Gone but not forgotten

[dave shelley]

Yes,I was at that with my old man.  Villa kicked towards the Holte in the first half ( there wasn't a second half ). I do remember a roar going up at the Holte which would signify a goal and, to this day, I don't know if there was one.

The biggest bummer of that day was; by the time we got home, and we only lived on the Wyrley Birch at the time, the bloody fog had lifted.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Sports Argus was amazing. Loved the little fixtures box complete with result and goalscorers

yeah i used to go the newsagents by us at 6pm ,,and the evening mail van would bring it about quarter past
there would be about 15 people waiting for it

When I lived in Manchester I used to get the train back from Villa Park after every home game and there was a newsagent just outside Piccadilly station that sold the Argus. God knows how they got it up there so quickly, pre computer age, but it was always good to feel a little piece of home in that northern hellhole.....

Interesting, Sheffield and Nottingham both had the "Green 'un", their version of the Argus. They were printed in pink or green because the paper was cheaper than white

[Pat McMahon]

Sports Argus was amazing. Loved the little fixtures box complete with result and goalscorers

yeah i used to go the newsagents by us at 6pm ,,and the evening mail van would bring it about quarter past
there would be about 15 people waiting for it

When I lived in Manchester I used to get the train back from Villa Park after every home game and there was a newsagent just outside Piccadilly station that sold the Argus. God knows how they got it up there so quickly, pre computer age, but it was always good to feel a little piece of home in that northern hellhole.....

Interesting, Sheffield and Nottingham both had the "Green 'un", their version of the Argus. They were printed in pink or green because the paper was cheaper than white

It was the same at Euston Chico - you could buy the Argus when you arrived back down in London.

I lived in Sheffield and the Green Un wasn't a patch on the Argus

[West Derby Villan]

Seeing the AV floodlights from the Clifton, Walsall Road on night matches

[Godfrey Brian]

The claret and blue football shaped snack bar on top of the Witton End.

[Pete]

Seeing the AV floodlights from the Clifton, Walsall Road on night matches

We used to drive over Barr Beacon on the way to the match, and it was a great view of the lights from their. Spine tingling.

[castlefields_villan]

Seeing the AV floodlights from the Clifton, Walsall Road on night matches

Coming down the Walsall Road - that was a magnificent sight seeing A V illuminate the night sky.

[Oscar Arce]

Pirate programmes- usually for big games, and usually bought by 'occasional' supporters outside the ground only to find the 'programme' was just 'a brief history of the FA Cup' or something else unassociated with the match!
The scores at halftime on the scoreboard and seeing the numbers expectantly popped in the corresponding number.
Villa Chocolates.
The Villa Tuck Shop.
Players just running out onto the pitch and then kicking off, none of the hoohah of today.
Transferring from the Trinity into the Witton at half time.
Getting the Argus in town off the bus from the game.
Fish and Chips on the bus.
Swirls of pipe and fag smoke coming from the crowd.
Old blokes all wore ties to the game.
Many little 'uns brougfht a crate to stand on.
Pfff... as someone stole your exact 'spot' on the crash barrier on the Holte, so you stood right next to them edging them sideways all match.
Wondering who was in the team because you turned up late and missed the changes announced on the programme.
Etc....

[dave shelley]

The feeling of excitement I always got in the pit of my stomach when the number eleven bus reached the stop at Stockland Green on the way down the Villa.  Being mad as hell when the driver had to turn his key in the big clock that was there as it meant a five-minute or so delay.  You could also say that I miss the clock.

I got that feeling of excitement even when we were shit because there was always that expectation that we would improve and turn it around.

Something else missing in this modern age, the excited babble on the bus after a win or a great performance.

[Godfrey Brian]

All the number 11 buses queuing  around Witton Island after the game.

[Charlie8182]

Toilet rolls being thrown into the goalmouth.
Goalkeepers wearing green jerseys, along with the same shorts/socks as the outfield players.
Deciding on the morning of a game whether you were going to travel away, never mind a home game!

[leylandalbion]

Taking a milk crate into the holte to stand on

[castlefields_villan]

Pirate programmes- usually for big games, and usually bought by 'occasional' supporters outside the ground only to find the 'programme' was just 'a brief history of the FA Cup' or something else unassociated with the match!
The scores at halftime on the scoreboard and seeing the numbers expectantly popped in the corresponding number.
Villa Chocolates.
The Villa Tuck Shop.
Players just running out onto the pitch and then kicking off, none of the hoohah of today.
Transferring from the Trinity into the Witton at half time.
Getting the Argus in town off the bus from the game.
Fish and Chips on the bus.
Swirls of pipe and fag smoke coming from the crowd.
Old blokes all wore ties to the game.
Many little 'uns brougfht a crate to stand on.
Pfff... as someone stole your exact 'spot' on the crash barrier on the Holte, so you stood right next to them edging them sideways all match.
Wondering who was in the team because you turned up late and missed the changes announced on the programme.
Etc....

The expected cheer when we saw the rags were losing at half time - I remember we came unstuck once though - they lost 4-3 at Liverpool in the early 70s - but led at half time -

The home score (Liverpool) came up   ------------  TWO   (Cue big cheer)
The away score (the rags)       "                            Three   (Cue gasps truly thinking the scoreboard operators had made a mistake)

[conman]

knees up mother brown

[castlefields_villan]

"Chico - Chico - Chico"