While Villa Park remains one of English football’s grand old dames when it comes to English stadiums, there’s much need for improvement and modernisation. The brutalist North Stand needs a wrecking ball through it, the disable facilities are in need of being brought into the 21st Century and now there’s additional proof that the away end needs much improvement.
Of course, the catering set up of the away end will be pretty similar to what parts of the home stands will dish up, so in that sense it’s just football supporters commenting on a football stadium without rose-tinted glasses.
There are two train of thought on away fans, one is to give them zero advantage, like giving them a place in the ground they can have little influence and not really bother about them. The other is to welcome visitors and personalise their visit, ala what the likes of Brighton and Sunderland try to do.
Last season the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) once again ran its Away Fans Feedback Survey asking visiting fans to rate a range of factors across the whole of their matchday experience, both outside and inside the ground. It’s something that MOMS members have helped in before at away grounds.
With MOMS being an active member of the FSF, we’ve been privy to the results and a breakdown of surveys and comments made – from police overkill to a common mention of poor away end signage.
Survey Setup
All fans were asked to rate the various factors on the following scale: 5 (Excellent), 4 (Good), 3 (Adequate), 2 (Poor) and 1 (Very Poor). An average has been taken of these responses to arrive at the results below.
Sample Size– The survey was completed by a total of 1,144 fans visiting Championship grounds during the 2017/18 season.
Villa Park Rating
Villa Park came in below the Championship average score in every category that was surveyed, which is a concern considering its the biggest and one of the most celebrated of the league’s stadiums.
Most of Villa’s planned improvement from rebuilding the North Stand to improving the disable facilities have been put off until Premier League promotion, but how long that excuse will wash for, if Villa stay in the Championship, remains to be seen.
Villa Park Scores
Entering the Stadium
Aston Villa ranked 20thof the 24 Championship clubs with a score of 3.44
The average for the Championship was 3.62
Price of refreshments
Aston Villa ranked 19thof the 24 Championship clubs with a score of 2.72
The average for the Championship was 2.87
Choice of refreshments
Aston Villa ranked 21stof the 24 Championship clubs with a score of 2.86
The average for the Championship was 3.16
Quality/comfort of the away sector
Aston Villa ranked 18thof the 24 Championship clubs with a score of 3.16
The average for the Championship was 3.39
Behaviour of stewards/club staff
Aston Villa ranked 21stof the 24 Championship clubs with a score of 3.22
The average for the Championship was 3.53
Overall value for money
Aston Villa ranked 18thof the 24 Championship clubs with a score of 3.16
The average for the Championship was 3.35
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Have to agree. Trinity Road season ticket holders for 30 years and we have always complained! New owners need to get a grip. Poor service, unclean areas, poor choice of goods, disinterested staff etc. Oh , and while we are on the overall ethos around the club , I know Villa fans who won’t take their kids due to the foul language incorporated into the only song the Holte end still sing despite it being nearly 40 years out of date!trt
It’s worse than “below average”. That would mean Villa were in the bottom half. In fact, we’re in the bottom quarter on every count. Poor
Wow. Below average across the board. That really can’t be good enough for a club where successive owners have stated a desire to bring us back to where we belong.