Duke opens Trinity Road Stand for Villa's jubilee

[PeterWithesShin]

When I saw the picture in the programme of the gable smashed to pieces, a small part of me died. Such a beautiful piece of footballing architecture.

i thought they were going to retain it and use it in the new stand

I heard that aswell, but obviously they had no intention of doing so.

I cannot put into words how angry and upset it still makes me the way it was just destroyed.

[Dave Clark Five]

How many of the windows that were in the old stand have made it into the new stand or other parts of the ground? I know that some of them have, as I have closely inspected them, but there are some reproductions.

[London Villan]

It's not so much that it's gone, more about what replaced it - the club had the chance to build another iconic structure that would be admired for several generations....instead we got more mediocrity.

The external parts of the new stand aren't even mediocre. Of all the new stands/stadiums built around the same time it has to be one of the worst. Corrugated steel, cheap looking entrance, no focal points, no reflection of the club's past or a cutting edge modern design. It's just cheap cheap with absolutely no style. Exactly the opposite of the stand it replaced.

If anyone get misty eyed for Ellis, this one act sums him up more than any other. A large part of the club died that summer.

[VILLA MOLE]

it was just not necessary they could have left it put a new roof on it and kept the gable ala sheff wed then buit a 15000 3 tier stand on the north. Put as much corperate as you like in there and stick the away fans up the top . we have so much room and scope behind there you could have fitted a museum shop and new offices !!! i miss those steps to the Trinity. What gets me is they did very well with the Holte to have it in keeping with Trinity and then knocked it down,    gone forever  !!!

[placeforparks]

does anyone know why the trinity road stand was never listed?

[London Villan]

does anyone know why the trinity road stand was never listed?

The club, or us as fans, never applied for listing and also the amount of alterations that had happened over the years meant it couldn't be listed I believe.

[Hookeysmith]

I know that they tried in vain to keep the mosaic of the original stand but when they came to dismantle it is completely fell to bits - its a crying shame but it is the truth

[dave.woodhall]

I know that they tried in vain to keep the mosaic of the original stand but when they came to dismantle it is completely fell to bits - its a crying shame but it is the truth

It's very easy to say they should have done something. Nobody knows how practical 'something' would have been. For all it looked nice, the stand was outdated, dangerous and getting less safe by the year.

[martin@ardenley]

I know that they tried in vain to keep the mosaic of the original stand but when they came to dismantle it is completely fell to bits - its a crying shame but it is the truth

It's very easy to say they should have done something. Nobody knows how practical 'something' would have been. For all it looked nice, the stand was outdated, dangerous and getting less safe by the year.

My beef is that there appears to have been no attempt to try and integrate the facade into any new development. Yes the stand needed updating and incorporating the existing frontage would no doubt have increased the building costs, but it would not have been impossible ( Rangers managed to do it ).  A quick look through the Internet and you will find plenty of people and that includes supporters of other clubs who to this day cannot understand why the Trinity Road Stand was destroyed.

[dave.woodhall]

I know that they tried in vain to keep the mosaic of the original stand but when they came to dismantle it is completely fell to bits - its a crying shame but it is the truth

It's very easy to say they should have done something. Nobody knows how practical 'something' would have been. For all it looked nice, the stand was outdated, dangerous and getting less safe by the year.

My beef is that there appears to have been no attempt to try and integrate the facade into any new development. Yes the stand needed updating and incorporating the existing frontage would no doubt have increased the building costs, but it would not have been impossible ( Rangers managed to do it ).  A quick look through the Internet and you will find plenty of people and that includes supporters of other clubs who to this day cannot understand why the Trinity Road Stand was destroyed.

Rangers had more space (according to Simon Inglis) and at the time a lot more money - they paid for the club deck with debentures which we could never have done. All I can do is quote a senior member of staff, "If it hadn't been knocked down it would have fallen down."

[Somniloquism]

How many of the windows that were in the old stand have made it into the new stand or other parts of the ground? I know that some of them have, as I have closely inspected them, but there are some reproductions.

I didn't think anything had survived into the new stand.

[bertlambshank]

Have a look at the Rangers stand it looks like the Trinity has more space at the front and the sides.

[VILLA MOLE]

I know that they tried in vain to keep the mosaic of the original stand but when they came to dismantle it is completely fell to bits - its a crying shame but it is the truth

It's very easy to say they should have done something. Nobody knows how practical 'something' would have been. For all it looked nice, the stand was outdated, dangerous and getting less safe by the year.

My beef is that there appears to have been no attempt to try and integrate the facade into any new development. Yes the stand needed updating and incorporating the existing frontage would no doubt have increased the building costs, but it would not have been impossible ( Rangers managed to do it ).  A quick look through the Internet and you will find plenty of people and that includes supporters of other clubs who to this day cannot understand why the Trinity Road Stand was destroyed.

Rangers had more space (according to Simon Inglis) and at the time a lot more money - they paid for the club deck with debentures which we could never have done. All I can do is quote a senior member of staff, "If it hadn't been knocked down it would have fallen down."

evidently not on the money side.

I do believe it was in need of replacing but when you consider the excellant job the did with the Holte which was inkeeping with the old Trinity why could they not have done something similar with new Trinity

[woody4866]

I think the new Trinity was opened by Prince Charles (although I don't think I've ever seen photos of the occasion.)  If we do get a new Witton End it would be nice and fitting to get young William to do the honours!

bloody hell - wheres Doug, he`s missed a photo opportunity

[Flamingo Lane]

does anyone know why the trinity road stand was never listed?

The club, or us as fans, never applied for listing and also the amount of alterations that had happened over the years meant it couldn't be listed I believe.

That's a very good question.  If anything, the succession of alterations carried out over the years (and, indeed, the proposal to demolish and replace) might have been thought to add to the need for listing rather than detract from it.  A Freedom of Information request to Birmingham City Council and English Heritage (to release all documents held concerning the arcitectural and historic interest of the Trinity Road stand) should elicit a full and interesting response if anyone can be bothered to write.