeds Sky etc a bit more todo with Covid precautions and people gathering beneath said screens. Their premise being i suppose
if lack of entertainment go back to your seat quicker.
Against Brentford my personal WiFi coverage was bang on the previous game it was a pile of!!!!!!!
-
How do you get WiFi? Every link I could see was password-protected. Would have been nice to be able to check how the other games were getting on while Brentford were taking fifteen minutes over each throw in.
there was a matchday one which was open (picked up in lower holte) but even then you had to give all your personal details, including your date of birth.
there was no signal at all on O2, but there are people around me on EE, who have signal and can check scores etc.
Ta, will have another try next time.
-
You could always take your transistor radio with you to get the football scores
-
An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings. Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time. These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.
I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?
-
It's a bit of a walk from the Ground but the 65/67 Bus from Aston Station is frequent and fast .
-
No SKY coverage or alternative feed on screens on concourses, seeing other scores at half time is traditionally essential. Wi-fi is shocking worse than before
Is the lack of TV coverage, live feeds Sky etc a bit more todo with Covid precautions and people gathering beneath said screens.
I know this is a general rule and nothing to do with Villa, but on the back of Covid I do think it's high time they reviewed the law about not being able to drink alcohol in your seat. I can go to cricket, rugby, concerts, or any number of other events and it's not assumed I will turn into a raging moron at the sight of some grass. At football, however, we are all expected to cram onto an already restricted concourse should we want a beer.
Given the situation with Covid, it just seems nonsense to me that this hasn't been looked at - even a temporary relaxation of the rules would make sense if we are serious about not wanting people to be crammed together in enclosed spaces.
-
No SKY coverage or alternative feed on screens on concourses, seeing other scores at half time is traditionally essential. Wi-fi is shocking worse than before
Is the lack of TV coverage, live feeds Sky etc a bit more todo with Covid precautions and people gathering beneath said screens.
I know this is a general rule and nothing to do with Villa, but on the back of Covid I do think it's high time they reviewed the law about not being able to drink alcohol in your seat. I can go to cricket, rugby, concerts, or any number of other events and it's not assumed I will turn into a raging moron at the sight of some grass. At football, however, we are all expected to cram onto an already restricted concourse should we want a beer.
Given the situation with Covid, it just seems nonsense to me that this hasn't been looked at - even a temporary relaxation of the rules would make sense if we are serious about not wanting people to be crammed together in enclosed spaces.
Very True , the Holte lower has been overcrowded the last two matches with the Holte Suite closed for Vaccinations.
We now give out cans of beer which then go into plastic cups instead of plastic bottles. Crazy
-
An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings. Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time. These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.
I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?
Aston station is chocka for at least an hour after the match. I do agree for the size of our crowds etc transport away from the match is poor. It was strangely better in the 1970s
-
A good way to stop people congregating in the concourses to drink beer, is to not sell beer in the stadium this season.
-
A good way to stop people congregating in the concourses to drink beer, is to not sell beer in the stadium this season.
The problem with that is that the usual options elsewhere are severely restricted this year - no Holte Pub or Suite, and lots of other pubs in the vicinity having closed down either temporarily or permanently. It's either get a drink in the stadium, or nowhere.
The overcrowding at the train stations after the game is due in no small part to the fact that everyone is now leaving the area at the same time - there are a lot of us who would go for one or two drinks after the game just to let the crowds die down. Now it's less of an option everyone heads away from the ground at the same time and it's mayhem at the station.
-
It's a bit of a walk from the Ground but the 65/67 Bus from Aston Station is frequent and fast .
Thanks. I think I'll try that next game I go to, from Witton Warrior's post above the 65/67 bus might seem a better option than the train from Aston station.
-
An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings. Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time. These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.
I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?
nope, only if you leave early (or run!). the queue for the platform into town usually snakes down lichfield road, onto sutherland street i.e. 200 metres.
-
Even better to avoid the crowds walk to the stop next to which was The Vine pub. Never wait longer than Ten minutes and in City Centre in no time
-
An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings. Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time. These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.
I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?
