Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on May 04, 2022, 11:31:21 AM

Title: End of an era
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 04, 2022, 11:31:21 AM
In more ways than one.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2022/05/04/end-of-an-era/
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: eamonn on May 04, 2022, 11:37:22 AM
Well that's a depressing read!
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: DB on May 04, 2022, 11:44:57 AM
That cheered me up.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Jon Crofts on May 04, 2022, 12:05:32 PM
As much fun as drowning.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: UK Redsox on May 04, 2022, 12:24:53 PM
The amount of money spent on sports stadiums in Texas is ridiculous.

Not just the demolition of a perfectly fine 20 year old ballpark as mentioned by John, but High School Football stadiums with 20,000 capacity and costing over $100m
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 04, 2022, 12:28:29 PM
The amount of money spent on sports stadiums in Texas is ridiculous.

Not just the demolition of a perfectly fine 20 year old ballpark as mentioned by John, but High School Football stadiums with 20,000 capacity and costing over $100m

I loved Simon Inglis's reply when asked what should be done with the Houston Astrodome - leave it for nature to reclaim, so that it can stand as a testament to its age, like the Colloseum has.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Beard82 on May 04, 2022, 12:41:18 PM
I feel depressed now
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Nelly on May 04, 2022, 12:57:46 PM
The writer should keep coming; pre-match entertainment aside, the North Stand as it was and as it will be will just become part of the history of Villa. I wouldn't chuck it all in for that. There are no bad seats at Villa Park, front row, or not. Personally, I love the middle of the Doug, further back, as you get a sumptuous view of the full pitch.

Also, it sounds like the writer must have been there for Villa's lowest ebb, in the third division. We are finally for the first time in my lifetime attempting to make a decent fist of it, so stick around for that.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 04, 2022, 01:21:52 PM
The writer should keep coming; pre-match entertainment aside, the North Stand as it was and as it will be will just become part of the history of Villa. I wouldn't chuck it all in for that. There are no bad seats at Villa Park, front row, or not. Personally, I love the middle of the Doug, further back, as you get a sumptuous view of the full pitch.

Also, it sounds like the writer must have been there for Villa's lowest ebb, in the third division. We are finally for the first time in my lifetime attempting to make a decent fist of it, so stick around for that.

The writer's in his eighties and has a four hour round trip to every match. Sorry if he's being a bit nostalgic.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: rougegorge on May 04, 2022, 01:34:13 PM
The writer should keep coming; pre-match entertainment aside, the North Stand as it was and as it will be will just become part of the history of Villa. I wouldn't chuck it all in for that. There are no bad seats at Villa Park, front row, or not. Personally, I love the middle of the Doug, further back, as you get a sumptuous view of the full pitch.

Also, it sounds like the writer must have been there for Villa's lowest ebb, in the third division. We are finally for the first time in my lifetime attempting to make a decent fist of it, so stick around for that.
I agree although I really get the yearning for past times. I think any real pre-match interest or entertainment is essentially what the individual can make of it, as the clubs have never or rarely provided anything of real interest.

I lost my favoured season-ticket seat when the Trinity Road was modernised, but then I was allocated one as near as possible to the old one, so I would hope the same principle applies to season-ticket holders in the North Stand.

At least we are doing something about the ground at last, whereas some clubs, like Palace and Bournemouth who have received the PL wealth do nothing or very little with antiquated or small stadia.

I also think that quite a lot of kids do get taken to games and enjoy the experience and come back for more, to replenish our support. They create and retain their own memories, but it's just of a different era as the writer acknowledges.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 04, 2022, 03:23:11 PM
I think the match day experience could be so much better.
They crank the music up which I think destroys the atmosphere, The Trinity looks like one of those Bed Warehouses with Cazoo instead of Beds Beds Beds splattered all over it. The bloody awful Dirge the team comes out to. The only time I have had a bad seat is at the Bottom of The Holte but was not terrible. I am surprised by the waiting list when i see the demographic of Villa Supporters at the game. I have taken my kids and various guests and they all love Villa Park.
The biggest problem for season ticket holders are the number of games played at very unsociable times.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Whiney MacWhineface on May 04, 2022, 03:34:29 PM
I’ve loved John’s memories for years, and appreciate the effort put into them.

