Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Chico Hamilton III on February 14, 2013, 09:57:37 AM

Title: Villa Park tour
Post by: Chico Hamilton III on February 14, 2013, 09:57:37 AM
Anyone been on it? is it any good? would kids enjoy it?

Looking at the website, it seems that they are mostly on weekdays?

Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on February 14, 2013, 10:36:46 AM
I've done it and I loved it
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on February 14, 2013, 10:37:46 AM
I think kids would like it, you come out of the tunnel with the music playing and go into the changing room and all the boxes and stuff like that
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Irish villain on February 14, 2013, 10:38:18 AM
I've been over five times and have never managed to take in a stadium tour. I reckon I'd have to spend about a week in Birmingham to catch a tour and a game.

Are they limited because of a lack of interest or is it genuinely to do with Match day prep etc?

I might pop over in the summer for a tour.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: bob rowe on February 14, 2013, 10:56:57 AM
Ive done it & thought it was very good. Kids would love it. You can take all the photos you want, unfortunately cant go on the pitch though.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Godfrey Brian on February 14, 2013, 11:14:35 AM
 Really enjoyed it. Once you get past the club 'PR' guff, the guides who take you around know (most of) their stuff and are all supporters who'll have a good old chat about anything Villa.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: paulcomben on February 14, 2013, 01:34:09 PM
Yep. You'll love it. Go straight ahead.

We had a Blues fan on our tour, with his Villans relations. Looking at the newspaper facsimiles about the FA Cup being stolen whilst in Villa's care, our guide repeated the classic 'We like to point out that Villa have lost more FA Cups than the Blues have won.'
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Simon Ward on February 14, 2013, 01:52:52 PM
Well worth it.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: usav on February 14, 2013, 02:04:15 PM
Anyone been on it? is it any good? would kids enjoy it?

Looking at the website, it seems that they are mostly on weekdays?

Did it last summer mate with the family - money well spent.   Kids really liked it.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: charleeco7 on February 14, 2013, 02:25:32 PM
Can only reiterate what others have said, well worth going. I went on some sort of package deal where we had a meal with Sid and Chris Nicholl doing a Q and A.

Great Day.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: eamonn on February 14, 2013, 03:22:58 PM
Wait til they build a trophy room so the kids can lift the European Cup.  They'll be big, bowld teenagers by then though I guess.

Seriously though, while it's great to walk out onto the pitch, sit in the dugout, see the changing rooms etc. the major selling-point of a tour of a prestigious club for me is seeing and possibly holding the silverware.
When I did the tour a few years ago all they had was a small cabinet at reception with the Intertoto and Hong Kong 7's in pride of place. Was a bit miffed to say the least.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on February 14, 2013, 03:32:06 PM
When I went they didn't have any trophies whatsoever, they said they were hidden until the museum was sorted.......That was about 3 years ago
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on February 14, 2013, 03:33:00 PM
In fact it was longer because I remember having my pic taken in front of Zat Knights shirt...In a piss taking way obviously
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Chipsticks on February 14, 2013, 04:37:13 PM
When I was doing my work experience with the stadium maintenance department I got about 3 'unofficial' tours of the grounds with some of the older guys that worked there. Amazing experience and I got to see parts of the ground I never knew existed, such as underneath the Holte End which was quite cool. I got to go into the changing rooms on the day of a game against Blackpool as well, and I was allowed to get a picture of me wearing the shirt out for Petrov to wear.

That aside, I've been on the official tour as well, it's great and there's things for both kids and adults.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: richardhubbard on February 14, 2013, 05:52:59 PM
Great experience, little bit too much on corporate offering and lack of trophy room.

But barring a great day for all
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: ROBBO on February 14, 2013, 07:23:17 PM
Went on the tour when i was over last June, it was great to be in places where so few get to see like the inner sanctum of the changing room with all the players shirts hung up, and to stand as the players do waiting to go onto the pitch. The ground certainly has changed since i frequented an open standing Witton end. My tour had an added extra, a mad Villa fan proposed and was accepted by his girlfriend when sitting by the dugout, just gave a nice touch to a great day.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: robbo1874 on February 14, 2013, 08:32:39 PM
Make sure you book well in advance mate, we missed out when we came back from oz last year. No amount of pleading could get us on it.

I was gutted.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: nodge on February 14, 2013, 10:29:09 PM
Your kids will keep telling you to hurry up while you spend ages looking at the old photos Chico.
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: PaulTheVillan on February 15, 2013, 01:17:43 PM
How much is it?
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: Ads on February 15, 2013, 01:47:37 PM
I looked into it last year, its pretty cheap and not more than £10.00 I believe?
Title: Re: Villa Park tour
Post by: curiousorange on February 15, 2013, 10:47:03 PM
It was fantastic and I highly recommend it. It's like reverting to being a 10 year old. My missus bought me and her dad the tour and meal package, I think it's £25 each. Just a great day.
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