Villa Park Redevelopment

[London Villan]

Those plans orginate from the lerner days, but the middle option is closest to whats being built. These are from the same time.

[The Edge]

Came across this image whilst perusing the interweb. Interestingly it shows plans to increase the capacity to 60k. Not sure how valid they are, but exciting none the less.

That image plays havoc with my OCD. They really must move the Trinity Rd over a bit to allow the Holte and the Trinity to be squared off.

[Villan82]

Those plans orginate from the lerner days, but the middle option is closest to whats being built. These are from the same time.

There is something about that image that just screams 'Lerner'. When I clicked on the image I could almost hear the old AVTV youtube music from about 2013/2014 and imagine a chequered claret and blue aesthetic. Surprised, also, how similar it would have looked to the new Trinity.

What we have ended up with will look much better in mu humble opinion.

When i look at old photos of Villa Park I can never understand why the 1960s era Witton Lane Stand was smaller than the original stand on that side. Does anybody know or is it just that the original looked bigger than it was?

[London Villan]

The 60s witton lane was pretty much the same stand that was built in 1897, but with a flat roof. Even the entrances to the seats were in the same places until the lower tier was replaced after it was bodged by ellis.

[LeeB]

The 60s witton lane was pretty much the same stand that was built in 1897, but with a flat roof. Even the entrances to the seats were in the same places until the lower tier was replaced after it was bodged by ellis.

The one place I never sat until it was rebuilt. Had a season ticket there one year in the early 2000's until the dickhead in front took issue with a private conversation about the qualities Tore Andre Flo as he was tearing us apart at it ended in a four man brawl including my brother and his son.

Never liked it in there.

[dave.woodhall]

The 60s witton lane was pretty much the same stand that was built in 1897, but with a flat roof. Even the entrances to the seats were in the same places until the lower tier was replaced after it was bodged by ellis.

I always thought it was a new stand and the original one was two tier. I'd been told the mkII version was smaller because it was all we could afford.

[Nev]

The 60s witton lane was pretty much the same stand that was built in 1897, but with a flat roof. Even the entrances to the seats were in the same places until the lower tier was replaced after it was bodged by ellis.

I always thought it was a new stand and the original one was two tier. I'd been told the mkII version was smaller because it was all we could afford.

The original was built on top of a terraced bank from what I recall from pictures and Inglis' various books and with it's vaulted roof would appear much bigger than when that flat thing was plonked on top.

[PeterWithesShin]

Pretty sure when the flat roof was put on it was still half seats half terrace and it was converted to all seats for the World Cup.

[London Villan]

It was. It was the original main stand and housed the dressing rooms etc etc before the Trinity was built in the 20s.

[Villan82]

The 60s witton lane was pretty much the same stand that was built in 1897, but with a flat roof. Even the entrances to the seats were in the same places until the lower tier was replaced after it was bodged by ellis.

I always thought it was a new stand and the original one was two tier. I'd been told the mkII version was smaller because it was all we could afford.

Yes, that is what I thought. The photos of the original show a two tier stand. It being smaller after the rebuild for financial reasons makes sense.

[VILLA MOLE]

Looking at the Lerner plans ,  the aim was to put a further 10000 on the Witton lane to get up to 60.000 .  Obviously that would be more difficult to process

[London Villan]

The 60s witton lane was pretty much the same stand that was built in 1897, but with a flat roof. Even the entrances to the seats were in the same places until the lower tier was replaced after it was bodged by ellis.

I always thought it was a new stand and the original one was two tier. I'd been told the mkII version was smaller because it was all we could afford.

Yes, that is what I thought. The photos of the original show a two tier stand. It being smaller after the rebuild for financial reasons makes sense.

Image of the construction of the witton in the 60s - done on the cheap.

[pauliewalnuts]

It was always such a piss pot little stand. I used to hate it, despite it being where I went for my first matches as a nipper.

[VILLA MOLE]

i remember it having some random royal blue seats at the front in the middle in the 80s ?

[PeterWithesShin]

The old Witton Lane was the only part of what I class as the original VP I knew from when I can remember going to games as a nipper that I never watched a game from. Did both sides of the Holte, Upper and Lower Trinity and the boxes, and the Upper North, Lower North both the seats and when it was a terrace and also the NS boxes.