The best of So close, but never felt so far

[dave.woodhall]

Just the first few I copied. Thanks everyone.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2026/03/17/so-close-but-never-felt-so-far/

[Rory]

Just the first few I copied. Thanks everyone.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2026/03/17/so-close-but-never-felt-so-far/

I think you need a slightly younger voice in there for additional context. Somebody whose post makes mention of the fact that they're 37, perhaps.

[Towser]

100% how I feel Dave, been going since 1972 and never felt so detached from the club, thinking this might be my last year as a season ticket holder (upper Trinity these days don't you know, mainly because my old eyes cant see other end of pitch from The Holte) some of the best times long gone in the memory, remember when I used to sit in front of you, Greg, Mac in upper Holte, the wusser a few rows behind us trying to get everyone to sing and being told to f*&k off, the steward who said that bloke who runs that fanzine thing was starting all the trouble and you going looking for him when I told you.

The highs of winning the league, the European Cup and yes the League cup (still to win the FA Cup in my lifetime and I am running out of time there so not likely to see this one) The wins against Bayern and PSG, not losing to our neighbors in god knows how long, all ruined by VAR, PSR and all the other excuses to stop us winning anything ever again.

Only good thing about getting old is I managed to see us lift trophies, also the lows of relegation and 'throwing away' our best chances of winning anything in recent years.

Will we win anything ever again, maybe not in my lifetime, and if, by some miracle we did, I might not be inside the ground to see it.

[dave.woodhall]

100% how I feel Dave, been going since 1972 and never felt so detached from the club, thinking this might be my last year as a season ticket holder (upper Trinity these days don't you know, mainly because my old eyes cant see other end of pitch from The Holte) some of the best times long gone in the memory, remember when I used to sit in front of you, Greg, Mac in upper Holte, the wusser a few rows behind us trying to get everyone to sing and being told to f*&k off, the steward who said that bloke who runs that fanzine thing was starting all the trouble and you going looking for him when I told you.

The highs of winning the league, the European Cup and yes the League cup (still to win the FA Cup in my lifetime and I am running out of time there so not likely to see this one) The wins against Bayern and PSG, not losing to our neighbors in god knows how long, all ruined by VAR, PSR and all the other excuses to stop us winning anything ever again.

Only good thing about getting old is I managed to see us lift trophies, also the lows of relegation and 'throwing away' our best chances of winning anything in recent years.

Will we win anything ever again, maybe not in my lifetime, and if, by some miracle we did, I might not be inside the ground to see it.

The trouble-starting incident came at a match I missed. Something happened, the steward said was it me who started it and Greg put him right. Talking of Mac, when he stopped going he said it wasn't because of one thing, it was everything. This thread is what he meant.

[Rigadon]

It’s good that this stuff is published somewhere, but it’ll be a drop in an ocean full of pundits who make a living from the current status quo saying it’s just grumpy old Villa fans upset that they’re blowing a 10 point gap.  It’s really more than that, but it won’t be accepted to be because of the vast amount of people with vested interests feeding off what the ‘sport’ has become.  Take away the hope and veneer or fairness and there’s not much to keep people shelling out loads of money to watch what is effectively a foregone conclusion every single season.  The Chelsea thing is a tipping point. 

[Legion]

Done.

[Chris Stares]

It’s good that this stuff is published somewhere, but it’ll be a drop in an ocean full of pundits who make a living from the current status quo saying it’s just grumpy old Villa fans upset that they’re blowing a 10 point gap.  It’s really more than that, but it won’t be accepted to be because of the vast amount of people with vested interests feeding off what the ‘sport’ has become.  Take away the hope and veneer or fairness and there’s not much to keep people shelling out loads of money to watch what is effectively a foregone conclusion every single season.  The Chelsea thing is a tipping point. 

Nail. On. Head.

