The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.

[gregavfc69/70]

Please can anyone identify the locations of Villa's training grounds prior to Bodymoor Heath?

I vaguely remember a Tubes site somewhere down College Road near to Perry Barr.

If so, in what year was it sold, seemingly to raise funds to keep the club going?

[dave.woodhall]

I think we had a site on Trinity Road that was sold in aroundd 1965.

[Exeter 77]

I remember reading somewhere that the club begged or borrowed facilities from local factories between the training ground being sold and Doug buying Bodymoor Heath. Hardy Spicer in Erdington/Pype Hayes rings a bell as one them but I may be wrong.

[AlexAlexCropley]

I think we had a site on Trinity Road that was sold in aroundd 1965.

Yeah,the King Edward School playing fields just after the lights by the Trinity Rd/Witton Rd junction.

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

In 66, 67? I was told they trained at Villa Park, and that’s where I got their autographs as they emerged. Post Hateley (boo!), so I guess 67.

[dcdavecollett]

I think they used the Lucas Works pitch and sometimes trained on Aston Park, if they didn't want to knacker the pitch up.

[gregavfc69/70]

Lucas Works? That rings a bell, what road was that on?
Wasn't Bodymoor Heath gifted to the club by a Villa supporting farmer?
Think the training ground was named as Bond Street to honour the landowner.
So I'm sure Doug did not pay a penny for it.

[gregavfc69/70]

Woofles, why do you say ''boo'' to Hateley?

Because he was no good?  Or you disagreed with his transfer?

[dcdavecollett]

I believe Bond Street at Bodymoor was dedicated to the memory of Bert Bond, Villa's groundsman for many years until his death in 1973.

[dave.woodhall]

I'm sure it was named after Bert Bond, and Doug bought the land from a local farmer. With his own money, according to Doug. 

[kippaxvilla2]

According to Mr Aitken during the turmoil of the late 60s they sold the training ground and the players had to train on various local factory pitches.

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

Woofles, why do you say ''boo'' to Hateley?

Because he was no good?  Or you disagreed with his transfer?

He was my hero and was devastated when we flogged him. It signalled relegation to me.

[dcdavecollett]

On the official history of...video, Charlie Aitken, reflecting on the training arrangements at the club said, "I was better treated as an amateur!"

[KevinGage]

My older neighbour seemed pretty certain Villa used to train in the pitch at the back of Reservoir Road in Erdington way back in the day, just near the top of the hill.

[BC54 VFC]

During the 1968-69 season (and quite possibly for longer) the team trained at Cooksey Lane, Kingstanding. I know this because, along with others, I was a winner in a Co-Op painting competition (very fortunate because I've never been any good at painting!) and part of my prize, along with a 1968-69 season ticket and a tour around Villa Park, was a trip to watch the players train at Cooksey Lane.