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Author Topic: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.  (Read 5651 times)

Offline gregavfc69/70

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The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« on: December 24, 2021, 03:14:21 PM »

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?

Online dave.woodhall

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2021, 03:48:49 PM »
I think we had a site on Trinity Road that was sold in aroundd 1965.

Offline Exeter 77

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2021, 04:39:20 PM »
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.

Offline AlexAlexCropley

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2021, 04:56:12 PM »
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.

Offline Whiney MacWhineface

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2021, 06:36:14 PM »
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.

Online dcdavecollett

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2021, 07:21:34 PM »
I think they used the Lucas Works pitch and sometimes trained on Aston Park, if they didn't want to knacker the pitch up.

Offline gregavfc69/70

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2021, 12:51:20 PM »
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.

Offline gregavfc69/70

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2021, 12:53:13 PM »
Woofles, why do you say ''boo'' to Hateley?

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

Online dcdavecollett

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2021, 09:56:30 PM »
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.

Online dave.woodhall

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2021, 10:00:40 PM »
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. 

Offline kippaxvilla2

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2021, 10:09:45 PM »
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.

Offline Whiney MacWhineface

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2021, 06:40:15 PM »
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.

Online dcdavecollett

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2021, 11:08:08 PM »
On the official history of...video, Charlie Aitken, reflecting on the training arrangements at the club said, "I was better treated as an amateur!"

Offline KevinGage

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2021, 03:30:34 PM »
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.

Online BC54 VFC

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Re: The training ground locations prior to Bodymoor Heath.
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2022, 12:22:26 AM »
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.

 


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