Archibald Leitch

[maidstonevillain]

Died 80yrs ago today. Short Beeb article, although Villa references are a bit light, other than nice piccie of present Holte End.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48028660

[Nev]

For us football ground bores, this man is a Saint and his influence at our club should never be underestimated.

Part of the allure of our club, it's splendour, dignity and stature within the game not only came from events on the pitch but the magnificence of the Trinity Road Stand, in particular the frontage.

[maidstonevillain]

Died 80yrs ago today. Short Beeb article, although Villa references are a bit light, other than nice piccie of present Holte End.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48028660

If you follow the link on the Beeb article for the Simon Inglis book, the sample pages shown address Villa Park, although they don't appear to add much to the info given in the recent Villa park thread.

http://www.playedinbritain.co.uk/pdf/engineering-archie-140-141.pdf

[Chico Hamilton III]

I've got Engineering Archie by Inglis. It's a masterpiece.

I think the book goes for silly money now as well

[Malandro]

I've got Engineering Archie by Inglis. It's a masterpiece.

I think the book goes for silly money now as well

A book I let someone borrow, not seen it in five years.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

https://twitter.com/The_SimonInglis

@The_SimonInglis
 1h1 hour ago

"Archibald Leitch died April 25 1939. Buried East Sheen, London. His sole obituary was 2 lines in journal of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, describing him as a consulting engineer and factory architect. No mention of football."



How many millions of people have must have wonderful moments etched in their memory banks against a Leitch inspired backdrop.
 
I think I read a story about Simon Inglis (Villa fan and THE authority on football grounds) flying across Europe and his wife asking what country they were over. "Germany" he replied, "right over Frankfurt" as he instantly identified the Eintracht stadium from 30,000 feet.

[Nev]

https://twitter.com/The_SimonInglis

@The_SimonInglis
 1h1 hour ago

"Archibald Leitch died April 25 1939. Buried East Sheen, London. His sole obituary was 2 lines in journal of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, describing him as a consulting engineer and factory architect. No mention of football."



How many millions of people have must have wonderful moments etched in their memory banks against a Leitch inspired backdrop.
 
I think I read a story about Simon Inglis (Villa fan and THE authority on football grounds) flying across Europe and his wife asking what country they were over. "Germany" he replied, "right over Frankfurt" as he instantly identified the Eintracht stadium from 30,000 feet.

Oh yes, whenever I'm flying I am looking out for football grounds, of any size, trying to indentify them. I bought Inglis' first book on football grounds when I was about 15, I couldn't believe there was anyone else as obsessed as I was about grounds. It remains a great interest, but I'm no groundhopper.

[Chico Hamilton III]

I spent a fantastic evening many years ago above a pub in North London listening to Simon Inglis and Richard Whitehead talking about Villa and football grounds. A few others from here were there as well. Nerd heaven.

[Towser]

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I've had that top picture framed and on my lounge wall for about the last 15 years.

[purpletrousers]

I spent a fantastic evening many years ago above a pub in North London listening to Simon Inglis and Richard Whitehead talking about Villa and football grounds. A few others from here were there as well. Nerd heaven.

It was a great evening wasn’t it. I’ve often wondered if we could do this again?

[dave shelley]

https://twitter.com/The_SimonInglis

@The_SimonInglis
 1h1 hour ago

"Archibald Leitch died April 25 1939. Buried East Sheen, London. His sole obituary was 2 lines in journal of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, describing him as a consulting engineer and factory architect. No mention of football."



How many millions of people have must have wonderful moments etched in their memory banks against a Leitch inspired backdrop.
 
I think I read a story about Simon Inglis (Villa fan and THE authority on football grounds) flying across Europe and his wife asking what country they were over. "Germany" he replied, "right over Frankfurt" as he instantly identified the Eintracht stadium from 30,000 feet.

Oh yes, whenever I'm flying I am looking out for football grounds, of any size, trying to indentify them. I bought Inglis' first book on football grounds when I was about 15, I couldn't believe there was anyone else as obsessed as I was about grounds. It remains a great interest, but I'm no groundhopper.

I'm exactly the same.  Wherever I go I'm always on the lookout for football grounds, I love to chalk a new one off the list.  Spotting them from the air is a great way to pass a few minutes when coming in to land.  Coming in to Heathrow you get some great views, Brentford especially.

[maidstonevillain]

https://twitter.com/The_SimonInglis

@The_SimonInglis
 1h1 hour ago

"Archibald Leitch died April 25 1939. Buried East Sheen, London. His sole obituary was 2 lines in journal of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, describing him as a consulting engineer and factory architect. No mention of football."



How many millions of people have must have wonderful moments etched in their memory banks against a Leitch inspired backdrop.
 
I think I read a story about Simon Inglis (Villa fan and THE authority on football grounds) flying across Europe and his wife asking what country they were over. "Germany" he replied, "right over Frankfurt" as he instantly identified the Eintracht stadium from 30,000 feet.

Oh yes, whenever I'm flying I am looking out for football grounds, of any size, trying to indentify them. I bought Inglis' first book on football grounds when I was about 15, I couldn't believe there was anyone else as obsessed as I was about grounds. It remains a great interest, but I'm no groundhopper.

I'm exactly the same.  Wherever I go I'm always on the lookout for football grounds, I love to chalk a new one off the list.  Spotting them from the air is a great way to pass a few minutes when coming in to land.  Coming in to Heathrow you get some great views, Brentford especially.

And Craven Cottage  often.

[Damo70]

https://twitter.com/The_SimonInglis

@The_SimonInglis
 1h1 hour ago

"Archibald Leitch died April 25 1939. Buried East Sheen, London. His sole obituary was 2 lines in journal of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, describing him as a consulting engineer and factory architect. No mention of football."



How many millions of people have must have wonderful moments etched in their memory banks against a Leitch inspired backdrop.
 
I think I read a story about Simon Inglis (Villa fan and THE authority on football grounds) flying across Europe and his wife asking what country they were over. "Germany" he replied, "right over Frankfurt" as he instantly identified the Eintracht stadium from 30,000 feet.

Oh yes, whenever I'm flying I am looking out for football grounds, of any size, trying to indentify them. I bought Inglis' first book on football grounds when I was about 15, I couldn't believe there was anyone else as obsessed as I was about grounds. It remains a great interest, but I'm no groundhopper.

I'm exactly the same.  Wherever I go I'm always on the lookout for football grounds, I love to chalk a new one off the list.  Spotting them from the air is a great way to pass a few minutes when coming in to land.  Coming in to Heathrow you get some great views, Brentford especially.

I remember being on holiday in Switzerland with my parents as a kid and the groundsman at Neuchatel Xamax let me have a kickabout on the pitch.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I remember being on holiday in Switzerland with my parents as a kid and the groundsman at Neuchatel Xamax let me have a kickabout on the pitch.

We climbed over a fence and had a kickabout on the abandoned Bradford Park Avenue pitch. Pretty sure it was before going to watch us win 4-2 at Bradford City in 1987.