holteend1982 Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 29 minutes ago, VILLAMARV said: have we ever won 10 league games in a row? 9 is our record in the league, we've gone 11 unbeaten in all competitions in 1897, 9 wins in league and 2 Fa Cup wins and then in 1910 we also won 9 straight league games. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dodgyknees Posted May 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted May 10, 2019 I was a walk leader for a festival down here today. Decided to wear a Villa training t-shirt from about 6 years ago, maybe more... been a while! Anyway, this elderly man on the walk comes up to me and tells me he was at the game where we beat Charlton 11-1 and Gerry Hitchens scored 5 of the goals. He said he has always had a soft spot for Villa since, and still has the matchday programme at home! He then spent a lot of time finding me to tell me more Villa-related stories, I loved it! He's a Charlton fan, obviously, but spoke with such passion. Made my day. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mjmooney Posted May 11, 2019 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted May 11, 2019 (edited) 15 hours ago, Dick said: I was a walk leader for a festival down here today. Decided to wear a Villa training t-shirt from about 6 years ago, maybe more... been a while! Anyway, this elderly man on the walk comes up to me and tells me he was at the game where we beat Charlton 11-1 and Gerry Hitchens scored 5 of the goals. He said he has always had a soft spot for Villa since, and still has the matchday programme at home! He then spent a lot of time finding me to tell me more Villa-related stories, I loved it! He's a Charlton fan, obviously, but spoke with such passion. Made my day. I love stories like that. We've recently had some building work done, and the builder (naturally, in Leeds) was a Leeds United fan. This was just after the Elland Road fiasco game, so I was ready for an argument when I told him I was a Villa fan. After he apologised for Bamford's disgraceful conduct, he told me how some years ago he had a Villa fan working for him - Brummie ex-soldier with PTSD issues, always worked in a Villa shirt. Said he was a top lad, but he sadly got terminal cancer. My builder contacted Villa who sent him a first team shirt, signed by all the players, and he took it to him in hospital, shortly before he died. Said he's had a soft spot for our club ever since - he still gets sent the catalogues from the club shop, but sentimentally, can't bring himself to cancel them. For a Leeds fan, he's a good guy. Edited May 11, 2019 by mjmooney 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 3 minutes ago, mjmooney said: I love stories like thst. We've recently had some building work done, and the builder (naturally, in Leeds) was a Leeds United fan. This was just after the Elland Road fiasco game, so I was ready for an argument when I told him I was a Villa fan. After he apologised for Bamford's disgraceful conduct, he told me how some years ago he had a Villa fan working for him - Brummie ex-soldier with PTSD issues, always worked in a Villa shirt. Said he was a top lad, but he sadly got terminal cancer. My builder contacted Villa who sent him a first team shirt, signed by all the players, and he took it to him in hospital, shortly before he died. Said he's had a soft spot for our club ever since - he still gets sent the catalogues from the club shop, but sentimentally, can't bring himself to cancel them. For a Leeds fan, he's a good guy. Makes me proud to be a Villa fan, as if I needed to be reminded why this is the best club in the world 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Pointless to start a new thread but penalty shoot outs, we are quite good at them. Inter, Tranmere, Bolton, Sunderland, Peace Cup vs Juventus and now tonight Cant remember us losing too many 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Albrighton Posted May 14, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted May 14, 2019 There was that West Ham one we lost where ‘Arry fielded that illegible player so it had to be replayed and we won the rematch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MikeMcKenna Posted May 14, 2019 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2019 On 10/05/2019 at 20:25, Dick said: I was a walk leader for a festival down here today. Decided to wear a Villa training t-shirt from about 6 years ago, maybe more... been a while! Anyway, this elderly man on the walk comes up to me and tells me he was at the game where we beat Charlton 11-1 and Gerry Hitchens scored 5 of the goals. He said he has always had a soft spot for Villa since, and still has the matchday programme at home! He then spent a lot of time finding me to tell me more Villa-related stories, I loved it! He's a Charlton fan, obviously, but spoke with such passion. Made my day. Dick i will be eternally proud to say that game was my first at Villa Park. It was my 6th birthday. Instead of a company nameplate on my seat in corporate, Mine says: Aston Villa 11 Charlton Athletic 1 14th November 1959 November this year will be my 60th anniversary supporting AVFC 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 9 hours ago, MikeMcKenna said: Dick i will be eternally proud to say that game was my first at Villa Park. It was my 6th birthday. Instead of a company nameplate on my seat in corporate, Mine says: Aston Villa 11 Charlton Athletic 1 14th November 1959 November this year will be my 60th anniversary supporting AVFC Wow, I love stories like this! So many ups and downs for you, eh? My first game was a 5-0 loss to Southampton at The Dell. Fingers crossed we are now on another up... (Den ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post VILLAMARV Posted June 8, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 8, 2019 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSteveUK Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 On 14/05/2019 at 19:53, MikeMcKenna said: Dick i will be eternally proud to say that game was my first at Villa Park. It was my 6th birthday. Instead of a company nameplate on my seat in corporate, Mine says: Aston Villa 11 Charlton Athletic 1 14th November 1959 November this year will be my 60th anniversary supporting AVFC Mike - you beat me by a month - December 12 2-0 v Cardiff (with whom we were promoted). I was 10 and I was parked down the front of the Witton End by my father to watch the game through those railings that showed about 20 coats of paint on them. The players looked like giants with thighs like telegraph poles and a young kid would instinctively take a step back when they came to get the ball. It was a few years before I was trusted in the Holte. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted June 9, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2019 I love this idea. A thread about Aston Villa in the olden days. Does anyone else remember when we used to play in The Championship? