Holte's Last Stand

[SheffieldVillain]

Look out for the scenes in the Holte, especially the 3rd goal. Mayhem!

My first game at Villa Park.

"Are all the games like that Dad?"

[Weedy]

Another view:

http://www.regista-blog.com/2014/02/five-legendary-old-terraces/

Quote:
" 1. Holte End, Villa Park

To finish, a genuine monster of a stand.
This one I was able to see with my own eyes a couple of years before it was pulled down,
but from the opposite end of the stadium.
It was so deep the crowd seemed to disappear into the vanishing point.
When Villa scored the whole thing erupted into noise and motion, surging and roaring.
I spent most of the match staring at it.
In its prime the Holte End could hold around 30,000 fans on its own.
That, friends, is a terrace."

Yes. it was.

[dave shelley]

Aston Villa 2 : Manchester United 1.  Second round Football League Cup 1970.  Never seen anything like it.  A privilege to be there amongst it.  Remember that Dad?  RIP.

[Pat McMahon]

Thanks to all for the pictures above - I felt more excited looking at them than I did going to the game today.

I was originally a left side in the very back section but flirted with nutters corner in the early 80s before returning to my roots. I still prefer to head back to the top left when I can but have to take whatever tickets I can get these days.

[robbo1874]

This thread is bringing back some memories. In the picture that shows the 2 guys doing demolition work in front of one of the exits, the two barriers lying on the floor is where I used to go.

When I first started going there I would get there early to get a spot to lean on the bar. After getting squished a few times I realised the place to stand was with my back to it just in front. Perfect!

[fbriai]

The left side. Three quarters of the way back against the centre fence.

That was me, too.

So many great memories. That final Liverpool game being one of them.

[OzVilla]

Started on the right side for a few years near theftont by the C Crew before defecting to the left for a change of scenery.

Moved about a bit there too depending on my mood. Mostly 2/3 back and halfway across but also saw some great games at that side bit underneath the old Meaning Evil sign.
 
Bradford, Inter Milan and Tranmere being my stand out memories.

Loved the Holte.

[Witton Warrior]

The Sunderland game for promotion was my first Villa game at age 15 - that feeling of our being Villa has stayed with me to this day.

Over the years I have taken many fans of other teams onto the Holte because most of them did not believe what it was like from my descriptions - all came away in awe and several were genuinely frightened. We took one lad, a Man City fan, to a League Cup match in '76, after the first goal celebrations had swept him away in a tide of human joy we had to convince to stay after retrieving him from the concourse.

I am looking forward to a report from a Hull fan I know about his first visit yesterday

We are the famous, the famous Holte End.

[Olneythelonely]

Tranmere as a 13 year old, on my own, was terrifying. I had to be taken to the first aid room following Teale's goal as I got a bit crushed. I missed the Aldridge penalty whilst in there. I begged them to let me back in for the second half though.

Probably most best Holte End memory. Despite the fact, that at the time, I thought I was going to die.

[Godfrey Brian]

v Middlesboro' last home game of the '81 League Championship season. Peeing down with rain , three up and The Holte decided to party. And a properly deserved lap of honour afterwards.  It was one of the stand out, happiest afternoons of my football suuporting life.

[peter w]

A proper Holte and the AV floodlights. Reminds me why I fell in love with club.


Gives a sense of scale as to just how big it was.

Which is exactly why, looking at the top picture, could The Shit ever emulate us. Even if they became 'successful'. Because they would never be able to fill a stand like that.

[martin o`who??]

One of my earliest memories circa 1974 - being right behind the goal the night we knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup after the replay when Bob Wilson got Sammy Morgan sent off in the first game at Highbury, Morgan appealed - which meant he could play in the replay and scored the first right in front of me - the place went ballistic, Alun Evans got the second and Bob wilson - who was widely suspected of getting Morgan sent off in the first game, was given an absolute fucking mullering by the Holte, he hated Villa from that night on. but me, i walked out of Villa Park a 15 year old disciple.

[Hopadop]

Another view:

http://www.regista-blog.com/2014/02/five-legendary-old-terraces/

Quote:
" 1. Holte End, Villa Park

To finish, a genuine monster of a stand.
This one I was able to see with my own eyes a couple of years before it was pulled down,
but from the opposite end of the stadium.
It was so deep the crowd seemed to disappear into the vanishing point.
When Villa scored the whole thing erupted into noise and motion, surging and roaring.
I spent most of the match staring at it.
In its prime the Holte End could hold around 30,000 fans on its own.
That, friends, is a terrace."

Yes. it was.

Thanks for the link, I enjoyed reading that.

I remember travelling up with an Arsenal supporting friend, late 80s / early 90s. It was 0-0 I think, but I remember him being in awe at the Holte.

The new one surprises people I've been with as well.  Whereas they're fully prepared to be impressed by Liverpool's Kop etc, the Holte takes them more unawares I think.

[martin o`who??]

Twenty years, bloody hell. I grew up on the Holte, so many memories reawakened reading through this. The stand might have gone but it seems the spirit lives on in many of us. You'll never take the Holte End.

Unfortunately, about 20,000 pissed up Glaswegians thought otherwise.

[flybo]

20 years ago the Holte End had its last game.
It was a bittersweet day happy to be there but sad to see it go.
Holtenders in the sky.