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Aston Villa Ground Name:
Villa Park |
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| Contents | |
| What's The Ground
Like? Future Ground Developments Holte End & Trinity Road Stands (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? North Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park A Closer Look At The Holte End (photo) By Train Local Rivals North & Doug Ellis Stands (photo) Ticket Prices Layout Of Villa Park Fixtures 2007-2008 Programme & Fanzine Ground Tours Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Old Villa Park Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| Three sides of the ground have been rebuilt in recent years, making it one of the better in the League. The Holte End is a large two tiered structure, opened in the 1994/95 season and holds 13,500 supporters. The other end, the North Stand, is older (built in the late 1970's), but still modern looking. This is two tiered, with a double row of executive boxes running across the middle. On one side of the pitch is the Doug Ellis stand, which again is two tiered and is roughly the same height as the other two stands. Opposite is the three tiered Trinity Road Stand, complete with a row of executive boxes. Although many fans were disappointed to see the old Trinity Road Stand go, I think its replacement gives the ground a more overall balanced look, because the new stand, although the largest at Villa Park, has roughly the same roof level as the other three sides. There are also two large video screens installed in opposite corners of the ground. An unusual feature is that between the Trinity Road & Holte End Stands is a pavilion type structure that was built at the same time as the Trinity Road. This three tiered building is used for corporate hospitality. On the other side of the Holte End is another similar looking structure that is used for police control. The only disappointment with Villa Park is that the corners of the ground are open, however there are plans to fill in the corners at the North Stand end of the ground (see below). | |
| Future Ground Developments | |
| The Club have received planning permission to re-develop the North Stand. This would involve building a new stand that would extend around the current open corners at that end of the stadium. However there are currently no firm timescales as to when this will take place. When completed the capacity of Villa Park will be increased to 51,000. | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
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After many seasons of being housed
in the North Stand,
away supporters are now located on one side of the Doug Ellis Stand, where up to
3,000 fans
can be accommodated. This was at the request of Manager
Martin O'Neill who wanted Villa fans to be present behind both goals.
Away fans are allocated both the upper and lower tiers of
the stand. A visit to Villa Park is normally
an enjoyable experience with a good atmosphere being generated within the
ground. A selection of pies and pasties are available
inside, including the
Shire Foods Chicken Balti Pie
(£2.50).
However the concourses are particularly tight especially in the upper tier,
where they easily become crowded. Now, as I support the other team in Birmingham (and no it is isn't Solihull Moors!), it has been suggested that I am biased against Villa Park. Well all I can say that I have been to the ground on a number of occasions, in fact I can now claim to have sat in every stand, so that just shows you how unbiased I really am! |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| There are a number of pubs in the vicinity of Villa Park, but most of them on match days are either members only or have bouncers on the door. However, Dave Cooper recommends the following for away fans; 'The Cap and Gown (formerly The Witton Arms), is not a bad pub, to which half the pub is given to away fans (there is even a separate entrance for visiting fans). It is only two minutes walk from the away entrance, right on Witton Island, however it does charge £2 per person to gain entry. Otherwise there is the Harriers, which is on Broadway, near to the school of the same name. It is ten minutes walk from the ground and you can usually find street parking in this area'. If you arrive a bit earlier then you may wish to visit the historic Barton Arms, located about a 15 minute walk away on High Street Aston (A34). This Grade II listed building, is one of Birmingham's finest pubs, with superb Victorian decor, serving Oakham ales and Thai food is also on offer. It was awarded the Birmingham CAMRA pub of the year award for 2004. Please note that alcohol is not available in the away end. | |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| The ground can be seen from the M6, if you are coming
from the North side of Birmingham. Leave the M6 at Junction 6 and take the slip road sign
posted Birmingham (NE). Turn right at the island (the fourth exit), the ground is well
signposted from here. However to be on the safe side, turn right at the second set of
traffic lights (there is the King Edward VII pub on the corner) on to Aston Hall Road. This road
will take you down to the ground. Mostly street
parking (don't be
surprised though if you are approached by kids wanting to 'mind your
car'), although this is not as plentiful as it once was
due to a local residents only parking scheme now in place in the streets
around the Witton Island area. For a map showing the location of Villa Park click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. |
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| By Train | |
| Take the short train journey from Birmingham New Street (around 10-15 minutes) to either Aston or Witton station. Witton station is nearer to the away end and is only a few minutes walk from the ground. Turn left out of the station exit and continue down to a roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout into Witton Lane and the entrance to the away section is down this road on the first corner of the ground that you reach. Aston station is a ten minute walk away from the ground. Extra trains are laid on to the ground on matchdays. | |
| Local Rivals | |
| Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion & Wolverhampton Wanderers. | |
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| Ticket Prices | |
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Like a number of other clubs a category scheme
for ticket prices is in operation (A, B & C), whereby the most popular games
cost more to watch. Category B & C prices are shown in brackets below: Trinity Road Stand (Upper & Middle Centres): Doug Ellis Stand (Upper Centre): Adults £35 (B £33) (C £31), Students & Armed Forces £30 (B £28) (C £26) Under 21’s £28 (B £26) (C £24) Over 65’s £21 (B £19) (C £17) Under 16’s £19 (B £17) (C £15)
Trinity Road Stand (Upper &
Middle Wings):
Trinity Road Stand (Lower Centre): Doug
Ellis Stand (Lower Wings):
Trinity Road Stand (Lower Wings): North
Stand:
Away Fans: |
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Ground Layout |
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| Fixtures 2007-2008 | |
| For Aston Villa's fixtures click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Programme & Fanzine | |
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Official Programme £2.50 Heroes & Villans Fanzine £1.50 |
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| Ground Tours | |
| Tours are available daily except matchdays and public holidays. The cost for the tour only (except Sundays) is £9.50 for adults and £6.50 concessions. There is also the option to take lunch in the Corner Flag restaurant overlooking the pitch (except Saturdays when the restaurant is closed). The cost of the tour plus lunch is; Adults £13.50 and £9.50 for concessions. On Sundays the Club offer a combined tour and Sunday lunch package for £21.95 adults and £11.95 concessions. Family tickets are also available. Tours can be booked on 0121-327-5353 (and then selecting the events option). | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| Record Attendance: 76,588 v Derby County FA Cup 6th Round, March 2nd, 1946. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 42,640 v Liverpool Premier League, August 11th, 2007 (This record has since been equalled). Average Attendance: 2006-2007: 36,214 (Premier League) 2005-2006: 34,112 (Premier League) 2004-2005: 37,354 (Premier League) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Villa Park | |
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Clive
Williams (Tottenham Hotspur) 21/10/06 Tim Joyner (West Bromwich Albion) 9/04/06 Patrick Reihill (Arsenal) 31/12/05 Martin Hart (Visiting Scottish Fan) 2/10/05 Cole Fraser (Everton) 25/02/05 Debbie Smaje (Everton) 26/2/05 Christopher Walker (England) 3/11/04 Andrew Curl (Walsall) 22/9/04 |
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| Old Villa Park | |
| To see photos of Villa Park prior to its redevelopment then click here to take you to the Old Grounds & Stands Section of the Guide. | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Aston Villa and general Birmingham page click here. | |
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Feedback |
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If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me
and I'll update
the guide. |
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