Quote from: Witton Warrior on February 13, 2013, 10:01:13 PMThere have always been negative comments on here about Manure/Arse/Scousers having lots of tourists and reckoned it was a bit pot/kettle/blackHmm, it's a bit different, mind.Those Man U shirt wearing, television watching hordes in Asia who never get near the UK, let alone a football match, are not just buying into the Premier League, they are buying in to success.I like seeing large groups of similar people at Villa Park, but it's a bit different in that, unless they've got incredibly long memories and are of a certain age, nobody could ever accuse them of being glory hunters, plus, they're actually at the ground, experiencing a game.I have a bit of a thing about gloryhunters, I'll admit. I found it irritating to see tens of thousands of Chelsea shirt wearing gloryhunters when we did that pre season tour against them in HK the other year, for example. Mind you, the glory hunter I actually know who winds me up the most is a Kidderminster bord and bred Man United fan, who has never shown any interest in actually going to Old Trafford, or a Man U game anywhere, for that matter, yet waxes lyrical (mostly on Facebook, of course) about his "beloved" Old Trafford.I'd find it hard to describe any place i hadn't actually been to as "beloved".
There have always been negative comments on here about Manure/Arse/Scousers having lots of tourists and reckoned it was a bit pot/kettle/black
At Stamford Bridge, for example, you see huge numbers of foreign visitors with their brand new shirts and bags of club merchandise, and there are always at least 20 coaches from Holland and Belgium parked outside the ground. We're never going to attract that sort of interest, especially from the glory-hunting types of fans.The foreign support we do have is, for the most part, loyal and committed. I've written more than once in H&V about my connection with the German Villans, who come to home and away games regularly and will continue to do so, whichever league we end up in. Archie from the Latin Lions is a regular contributor to this website and his members are passionate Villa supporters. A group of us, including John Gregory, Rob Bishop and Alan Perrins, are attending their annual reunion in Padua later in the season and the restaurant will be filled with claret and blue and much noise. Those of you with a strong constititution have taken part in and perhaps survived the notorious visits of Edvard and his Faroese Lions. Our fans from Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Ireland come to Villa Park several times a season.We're not a global brand, which may or may not be a good thing, but what it does mean is that our foreign supporters have deliberately chosen us rather than just jumping on the latest bandwagon. They care about Villa and suffer when we suffer. They love coming to Villa Park and we should welcome them and appreciate their loyalty.
Quote from: frank on February 14, 2013, 11:11:17 AMAt Stamford Bridge, for example, you see huge numbers of foreign visitors with their brand new shirts and bags of club merchandise, and there are always at least 20 coaches from Holland and Belgium parked outside the ground. We're never going to attract that sort of interest, especially from the glory-hunting types of fans.The foreign support we do have is, for the most part, loyal and committed. I've written more than once in H&V about my connection with the German Villans, who come to home and away games regularly and will continue to do so, whichever league we end up in. Archie from the Latin Lions is a regular contributor to this website and his members are passionate Villa supporters. A group of us, including John Gregory, Rob Bishop and Alan Perrins, are attending their annual reunion in Padua later in the season and the restaurant will be filled with claret and blue and much noise. Those of you with a strong constititution have taken part in and perhaps survived the notorious visits of Edvard and his Faroese Lions. Our fans from Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Ireland come to Villa Park several times a season.We're not a global brand, which may or may not be a good thing, but what it does mean is that our foreign supporters have deliberately chosen us rather than just jumping on the latest bandwagon. They care about Villa and suffer when we suffer. They love coming to Villa Park and we should welcome them and appreciate their loyalty.Excellent stuff, Frank.
A mate of a mate is from Northern Ireland and follows us home and away. I think Frank is right, the foreign fans we do have, are pretty decent in that they actually turn up (not that N. Ireland is foreign, but if you have to take a plane to get to the game, then fair play!).We have always seemed to have had a lot of Scandinavian and Irish support. Every time I am in Dublin I see more Villa shirts than Yanited or Liverpool.
Quote from: Ads on February 14, 2013, 01:47:06 PMA mate of a mate is from Northern Ireland and follows us home and away. I think Frank is right, the foreign fans we do have, are pretty decent in that they actually turn up (not that N. Ireland is foreign, but if you have to take a plane to get to the game, then fair play!).We have always seemed to have had a lot of Scandinavian and Irish support. Every time I am in Dublin I see more Villa shirts than Yanited or Liverpool. My Mrs was telling me that whenever she went to Ireland with her ex in the mid 90s, there were Villa fans all over the place. Probably due to the McGrath / Townsend / Staunton / Hughton thing.
Quote from: Rocket Reducer No. 62 on February 13, 2013, 10:52:41 PMCurious. Nondescript was about the last.word I'd use to describe the old Trinity, even taking into account its emotional connotations for us.By football ground standards it was magnificent architecture but as Simon Inglis said, in a wider context it had no more merit than a late Victorian town hall.
Curious. Nondescript was about the last.word I'd use to describe the old Trinity, even taking into account its emotional connotations for us.
Dave, when in the USA, I've been known to travel for hours on a train just to take photos of the outside of a closed baseball ballpark. Therefore, maybe I look at stadiums differently to most people.
Quote from: Witton Warrior on February 13, 2013, 10:01:13 PMThere have always been negative comments on here about Manure/Arse/Scousers having lots of tourists and reckoned it was a bit pot/kettle/blackMind you, the glory hunter I actually know who winds me up the most is a Kidderminster bord and bred Man United fan, who has never shown any interest in actually going to Old Trafford, or a Man U game anywhere, for that matter, yet waxes lyrical (mostly on Facebook, of course) about his "beloved" Old Trafford.I'd find it hard to describe any place i hadn't actually been to as "beloved".
Quote from: pauliewalnuts on February 13, 2013, 11:11:28 PMI reckon the most awe inspiring view of Villa Park is from the Aston Expressway on the way in to the city centre.I worked in the city centre for a few years, and drove past it every morning, and every single time, back then, and even now, I couldn't resist a long look at it.If you drive past during the night, on the way to a night match, it looks even more impressive, all lit up. I always think that away fans, coming off the M6 and in towards the ground, must see it and think they're seeing a real institution on their way into the city.Excellent post as ever Paulie. I feel the same way and have never ever lost that thrill of seeing Villa Park past the church for the first time whenever I return to Brum. I remember the first time I took my two daughters to a game a few years back and having a competition to see which of them could be the first to spot the stadium and they were so made up when they saw it. I love the walk beneath the underpass too and that sight you have of the road dividing in two, the Holte pub and the massive Holte end behind it. I think that is very iconic and not surpassed at too many other stadia around the country, certainly not in my experience
I reckon the most awe inspiring view of Villa Park is from the Aston Expressway on the way in to the city centre.I worked in the city centre for a few years, and drove past it every morning, and every single time, back then, and even now, I couldn't resist a long look at it.If you drive past during the night, on the way to a night match, it looks even more impressive, all lit up. I always think that away fans, coming off the M6 and in towards the ground, must see it and think they're seeing a real institution on their way into the city.