[Rico]

https://youtu.be/uFK_Kz2zjm0?si=2g1f5LRwdy9G2ro2

Good unbiased reporting on SCR. It's very depressing, and shows how the system is rigged against anyone but the big 6

[dave.woodhall]

It’s good that this stuff is published somewhere, but it’ll be a drop in an ocean full of pundits who make a living from the current status quo saying it’s just grumpy old Villa fans upset that they’re blowing a 10 point gap.  It’s really more than that, but it won’t be accepted to be because of the vast amount of people with vested interests feeding off what the ‘sport’ has become.  Take away the hope and veneer or fairness and there’s not much to keep people shelling out loads of money to watch what is effectively a foregone conclusion every single season.  The Chelsea thing is a tipping point. 

And if anyone from the Villa are reading it, they'll smile at the thought of all those £40;a time season ticket seats they can sell for £129 next year.

[PeterWithesShin]

I've said before, i've been to over 1000 games in my time, and flatly refuse to pay current prices. When we were shit they were desperate for me to be there, these days i'm convinced they are delighted I don't go as i'm their worst type of 'customer', buy my seat and nothing else. Knowing they're happy i'm not there made staying away easier and then the habit of going is gone. I'm at peace with knowing there's every chance i'll never be in VP again.

[N'ZMAV]

the club prefer day-trippers, it sums up the modern game....

[martin o`who??]

Firstly, we just have to accept there are forces in the universe that just don't want us to win another thing and they appear to be succeeding at the moment - if you can call thirty years a moment. Some of us of a certain age were blessed to witness 81/82 in all its unforgettable glory - and glory it was, made all the more sweet by being achieved by players who actually felt like they represented me rather than a multi millionaire agent with the right contacts who's first language most certainly isn't English. Did we supporters at that time lie awake at night worrying that Serie A was the dominant league of choice with all the money and glamour, no we didn't. We just enjoyed and treasured the ride and the simplicity of a game we actually understood and could identify with played by players we could identify with. Now it's "play out from the back" the sufferance of the VAR tragedy. Players acting like the demigods that untold riches have turned them into. Loyalty being a hinderance rather than a desirable characteristic. Fans being treated as market churn rather than disciples of a father-to-son tradition just as long as clubs can sell the seat to the most lucrative "customer" and clubs regularly fielding teams with no English players. The game I loved from the moment in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico when a Stoke City goalkeeper called Gordon Banks playing for England somehow managed to claw a ball which was already past him over the bar from an already celebrating Brazilian called Pele is no more. Money has destroyed the soul of our game and whoever has the deepest pockets/best lawyers and best accountants gets to keep the trophies  - just ask Chelsea.
The Trophies may be "so near and yet so far away" - the sad part for me is I don't really think I care anymore.

[martin o`who??]

Firstly, we just have to accept there are forces in the universe that just don't want us to win another thing and they appear to be succeeding at the moment - if you can call thirty years a moment. Some of us of a certain age were blessed to witness 81/82 in all its unforgettable glory - and glory it was, made all the more sweet by being achieved by players who actually felt like they represented me rather than a multi millionaire agent with the right contacts who's first language most certainly isn't English. Did we supporters at that time lie awake at night worrying that Serie A was the dominant league of choice with all the money and glamour, no we didn't. We just enjoyed and treasured the ride and the simplicity of a game we actually understood and could identify with played by players we could identify with. Now it's "play out from the back" the sufferance of the VAR tragedy. Players acting like the demigods that untold riches have turned them into. Loyalty being a hinderance rather than a desirable characteristic. Fans being treated as market churn rather than disciples of a father-to-son tradition just as long as clubs can sell the seat to the most lucrative "customer" and clubs regularly fielding teams with no English players. The game I loved from the moment in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico when a Stoke City goalkeeper called Gordon Banks playing for England somehow managed to claw a ball which was already past him over the bar from an already celebrating Brazilian called Pele is no more. Money has destroyed the soul of our game and whoever has the deepest pockets/best lawyers and best accountants gets to keep the trophies  - just ask Chelsea.
The Trophies may be "so near and yet so far away" - the sad part for me is I don't really think I care anymore.

[Rotterdam]

I agree with most that has been written. Martin sums it up...'Money has destroyed the soul of our game'.