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashingqwerty Posted June 9, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2019 17 minutes ago, sidcow said: I love this idea. A thread about Aston Villa in the olden days. Does anyone else remember when we used to play in The Championship? Like it were only a few weeks ago... Madness 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIVillan Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I was told that sometime last week a show about the History of Villa was on TV. Does anyone know when it was on and what channel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Not 100 percent Villa but the 1st time Athletic Bilbao flew the Basque flag at San Mames was a friendly vs us 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMcKenna Posted June 10, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2019 On 15/05/2019 at 00:53, MikeMcKenna said: Dick i will be eternally proud to say that game was my first at Villa Park. It was my 6th birthday. Instead of a company nameplate on my seat in corporate, Mine says: Aston Villa 11 Charlton Athletic 1 14th November 1959 November this year will be my 60th anniversary supporting AVFC This is my most treasured Aston Villa memento. Aston Villa 11 v Charlton Athletic 1 - as above my first game. Amazingly many years later, I subsequently met four of the forwards in this game; Bobby Thompson, Ron Wylie, Jimmy McEwan and the great Peter McParland who lives nearby me in Bournemouth and I now consider a friend. Sadly as many of you know Gerry Hitchens passed away at only 49 in 1983. Hopefully I have uploaded correctly! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted June 10, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, MikeMcKenna said: This is my most treasured Aston Villa memento. Aston Villa 11 v Charlton Athletic 1 - as above my first game. Amazingly many years later, I subsequently met four of the forwards in this game; Bobby Thompson, Ron Wylie, Jimmy McEwan and the great Peter McParland who lives nearby me in Bournemouth and I now consider a friend. Sadly as many of you know Gerry Hitchens passed away at only 49 in 1983. Hopefully I have uploaded correctly! Thank you @MikeMcKenna. Must have been a hell of a game. Can you answer a question for me please? I was always under the impression that the end where The North Stand now sits was nothing more than a grassy bank before, but that programme cover suggests something more akin to a smaller Holte End. Also what was it called before it was The North Stand? I think I may have seen it, my first trip to Villa Park was around 1975-6 but I was so young my memory is just not good enough. My overriding memory is seeing a policeman frogmarching a skinhead down the corridor next to me, and my dad trying to get me to sip some of his beer as a drink as he was too tight fisted to buy me a soft drink as well as a beer for himself. Also looking at the AV floodlights on the way home sitting on his shoulders with a huge Villa Rosette on my chest which I kept for years till it literally fell apart. What happened to Rosettes? You never see those anymore. Edited June 10, 2019 by sidcow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted June 10, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2019 Anyone else find these pictures weird? An instantly recognisable image of current modern Villa Park with glimpses of Edwardian Villa Park. Also tragic. I shed a tear the first time I went through a sideshow showing the demolition of the old Holte End. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMcKenna Posted June 10, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, sidcow said: Thank you @MikeMcKenna. Must have been a hell of a game. Can you answer a question for me please? I was always under the impression that the end where The North Stand now sits was nothing more than a grassy bank before, but that programme cover suggests something more akin to a smaller Holte End. Also what was it called before it was The North Stand? I think I may have seen it, my first trip to Villa Park was around 1975-6 but I was so young my memory is just not good enough. My overriding memory is seeing a policeman frogmarching a skinhead down the corridor next to me, and my dad trying to get me to sip some of his beer as a drink as he was too tight fisted to buy me a soft drink as well as a beer for himself. Also looking at the AV floodlights on the way home sitting on his shoulders with a huge Villa Rosette on my chest which I kept for years till it literally fell apart. What happened to Rosettes? You never see those anymore. @sidcow great memories - up till I was 14/15 I also used to go to VP with my old man. In fairness I don’t remember much about the game, other than everybody being a bit shocked at the score and raving about Gerry Hitchens. It was called the Witton End. It was definitely terraced and think only the very top was a grassy/mud bank. I only went in it once for the Villa v Man U semi-final in December 1970 as I couldn’t get a ticket for the Holte. Me and my mate nearly got our heads kicked in by their Neanderthals when we jumped up for our second and winning goal but were saved by a copper! However we refused to leave and he just stood beside us I remember the rosettes but don’t think I ever had one. I did however, when I was 10/11, have a huge claret and blue rattle which made a right racket. Bit like the one below. Wish I still had it. Maybe some can recall but I have feeling they were banned at some point. Edited June 10, 2019 by MikeMcKenna 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMcKenna Posted June 10, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2019 @Sidcow this is a picture I found of the Witton End supposedly from early 60s, as you can see it is terraced and has a grassy top! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSteveUK Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 (edited) It was terraced on the front but the back was just raw earth bank - to avoid the queue to leave, Dad and I would scramble down the back - ankle-breaking territory. I believe the last piece of the old Lower Gounds amusement park was a stretch of wall along the backs of the houses in Nelson Rd. I remember seeing that. It in turn was part of a raised walkway which exited the Witton End where it joined the main stand. In fact it was part of the long building shown in the picture posted by MARVILLA above I can also remember the Argus headline "Villa 11 Hitchens 5 !!. Rather confused me as I thought we were playing Charlton! Hitchens was a God to me for the short time he was at Villa Edited June 11, 2019 by SirSteveUK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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