Adverse Conditions

Watching the Real Madrid - Rayo Vallecano game tonight which is being played in the sort of heavy weather that is meant to fall mainly on the plain, I was wondering what are the most adverse conditions you've ever watched the Villa play in?

For me it would be the sub-zero conditions at a home nil-nil draw against Southampton in the mid-1980s. This is the one where the gate was 8,000 (for a 3pm Saturday game) and the mercury reached -8°C, possibly lower. I remember us having a low cross that flashed across goal in the final minutes at the Holte and being concerned that if I jumped to celebrate my feet might shatter through the cold.

Possibly more recent than that, Chris, despite all the years I've been following the Villa. Mid to late 90s, sat on the Lower Holte Row P. Pissing down with rain, freezing cold, blowing a gale...causing the rain to be horizontal. Beating against the left sides of our faces off Trinity Road. Then, the trudge back to Aston Station to get the train back to Four Oaks, and an uncomfortable drive in wet clothes back to Wood End. I shudder when I think of it.

Sheffield Wednesday away in mid-90s was a pretty bad one.

I seem to remember the wettest game was against Bilbao, it hammered it down. I was in the old uncovered Witton End and the opened the gate to the trinity road for us.

Helsenborg at home was pretty fucking cold I seem to recall.

Portsmouth away twice - I got drenched both times, I have never been so wet.

Sunderland away 1984-85 - won 4-0 open end wind blowing and hail off the sea - freezing cold winters day and not many of us there - McMahon was excellent that day.

The most random game I remember wasn't villa it was Hull city away at Swindon in League one a few years ago started bright sunshine went through every element and ended up with few inches of snow was bizarre