Villa Park Redevelopment

[Chip Butty 111]

I've only been up there once, September 1984 and we lost 3:0, in front of what seemed to be a full house of 31,591. At the time we had a capacity of 48,000,  but Villa Park has gradually shrunk on a hot wash over the years somehow and now 52,000 isn't big enough for Newcastle.

Their stadium looks like an absolute relic compared to others even in the 70's, it was just three open terraces and a few thousand seats in a main stand built at the turn of the century,
one of the few places undergoing significant development before the Taylor Report.

Open terraces each end and not overly impressive at the time, like the Hawthorns with some roofs missing.

And that was after improvements!

I remember going to Blackburn in the cup in 1990 before they redeveloped, blimey that was a relic from a bygone era.

Went there in that era after we were relegated late eighties, an absolute shocker. Literally falling to bits around you.

[DB]

From the talk of stadium moves on here and NSWE thread, looks like the Mayor and club are pushing the Witton station development. Would this be being pushed if the club are considering moving?

[Flamingo Lane]

I went to Ewood Park in I think 1972 and then again in 1980, I thought it was a fabulous football ground.

[amfy]

From the talk of stadium moves on here and NSWE thread, looks like the Mayor and club are pushing the Witton station development. Would this be being pushed if the club are considering moving?

It depends where to.

[jon collett]

I went to Ewood Park in I think 1972 and then again in 1980, I thought it was a fabulous football ground.

One of my worst nights in 93. Our allocation was small so paid a tout to stand at side of ground. We lost the League after Dalian hit the post. United scored offside winner at Selhurst. I missed the last train to Manchester and tried to sleep at Blackburn station. Got moved on by goods train to Preston. All in the middle of my finals in Manchester when we lost the League to the rags!

[dave.woodhall]

I went to Ewood Park in I think 1972 and then again in 1980, I thought it was a fabulous football ground.

One of my worst nights in 93. Our allocation was small so paid a tour to stand at side of ground. We lost the League after Dalian hit the post. United scored offside winner at Selhurst. I missed the last train to Manchester and tried to sleep at Blackburn station. Got moved on by goods train to Preston. All in the middle of my finals in Manchester when we lost the League to the rags!

We were three down before they kicked off, Joe Worrall who supported them was our ref and the Mirror's back page headline next morning was CHAMPIONS AT LAST! but everything was above board, oh yes.

[London Villan]

From the talk of stadium moves on here and NSWE thread, looks like the Mayor and club are pushing the Witton station development. Would this be being pushed if the club are considering moving?

Wasn’t that part of the deal with Birmingham securing the host city status for Euro 2028?

[pauliewalnuts]

I went to Ewood Park in I think 1972 and then again in 1980, I thought it was a fabulous football ground.

I went there for what I think was David Platt's debut. Think it ended 3-3.

Was a bit 'lively' around the town after the match, I recall.

[cdbearsfan]

Nothing will happen with Witton Station. They haven't bothered their arses with the Moseley or Kings Heath stations that they promised, either, and the tram still hasn't made it to Digbeth. This is Birmingham, you'll have a buzz, and you'll wait half an hour for it, and you'll be grateful.

[pauliewalnuts]

Nothing will happen with Witton Station. They haven't bothered their arses with the Moseley or Kings Heath stations that they promised, either, and the tram still hasn't made it to Digbeth. This is Birmingham, you'll have a buzz, and you'll wait half an hour for it, and you'll be grateful.

Aren't both those being built at the moment?

[London Villan]

They are, but will open 3 years after the expected completion date.

[cdbearsfan]

I'm sure they'll be open just in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, as promised. I don't expect us to compete for funding with London, but I go to places like Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield, with much smaller populations, and they're light years ahead of us in transport provision.

[jon collett]

The Mayor’s vague and vacuous tweet seems to suggest that’s right. The comments in response from Villa supporters!!!

[The Edge]

Nothing will happen with Witton Station. They haven't bothered their arses with the Moseley or Kings Heath stations that they promised, either, and the tram still hasn't made it to Digbeth. This is Birmingham, you'll have a buzz, and you'll wait half an hour for it, and you'll be grateful.

The stations are under way at Moseley and King's Heath I think. Witton was promised as part of Villa Park getting the Euros in 2028. They're cutting it fine if that's going to happen and any likely expansion of Villa Park.

[Demitri_C]

I bet villa park doesnt make it for 2028 now we have no expnasion or transport improvements

Cheers heck