So ... Who has been to Villa Park before?

[Lord Bracknell]

I can't recall going there since I saw Birmingham City lose to West Bromwich Albion in the 1968 FA Cup Semi final (in my pre-Albion days).

But I've got better memories of the place - such as the World Cup group games in 1966 and watching Stanley Matthews playing one of his last games for Stoke City there.

I guess, though, that this upcoming game may be a first at Villa Park for lots of Albion fans.

 

[lasvegan]

I saw us play there sometime in the seventies...can't remember exactly when though, or the score for that matter.

 

[Gully]

Saw them play Arsenal on New Year's Eve a couple of years back.

 

[hart's shirt]

Yes. England v Spain friendly a few years back.

First game under SGE, I think. A similar result against Spain in South Africa in the summer wouldn't be bad (if we meet them).

 

[Socky]

Yep! Second game of the season 1979 in Div 1. We lost and Jimmy Rimmer was absolutely brilliant in goal for them. Guy sitting next to us smashed some bloke over the head and then turned to us and offered to buy us a pie and and pint. Bizarre. Never forgotten it.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Went last Jan when the Walsall game was called off. It was Villa v WBA. Saw Whingy in the queue he helped me get a decent seat as there were restrictions.

Superb stadium sat in Doug Ellis stand not lap

 

[beardy gull]

No. I'm a Villa Park virgin. Can't wait.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

We aint played them there since 1982/3. I think it was 82

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

Yeah, against Chelsea, last season. Not going our game though.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Saw us lose 2-0 on my 1st visit, must have been 71/72 early season before we started a good run and went up with Villa.

I saw all the 4 Div 1 visits but the1st one was the most memorable, our 1st away game in div 1. The Holte End was always loud but when the fans started singing in the seats behind our terracing, it was awesome.

My last visit was a youth team game when we had that prromising crop of Ormerod, Simmons, Mcgarrigle & the Foxes. Great game, unlucky to only draw and we lost the replay.

 

[Martinf]

Mr B - from your post you must be about 85 and I had you down as mid thirties!

But seriously, I've been following the mighty Albion for the best part of 30 yrs and have been to around 50 different grounds but Villa Park hasn't been one of them so I'm up for it.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Just delved into the archive our last visit was 13th November 1982

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Mr B - from your post you must be about 85 and I had you down as mid thirties!

No. It was Sir Stanley who was 85 at the time.

 

[Martinf]

No. It was Sir Stanley who was 85 at the time.

 

[Essan128]

I saw our midweek game there. I'm afraid alzheimer's is taking hold and I've forgotten the date and result.

 

[sully]

The nearest I came to going to Villa Park was when I went the wrong way from New Street station when heading for St Andrews back in the old division 1 days.

It's a ground I've wanted to go to for years, so hope I make it this time.

 

[Blackadder]

First time for me. Frustratingly, I was around in our First Divison days but for some reason I never went to Villa. Therefore I was delighted with today's draw!

 

[Tooting Gull]

I've been there just the once. It's probably my favourite English league ground, just exactly what a football ground should be IMHO, a bit like St Etienne in France. It's going to be bloody great, and I just hope a) I can get the day off, and b) I can get a ticket. We'll have thousands up there.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Seen us get stuffed there.

 

[Gwylan]

I've never been there.

Wasn't there something on NSC a year or so ago about Aston Villa being the team we've gone longest without playing (not counting league newbies)?