Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Pre-Match Thread

[cheltenhamlion]

Nothing on 03/03/03.

Not even close.

Agreed. Remember people running from the Holte to try and get to SHA supporters.

What happened then ? I dont remember it, I wasnt at the game though.

Oh Christ. That night was pure evil. I have never known a game of football before where pretty much everyone was foaming at the mouth to belt seven shades of shit out of the opposing fans.

Unfortunately, they hadn't played us for so long they had started to believe their own myths. "The home ends would be chock full of noses". "They were going to take the Holte". "All Villa fans turn up from the Shires wearing bobble hats and only do so to moan". They had believed the self created myth that they could turn up and do as they pleased. Reality is a bitch though.

The ones identified in our stands that clearly weren't there to fight were verbally abused. They had drinks and food launched over them. They were liberally spat on by all and sundry.

If you displayed any suggestion you wanted to be one of the team to "take the Holte" then you were quickly either dealt a hefty blow or thrown down the stairs.

And that is before our sending offs meaning the atmosphere got worse and we had fans piling into the away end to dish out some retribution.

It was horrible. The one night we truly sank to their level.

[dave.woodhall]

One of their disabled supporters got attacked. That's how bad it was.

[brian green]

We tried to comfort a Villa fan dying of a heart attack in the park after that game.

[cheltenhamlion]

Witton Lane was like Agincourt with glass bottles before the game as well.

[Axl Rose]

We tried to comfort a Villa fan dying of a heart attack in the park after that game.

That's absolutely awful to hear Brian. So sad.

[Lambert and Payne]

Nothing on 03/03/03.

Actually, yeah. My first Second City Derby. I had managed to forget about it, thanks for bringing back those memories.

[Lambert and Payne]

Nothing on 03/03/03.

Not even close.

Agreed. Remember people running from the Holte to try and get to SHA supporters.

I was in the family stand that night. There was Blues fans in the directors box behind us and the Villa fans ran up and gave them a pasting. Fans were also running on and attacking SHA fans from the Doug Ellis and Trinity, it was pure poison from the second the teams coming out for the warm ups.

[Ads]

It was like Saigon above Aston Park before the game with multiple helicopters.

An evil night. Destroyer of myths. Sky haven't broadcast anything like it in their post 92 sanitised offerings.

[Villa75]

It was like Saigon above Aston Park before the game with multiple helicopters.

An evil night. Destroyer of myths. Sky haven't broadcast anything like it in their post 92 sanitised offerings.

I forgot it was on Sky, having been at the match.

I bet they were shell shocked in the studio which, I think, used to be in the right hand corner between the Holte and the Doug Ellis.

[Legion]

Nothing on 03/03/03.

Not even close.

Agreed. Remember people running from the Holte to try and get to SHA supporters.

What happened then ? I dont remember it, I wasnt at the game though.

Oh Christ. That night was pure evil. I have never known a game of football before where pretty much everyone was foaming at the mouth to belt seven shades of shit out of the opposing fans.

Unfortunately, they hadn't played us for so long they had started to believe their own myths. "The home ends would be chock full of noses". "They were going to take the Holte". "All Villa fans turn up from the Shires wearing bobble hats and only do so to moan". They had believed the self created myth that they could turn up and do as they pleased. Reality is a bitch though.

The ones identified in our stands that clearly weren't there to fight were verbally abused. They had drinks and food launched over them. They were liberally spat on by all and sundry.

If you displayed any suggestion you wanted to be one of the team to "take the Holte" then you were quickly either dealt a hefty blow or thrown down the stairs.

And that is before our sending offs meaning the atmosphere got worse and we had fans piling into the away end to dish out some retribution.

It was horrible. The one night we truly sank to their level.

In every area. Without wishing to carry on going off topic here, it was the most scared I've ever been at a football match. I arrived very early to avoid any unpleasantness and left well before FT once we were dead and buried on the pitch. The scenes, especially in the second half, were shocking. My friend Ian came to the ground at his usual time before KO. He got to the corner of Witton Lane, turned round and went back home due to WWIII looking on the cards. It was carnage. Maybe the visit of Rangers was worse but this one was the ultimate for me.

[Legion]

Anyway, PWS is going for 1-1, I'm going for 2-0 and we'll probably get a 0-0 war of attrition.

[PaulTheVillan]

4-0

[QuintonVilla]

03/03/03 will never be topped for sheer hatred. The noses didn't know what hit them that night off the pitch. It speaks volumes that despite them claiming to have thousands in our ends every season has anyone actually seen one since that night? I haven't. Not saying there haven't been any but none have been brave/stupid enough to make themselves known. My abiding memory is being in the Holte at 0-2 down roaring on the Witton Lane as they piled into the noses. I remember a nose celebrating in the Upper Witton aswell and we cheered as he bounced down the steps and 'normal' fans kicked him as he rolled past. I was only 16 and in a weird way I loved it as I hadn't seen anything like it before, or since.

[Ads]

It was like Saigon above Aston Park before the game with multiple helicopters.

An evil night. Destroyer of myths. Sky haven't broadcast anything like it in their post 92 sanitised offerings.

I forgot it was on Sky, having been at the match.

I bet they were shell shocked in the studio which, I think, used to be in the right hand corner between the Holte and the Doug Ellis.

No idea, was at the game.

Who knew the concrete steps of the upper Witton were so bouncy or maybe Solihul produces bouncy Noses. Eitherway, I doubt he has sat in the wrong end since.

The Mail were responsible for what happened that night as much as anything else.

[SoccerHQ]

They've not won away or at VP for a while.....

Did they not beat us 2 1 last time they played at VP? Always remembered them being a bogey side for us apart from under MON

Yep. THAT McLeish game. They won at VP in the LC that year as well.

They were always a bugger to beat under Big Sam. That cup semi final we lost to them after a terrible first leg summed it up as they were very beatable as the second leg showed.

As soon as he left we started beating them comfortably home and away.