UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[olaftab]

Have completed some preliminary research for all 3 venues travel etc. For Zrinjski, Sarajevo looks like the route of choice with Wizz from Luton and then train from Sarajevo to Mostar. But  more likely to be a minimum 3 day trip. The other two are a breeze.

[olaftab]

If you’re going to Almaar it’s worth looking at Haarlem as a base. About 20 miles south but cracking place.

Trains to Alkmaar available? What's Alkmaar like to stay?

[PeterWithesShin]

I'd imagine there will be a fair few Polish and Bosnians that live here that will want to be at the VP games.

[DeKuip]

If you’re going to Almaar it’s worth looking at Haarlem as a base. About 20 miles south but cracking place.

Trains to Alkmaar available? What's Alkmaar like to stay?

Nice, quiet town when we played there pre-season in O’Leary’s days, but most Villa fans then stayed in Amsterdam and got the train up. More Villa there that weekend than the number of tickets we’ll get at this ugly new ground they have!

[charleeco7]

If you’re going to Almaar it’s worth looking at Haarlem as a base. About 20 miles south but cracking place.

Trains to Alkmaar available? What's Alkmaar like to stay?

Yes, about 40 mins on the train.

[charleeco7]

If you’re going to Almaar it’s worth looking at Haarlem as a base. About 20 miles south but cracking place.

Trains to Alkmaar available? What's Alkmaar like to stay?

Yes, about 40 mins on the train. I’ve never stayed in Alkmaar but have friends in Haarlem so visited them, nice place.

[Small Rodent]

I'd imagine there will be a fair few Polish and Bosnians that live here that will want to be at the VP games.

I went to Fulham v (I forget which Polish team) about 10 years ago with the Streatham Polish contingent. It was loud and crazy, but all violence seemed to be rival Polish expats.

I was in the neutral stand and the stewards were overwhelmed by fans ignoring their ticketing.

[Brazilian Villain]

Nice, quiet town when we played there pre-season in O’Leary’s days, but most Villa fans then stayed in Amsterdam and got the train up. More Villa there that weekend than the number of tickets we’ll get at this ugly new ground they have!

Amsterdam is less than €20 return on the train, and the journey only takes 37 mins.

[Smirker]

Nice group. We'll smash all of these losers 

[Percy McCarthy]

This group feels like a proper European competition and we should get some good crowds. Think we’ll have a million spectators at Villa Park this season for the first time since God knows when. The seventies?

[Exeter 77]

The thing I remember most from a football discussion I had when I went to Mostar a few years ago was Zrinski were banned from playing in the old Yugoslav league up until the early 90s because they had been part of the Nazi supported Croatian league during World War Two. This partially explains why I'd only heard if Velez  up to then. Mostar is a great place though

[darren woolley]

I'm happy with the draw I can see us winning the group I just hope those fans from Holland and Poland  behave themselves at Villa Park.

[kippaxvilla2]

Is it just me doing my usual or is this the relative group of death in the Conference?

[ADVILLAFAN]

I thought Group D was the 'Group of Mild Discomfort personally.

[Dave P]

Hopefully it won’t come to this, but if we finish 2nd in our group, we have to play a further play off against a team who finished 3rd in the Europa league group before the round of 16. If we win the group. We go straight to the round of 16.