Trains from Aston are every few minutes. There always a big queue for the first couple after the game but after that they’re fine.
-
Always used to get the train from Wilton as that was what I always did. Last time I walked to Aston and got the bus. Really easy, no queue. Even got a seat upstairs.
-
You could always take your transistor radio with you to get the football scores
Tried that but it's hard to hear it with all the rattles.
-
Bug bearer of mine is how poor half time entertainment is nowadays.
Surely in these times it would make sense to provide something worth watching or listening to so you don't get ridiculous queues at half time in the concourse which is a bit of an issue in these times.
Obviously before lockdown you had the shooting into a shirt but guess that's been scrapped for the time so all you had on Saturday was quick read of the half time scores (just premier league aswell compared to the cheer whenever SHA losing would get announced) then nothing then Russ Morris reading out some Birthdays and some Villa prize winners.
Surely we can get some old players out on the pitch and interview them infront of the Holte end or something? Or even a celeb fan or two during the season like Adil Ray (there is a 40 odd page on here with a few names for club to look at after all). Can still remember the one a few years back when Angel and Martin Laursen came back and got a brilliant ovation. Can remember things like that because they are so rare.
Just feels all a bit dull and flat as part of the "matchday experience" so one area that could be signficantly improve with a bit of thinking.
-
Just feels all a bit dull and flat as part of the "matchday experience" so one area that could be signficantly improve with a bit of thinking.
A Villa version of the Hammerettes?
-
Just feels all a bit dull and flat as part of the "matchday experience" so one area that could be signficantly improve with a bit of thinking.
A Villa version of the Hammerettes?
Palace have the best cheerleaders don't they.......
Can remember when I first went they used to do relay races round the edge of the pitch, Villa fans v whoever was opposition that day.
-
An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings. Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time. These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.
I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?
Trains from Aston are every few minutes. There always a big queue for the first couple after the game but after that they’re fine.
Just 6 per hour now compared to 8 pre pandemic, 4 an hour on cross city line and then the two Walsall stoppers.
Best thing I find if you're Trinity road side is walk up that road and takes 10 minutes to get to Walsall road and loads of bus options from there and back in Brum in no time.
-
An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings. Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time. These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.
I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?
Aston station is chocka for at least an hour after the match. I do agree for the size of our crowds etc transport away from the match is poor. It was strangely better in the 1970s
In the 70's there were lines of Villa Special buses which took you to Bull Street. Of course, the crowds were not quite the same for the most part.
-
I remember seeing majorettes at half-time back in the 80's. They looked about twelve years-old but the Holte gave them a rousing chant of 'Get yet tits out for the lads!' anyway.
-
When I first started going there was a marching band tootling up and down the pitch. The only saving grace was the fact that half-time was only 10 minutes long. Arsenal clung on to theirs much longer.
Those poor ladies who were the cheerleaders a couple of years on got the cultured advice from The Holte you’d expect if the management had half a brain. I think they lasted one game.
-
I've said before that the subject of public transport comes up regularly. The club have tried many times but the train companies don't want to know.
-
I've said before that the subject of public transport comes up regularly. The club have tried many times but the train companies don't want to know.
Who can blame them? Someone's got to pay for the extra trains. The club seemingly won't and in my experience of late night trains, very few passengers want to and will happily not pay if they think they can get away with it.
So the train companies are basically being asked to do it at a loss with no doubt a load of hassle when games run over so people miss scheduled trains, etc.
Other clubs tend to use special bus services so maybe if the demand is there the club might be willing to support coordinating some specials back in to town with the likes of Zeelo, who I think did a trial with the club a few years back?
-
They don't really have to do it for a loss, do they? Just employ ticket inspectors.
-
I've said before that the subject of public transport comes up regularly. The club have tried many times but the train companies don't want to know.
Do you think the club will look at trying to at least get the Holte Pub open after games soon? I know the Suite is still being used as a vaccination centre, but for the Brentford and Newcastle games the public transport situation was noticeably worse than in the past, which has definitely been exacerbated by the whole crowd hitting the stations at the same time.
