Last week's FCG meeting minutes

[Flin5tone]

It's a bit of a walk from the Ground but the 65/67 Bus from Aston Station is frequent and fast .

[Pat Mustard]

No SKY coverage or alternative feed on screens on concourses, seeing other scores at half time is traditionally essential. Wi-fi is shocking worse than before

Is the lack of TV coverage, live feeds Sky etc a bit more todo with Covid precautions and people gathering beneath said screens.

I know this is a general rule and nothing to do with Villa, but on the back of Covid I do think it's high time they reviewed the law about not being able to drink alcohol in your seat.  I can go to cricket, rugby, concerts, or any number of other events and it's not assumed I will turn into a raging moron at the sight of some grass.  At football, however, we are all expected to cram onto an already restricted concourse should we want a beer.

Given the situation with Covid, it just seems nonsense to me that this hasn't been looked at - even a temporary relaxation of the rules would make sense if we are serious about not wanting people to be crammed together in enclosed spaces.

[Flin5tone]

No SKY coverage or alternative feed on screens on concourses, seeing other scores at half time is traditionally essential. Wi-fi is shocking worse than before

Is the lack of TV coverage, live feeds Sky etc a bit more todo with Covid precautions and people gathering beneath said screens.

I know this is a general rule and nothing to do with Villa, but on the back of Covid I do think it's high time they reviewed the law about not being able to drink alcohol in your seat.  I can go to cricket, rugby, concerts, or any number of other events and it's not assumed I will turn into a raging moron at the sight of some grass.  At football, however, we are all expected to cram onto an already restricted concourse should we want a beer.

Given the situation with Covid, it just seems nonsense to me that this hasn't been looked at - even a temporary relaxation of the rules would make sense if we are serious about not wanting people to be crammed together in enclosed spaces.

Very True , the Holte lower has been overcrowded the last two matches with the Holte Suite closed for Vaccinations.

We now give out cans of beer which then go into plastic  cups instead of plastic bottles. Crazy

[wittonwarrior]

An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings.  Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time.  These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.

I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?

Aston station is chocka for at least an hour after the match.  I do agree for the size of our crowds etc transport away from the match is poor.  It was strangely better in the 1970s

[UK Redsox]

A good way to stop people congregating in the concourses to drink beer, is to not sell beer in the stadium this season.

[Pat Mustard]

A good way to stop people congregating in the concourses to drink beer, is to not sell beer in the stadium this season.

The problem with that is that the usual options elsewhere are severely restricted this year - no Holte Pub or Suite, and lots of other pubs in the vicinity having closed down either temporarily or permanently.  It's either get a drink in the stadium, or nowhere.

The overcrowding at the train stations after the game is due in no small part to the fact that everyone is now leaving the area at the same time - there are a lot of us who would go for one or two drinks after the game just to let the crowds die down.  Now it's less of an option everyone heads away from the ground at the same time and it's mayhem at the station.

[Flamingo Lane]

It's a bit of a walk from the Ground but the 65/67 Bus from Aston Station is frequent and fast .

Thanks.  I think I'll try that next game I go to, from Witton Warrior's post above the 65/67 bus might seem a better option than the train from Aston station.

[placeforparks]

An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings.  Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time.  These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.

I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?

nope, only if you leave early (or run!). the queue for the platform into town usually snakes down lichfield road, onto sutherland street i.e. 200 metres.

[Flin5tone]

Even better to avoid the crowds walk to the stop next to which was The Vine pub. Never wait longer than Ten minutes and in City Centre in no time

[Chris Smith]

An issue that I would like to be brought up at the next opportunity is whether the club could not come up with some means of improving public transport connections between the ground and the city centre on match days, in conjunction with the appropriate transport undertakings.  Some years ago, after a game, there would be a line of buses waiting on a road behind Aston Hall, to take fans back into the centre, and you'd be back there in no time.  These days, one is wholly reliant on scheduled services, in particular the No 7 bus which, with the amount of traffic snarling up the roads around the ground, is useless after a game.

I know there are trains, but again, nothing other other than scheduled services - Witton station I would not even attempt, is Aston very much better?

Trains from Aston are every few minutes. There always a big queue for the first couple after the game but after that they’re fine.

[Sdwbvf]

Always used to get the train from Wilton as that was what I always did. Last time I walked to Aston and got the bus. Really easy, no queue. Even got a seat upstairs.

[Brazilian Villain]

You could always take your transistor radio with you to get the football scores

Tried that but it's hard to hear it with all the rattles.

[SoccerHQ]

Bug bearer of mine is how poor half time entertainment is nowadays.

Surely in these times it would make sense to provide something worth watching or listening to so you don't get ridiculous queues at half time in the concourse which is a bit of an issue in these times.

Obviously before lockdown you had the shooting into a shirt but guess that's been scrapped for the time so all you had on Saturday was quick read of the half time scores (just premier league aswell compared to the cheer whenever SHA losing would get announced) then nothing then Russ Morris reading out some Birthdays and some Villa prize winners.

Surely we can get some old players out on the pitch and interview them infront of the Holte end or something? Or even a celeb fan or two during the season like Adil Ray (there is a 40 odd page on here with a few names for club to look at after all). Can still remember the one a few years back when Angel and Martin Laursen came back and got a brilliant ovation. Can remember things like that because they are so rare.

Just feels all a bit dull and flat as part of the "matchday experience" so one area that could be signficantly improve with a bit of thinking.

[Brazilian Villain]

Just feels all a bit dull and flat as part of the "matchday experience" so one area that could be signficantly improve with a bit of thinking.

A Villa version of the Hammerettes?

[SoccerHQ]

Just feels all a bit dull and flat as part of the "matchday experience" so one area that could be signficantly improve with a bit of thinking.

A Villa version of the Hammerettes?

Palace have the best cheerleaders don't they.......

Can remember when I first went they used to do relay races round the edge of the pitch, Villa fans v whoever was opposition that day.