Thank you John, and maybe the settee will inspire you!
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: clash city rocker on May 04, 2022, 03:39:55 PM
I took my daughter to her first match and she got the bug. It has cost me a small fortune over the years and still does today even though she is 25. I meet her at the station and when I ask if she has the money for a ticket I always get....bit strapped for cash this week dad but I'll pay for the train tickets. We'll if a guard doesn't come round we don't seem to buy any but I must confess she learnt that trick off me. Into brum for something to eat and a few drinks and yes you've guessed it....a bit strapped for cash this week dad.
Then to the ground. Let's po in the villa shop dad..ohh I like that T-shirt can you lend me some money ? Some people's idea of lend is different to others idea of lend.
At the end of the game we go our separate ways and miraculously she discovers she has enough money to go down to digbeth to a rave.
Would I have it another way?   Nah...for all the expense the memories are priceless.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Percy McCarthy on May 04, 2022, 04:22:50 PM
I took my daughter to her first match and she got the bug. It has cost me a small fortune over the years and still does today even though she is 25. I meet her at the station and when I ask if she has the money for a ticket I always get....bit strapped for cash this week dad but I'll pay for the train tickets. We'll if a guard doesn't come round we don't seem to buy any but I must confess she learnt that trick off me. Into brum for something to eat and a few drinks and yes you've guessed it....a bit strapped for cash this week dad.
Then to the ground. Let's po in the villa shop dad..ohh I like that T-shirt can you lend me some money ? Some people's idea of lend is different to others idea of lend.
At the end of the game we go our separate ways and miraculously she discovers she has enough money to go down to digbeth to a rave.
Would I have it another way?   Nah...for all the expense the memories are priceless.

Haha, beautiful.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Nelly on May 04, 2022, 04:25:53 PM
The writer should keep coming; pre-match entertainment aside, the North Stand as it was and as it will be will just become part of the history of Villa. I wouldn't chuck it all in for that. There are no bad seats at Villa Park, front row, or not. Personally, I love the middle of the Doug, further back, as you get a sumptuous view of the full pitch.

Also, it sounds like the writer must have been there for Villa's lowest ebb, in the third division. We are finally for the first time in my lifetime attempting to make a decent fist of it, so stick around for that.

The writer's in his eighties and has a four hour round trip to every match. Sorry if he's being a bit nostalgic.

I hope I didn't come off as disrespectful towards him. I certainly didn't intend that. Only that it'd be a shame to stop coming just as we're on the cusp of maybe doing something again. I wouldn't want him to miss anything. Nothing but respect to any supporter, but especially one who has obviously been part of the furniture at Villa for so long.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 04, 2022, 04:43:46 PM
No problem. I know he's had problems with travel lately and I don't blame anyone who in that situation thinks the TV is preferable to another miserable journey.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: danno on May 04, 2022, 05:40:02 PM
" Then there was the pre-match chat, now long since a thing of the past "

I feel like I'm either reading too much into this, or missing something completely.  Does he mean chatting with the H&V sellers outside the ground?   I'll talk to anybody about the Villa whether they're 8 or 80.
Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Ads on May 04, 2022, 08:17:11 PM
My Cheshire born 7 year old went to his first match when he was 3. Saw us bash 4 in against Derby and has loved every second of it since, with perhaps a minor discrepancy at Goodison where a flare went off right by him and smoked him out. Although watching him go barmy on his seat as Buendia scored is probably my highlight. Him giving it full beans with his self edited version of Phil's song showed him back in his stride once the smoke had, literally, cleared.

I'm 35 going on 18 and I fucking love it.

Title: Re: End of an era
Post by: Chico Hamilton III on May 05, 2022, 10:07:26 AM
Cheapest trains for Man City for me and my London-born, Villa loving chimp of a son are £196. Add the ticket price and some scran and a few pints before the game and that comes to the thick end of £300. For a day out in Manchester. Newcastle cost as much and and we didn’t even get to sit together on the over-booked train. Thank Jesus that Fulham are up so we can have another easy away.
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal