FOREST AWAY: Aston Villa, Saturday 12th September – Fan Guide
The debate around a redeveloped City Ground has once again gathered pace as we reach our umpteenth planning committee decision. It’s hard to believe that this was a scheme announced in 2019 meaning early next year we will tick over eight years. I gather we are now at the point where an additional bridge might be needed, although my simple mind finds myself questioning why this wasn’t a matter of discussion way, way back given the idea was always to significantly expand the capacity of the stadium.
The other thing is there are so many voices banging stuff around – I feel like in the last week I’ve seen suggestions that planning permission is basically approved, that planning permission is set to be rejected, that it is only going to go ahead if we fund a new bridge or incorporate a slide from the upper tier of the Trent End that lands on the other side of the river, or that we’ll all be rocking up at Toton in a couple of years. Maybe it’s just me. Probably I could spend the time reading more but in all honesty it’s become pretty tedious now. The end plans look incredible but I don’t find myself anticipating them, I just have become accustomed to us being locked in an indefinite cycle of planning permissions and re-designs.
Let’s hope the coming days bring a breakthrough and some kind of progress towards the much-needed overhaul of our home.
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I saw Frank Clark turned 83 earlier this week. It struck me how bloody lucky we are to be able to take people like Frank for granted as part of our illustrious past. For me, Clark isn’t celebrated enough by any of us. Inevitably, the European Cup winners – probably bar Robbo – come as a collective and we celebrate them all equally with the adoration they deserve. Some continued to serve us beyond that era too, but it’s my opinion that Clark is among the most important individuals in our entire history.
His role in rise to European Champions in 1979 coupled with his vey successful spell as manager in the 1990s and then his contribution during a time of great crisis in the early 2010s as chairman and club ambassador makes him not just an iconic figure but someone who came to our aid when we needed him. Even, as the story goes, when many buckled at the prospect of replacing Brian Clough in 1993.
I have a similar regret with how the vast contribution of Billy Walker isn’t given the appreciation it deserves. Walker clearly suffers from the passage of time and how few of us saw first-hand his team play but undoubtedly, given the club might have ceased to exist without him, he is among our greats alongside Clark.
Should the new City Ground one day rise up on the banks of the River Trent I hope there is space somewhere for both Clark and also Walker to have their own spots of recognition within the new development.
AWAY DAY NO.2 – Aston Villa, Saturday 12th September, 3pm KO
Last Visit: A painful 4-0 defeat in the Europa League semi-final. As time has passed, it’s been nicer to just think about the games and the trips that preceded that night but it was obviously a horrible evening and a really sad way for it to end.
Famous Visit: I struggle to ever get past the 5-5 in November 2018. We are overdue a new contender now at Villa Park, our record post promotion is truly woeful losing all five of our visits.
Away End: As we are accustomed to, Forest fans will be housed across two tiers down one end of the Doug Ellis Stand. My preference is the lower tier, not that there is anything really wrong with the upper tier as the view is still good. The main difference is they don’t serve alcohol in the upper tier bars but they do downstairs. Plus the concourse in the upper is incredibly tight and becomes a rugby scrum right before kick-off and at half-time.
One key difference this time is the redevelopment to the North Stand to our right. This is currently being expanded and is not housing supporters. The roof has been removed and on recent footage I saw all seats in the lower tier had been removed.
Sunglasses / Hat Requirement: If you are in the lower tier and the sun is out then this is a 9/10 warning. It can be a right pain. Upper tier the rating is 4/10 and only then if you are down the front.
TRAVEL
RAIL: I’m sure lots will be looking at the train for this one with the mix of a 3pm Saturday game and the short distance to Birmingham.
There are plenty of options from Nottingham across Saturday morning into Birmingham New Street on CrossCountry services. There are some options which involve a change at Derby but I will only focus on the direct trains:
08:41 – arriving 09:55
09:07 – arriving 10:24
09:41 – arriving 10:55
10:07 – arriving 11:24
10:41 – arriving 11:55
11:07 – arriving 12:23
11:41 – arriving 12:55
12:07 – arriving 13:24
12:41 – arriving 13:55
Beyond these time you are probably cutting it a bit fine to make kick-off, given the second train from New Street to Witton. There are numerous services, all taking around ten minutes to Witton, but these do get busy closer to kick-off.
Trying to coincide when most fans will have drank up and get to Villa Park, there are services to Witton from New Street at the following times:
13:52 – arriving 13:59
14:00 – arriving 14:10
14:14 – arriving 14:21
14:19 – arriving 14:27
14:30 – arriving 14:40
Witton is only a few minutes’ walk to the away turnstiles.
After the game it is usually very busy on the platform at Witton and the initial trains are packed.
There are services back to New Street at 17:06, 17:18 and 17:23 so chances are you’ll flow onto one of these.
Realistically the first service back from Birmingham to New Street is at 17:49 which arrives back at 18:59. Direct services to Nottingham then run at nine minutes past and forty-nine minutes past the hour until the 20:49 service (there is no 20:09 train). The only direct train home after this is at 22:10 but there are regular trains including a change up to 22:49.
One key tip is make sure you buy a Nottingham – Witton return ticket. This is £27.09 currently on Trainline.com but it is the exact same price as a Nottingham – Birmingham return. So you may ending paying more if needing to buy a separate leg up to Witton.
ROAD: About a mile before you reach Villa Park if using A38 / M6 there is a huge residential area with lots of roads and streets. It’s usually pretty busy but there is always somewhere to go, and the walk to the ground isn’t too bad.
I find the optimum spot to be George Road next to the lake (I think it might be a reservoir). Use B23 7RZ and just make sure you leave you car parked in the direction you are planning to travel after the game.
There is also a half decent chippy at the end of the road on the main drag down towards Villa Park.
If you need to park a bit closer to the ground then you can head down this road (Brookvale Road) and likely will find some parking (again, just make sure you are facing the right way for afterwards) but it does start to fill up early and will be busy getting away.
PUBS
Unfortunately, Villa is among the worst in the league for accommodating away fans around the ground. The Yew Tree, about 5-10 mins from the away end, is an unofficial option but they charge a chunky fee for admission that seems to increase every season. Over on the other side of Villa Park I believe Forest fans will still be welcome at the Tennis Court. I’ve not been here before so I cannot comment but I would suggest giving it a go over the Yew Tree.
A regular tactic of ours has to been to stop off at the White Horse at Curdworth, reached by coming off the M42 before you reach the M6 and pick up the A38 heading towards Spaghetti Junction. It’s a cracking spot and the food is very good. From here you’ll need about another 15 minutes to reach the suggested parking spot below or another 5-10 mins on top of that to get to the ground.
Many away fans will take the sensible option to alight their trains and stick around the city centre pre-match. The Shakespeare right by New Street Station will be a popular spot. Very close by this directly opposite the main entrance to the station is a place called Bacchus; a little harder to spot as it’s down some stairs in a little shopping complex but well worth a visit. A little further into town you have the Sun on the Hill, Trocadero and, a particular favourite of mine, the Old Joint Stock.
For the semi-final we ventured further into town and met up at the Indian Brewery Company near Snow Hill. Don’t get confused by the smaller restaurant, there is a bigger bar up the road and it’s excellent.
There is also the option to head down Broad Street and find a few bars down there, plus the Brindley Place area which has plenty of bars.
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See you at Villa Park.
Matt