It would also be nice if they could put some pressure on whoever is responsible for maintaining the alleyway next to Aston Station to cut back some of the overgrown vegetation down there. It's not pleasant at the best of times, but the overhanging trees etc. down that way are becoming a real hazard, especially as the queue for the platforms now extends pretty much the whole way down there after games.
-
I've said before that the subject of public transport comes up regularly. The club have tried many times but the train companies don't want to know.
It's a shame. Easily the worst thing about Villa Park is trying to get away afterwards. The roads are always gridlocked for a good hour at least.
-
Can they not liaise with Street? Seeing as he said transport was his number one priority and seems to have done fuck all about it since being elected.
-
The parking situation has deteriorated this year with many on street places gone with the development of the area to the bottom end of Aston Hall Rd.
-
The problem with putting more trains on is more likely a problem with capacity. Years of track and signalling rationalisation means its much harder to cope with "special" trains as well as finding the extra stock. Also Normal scheduled trains always end up at the right place for the following day's services so a load of stock at point D instead of point A means someone has to swallow the cost of getting them back at Point A. I'm not surprised they don't want to know.
-
With the trains returning from Aston, you have people blocking the door way so not using up the space and also trains not full because they won't let enough people up on the platform, causing queuing problems on the streets,
-
I've said before that the subject of public transport comes up regularly. The club have tried many times but the train companies don't want to know.
Special buses?
-
They don't really have to do it for a loss, do they? Just employ ticket inspectors.
Ticket inspectors wouldn’t be able to move through those trains very easily!
-
The parking situation has deteriorated this year with many on street places gone with the development of the area to the bottom end of Aston Hall Rd.
Same goes for Aston Lane / Perry Barr. Lots of off road parking gone due to the development work.
I'm still getting into my normal car park, but am arriving even earlier than I did before.
-
They don't really have to do it for a loss, do they? Just employ ticket inspectors.
Ticket inspectors wouldn’t be able to move through those trains very easily!
Travel 2-3 times a week on Cross city line and can't honestly remember last time I had my ticket checked so yeah if it dosen't happen during relatively quiet times in midweek it isn't on a matchday with thousands getting on.
Cuts to staff aswell so really it's the bare minimum of having a driver and someone operating the doors in the middle carriage and that's it. If you don't have a ticket either hope for an empty barrier at New street or get one there.
-
They don't really have to do it for a loss, do they? Just employ ticket inspectors.
Ticket inspectors wouldn’t be able to move through those trains very easily!
They used to have inspectors at the platform who would check your ticket as you went up the stairs, I think. Given that the majority probably come from New Street, which has barriers, most should have paid on the way there anyway so not convinced of the argument that rail companies have to run football trains at a loss.
-
They don't really have to do it for a loss, do they? Just employ ticket inspectors.
Ticket inspectors wouldn’t be able to move through those trains very easily!
They used to have inspectors at the platform who would check your ticket as you went up the stairs, I think. Given that the majority probably come from New Street, which has barriers, most should have paid on the way there anyway so not convinced of the argument that rail companies have to run football trains at a loss.
If there was money in it, the train operators would happily put on extra trains, especially for night games where they've no doubt got trains sitting idle.
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
Eh? What's the connection?
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
Eh? What's the connection?
Besides, road tax no longer exists does it?
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
Eh? What's the connection?
Besides, road tax no longer exists does it?
What was that I paid Dvla last month?
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
Eh? What's the connection?
Besides, road tax no longer exists does it?
What was that I paid Dvla last month?
Road fund licence.
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
Eh? What's the connection?
Besides, road tax no longer exists does it?
What was that I paid Dvla last month?
Road fund licence.
Fund/tax. It's all semantics
-
You'd think on matchdays having a few thousand people wanting to catch trains would make it worthwhile, particularly with the traffic chaos created by the Council.
MKes you wonder why we bother paying road tax when we cant park anywhere
Eh? What's the connection?
Besides, road tax no longer exists does it?
What was that I paid Dvla last month?
Road fund licence.
Fund/tax. It's all semantics
Whatever it's called, I'm not sure what it's got to do with being able to park.
-
African Car Reverser no doubt involved somehow.