Vår kontaktperson på Villa Park svarar på frågor
Lee Preece har jobbat 29 år i klubben och har haft många olika roller genom åren. Sedan två år tillbaka är han kontaktperson för klubbens alla supporterklubbarna. Här svarar han på många av de frågor han fick av Villa Swedens medlemmar.
Do you have a regular plan where to seat the visiting chapters from abroad, or is it a decision taken time to time? We’ve mostly been seated in HE, which is fine. But personally I’d appreciate seats not in the short end of the stadium. Is that even possible?
What about the VIP-seats…. would that ever be considered a place to seat the overseas visitors? There are often empty spaces there. And I do not mean that would include access to the VIP-bar for free…. (but I wouldn’t mind buying a glass of the Villa-wine though).
/Peeter
Lee: You can purchase seats anywhere you wish in the stadium that are available. We don’t force Lions Clubs in to a specific area. Whilst some of the VIP seats may be free, they can only be accessed via the Lounges and Restaurants that “feed” the VIP seating areas. Therefore, without buying the Hospitality you cannot access the VIP seats.
And just a question on your view on the general support and atmosphere at VP and other stadiums….. “This is a library” is sung both by us (away games) and visiting supports (at VP). Isn’t it time to try to let the fans not be so restricted… it’s 30 years after the worst scenes and surely things have changed by now….. including high ticket prices etc making the spectators perhaps not be the most “disturbing” ones….
/Peeter
Lee: I do not know what you mean by “fans not be so restricted”? If you are referring to standing areas, it is still law that Villa Park is seated. As soon as standing is a possibility, we would love areas of Villa Park to be standing areas (Holte End for example). However, as a chap who grew up watching Villa standing on the Holte End, atmosphere is a two way street and at Villa Park, I don’t think it can be manufactured. If the team play well and give fans cause for excitement, the atmosphere is second to none. If the fans can see the team having a go, even when losing, the atmosphere is second to none. Particularly in the Championship, when you are playing at home to Barnsley / Burton Albion (no disrespect to any team) it is natural that the atmosphere will be quieter than when playing Blues, Wolves etc – provided the team are giving it a good go! Even though every game is statistically as important as every other, some matches mean more to fans than others and generate more noise.
I wonder if there is any documentation on the average age of the spectators now and “then” (the eighties)….as my suspicion is that the crowds are getting older and older (price issue?) and that has a direct effect on the volume on the terraces. What’s your opinion? I claim that we are within some decades going to see less and less interest due to that the kids prefer to stay home with their screens, as they cannot afford to go, and “going to the library” actually is not so fun…. Another reason is the huge gap between the top-six and “the rest” …. it’s really no fun knowing that you start the season and if you come in seventh you’re come as far as you can. This will in time make people not go to the games.
It would be interesting to hear your reflections on the above topics,
Thx,
BR
/Peeter
Lee: We will not have data from the eighties / nineties to compare. Our junior season ticket prices are very cheap and very popular. The number of junior members we have is very healthy, so the production line of fans for tomorrow is good. Clearly, the landscape of Football has changed and the Top Six PL teams will be very difficult to challenge. Leicester showed it can be done and hope plays an important role in Football. First we need promotion, then we need to stabilise as a Premier League Club, then we can have another go!! Hopefully there will be lots of kids who will enjoy the journey with us older fans!!
If it's Wembley and qualifying finals, have you and the ticket office already figured out the number of ticket to the supporter clubs? Now I have heard through Anders that there are 6 tickets and first come first served for away games. Or have you not come so far in the planning.
/Lars
Lee: Not planned this yet, but we will ensure we have an allocation for overseas Lions Clubs.
Why was the Lions club closed at the David Target suite? It was much better with both tables and chairs and that you could order food. At Holte pub where you barely reach the bar, staff only shake his head when you ask for coffe or tea and everything seems to be slow motion.
/Martin
Will the club do anything about Holte pub? Type pick up som paintings on the wall, some map where all the supporter clubs were and how many are they?I think the service is disastrous and the interior is sterile. its was better at the Lions club at David Target suite. Why was it closed?
/Thomas
Lee: The David Targett Suite / Lions Club was closed due to the restructure and adapting to life in the Championship. The Holte Pub needs investment and that is something the CEO and CCO are working on. At some point, we would hope to have Lions Clubs reflected in the Holte Pub as we did with the old lounge.
Many pay with the season card and get points on it. Can you tell me more about that system and how do we do who not have a season card. What is e-cash, and can we get it?
Lee: The information is best served from here https://rewards.avfc.co.uk/login
Have you been to Sweden sometime?
/Maria
Lee: Yes – me and my lovely partner Nicola love Cruising holidays, and my favourite port when we did a Baltic cruise was Stockholm. We walked from the Port to the Wasa Museum. It was a beautiful day!! We also had a short time in Gothenburg, which was also great!!
What have you worked with before starting at Villa?
/Martin
Lee: Nowhere! I did my last exam in 1989 on the Friday, and started as the Assistant Ticket Office Manager at Aston Villa on the Monday. I have had a number of different roles over the years – hard to believe this is my 29th season of working here!!
Members outside the UK have incredibly hard to get tickets for away matches. How do you look at it?
/Fredrik
Lee: Unfortunately, there are too many away matches when we do not get enough tickets for everyone to attend. Whenever an overseas Lions Club Chairperson wants tickets, we do our best to help from the Lions Club Allocation. The priority system we use is as fair as it possibly can be.
What can be improved for us supporters who do not live in England? And what are your duties at Villa?
/Andreas
Lee: With regards to supporters who do not live in England, I am hoping the new Lions Club Website and registration system will help you feel part of the club. It has been a challenging couple of years (relegation & restructure) and I still feel we are the beginning of a journey. Part of what we need to develop is the connection between the club and Lions Club members around the Globe.
Duties are varied – Supporter Liaison Officer, Turnstile Operations, Equality & Diversity, Motor Fleet, Lions Clubs etc. I wear many hats.
On which stands are sitting on?
/Tommy
Lee: I have a season ticket in Trinity Middle Block B. Full time staff do not have to pay. If ever they wanted me to pay I would be happy to do so!!
Have you played football as young and in any club and division?
/Tommy
Lee: Still playing football although never good enough to be a professional. At 46, I still play football on a Thursday night with my colleagues in the Academy building at Villa Park. That and Yoga keep me young, although I do not look as young and fit as everyone I saw cycling in Stockholm!!
How many supporter clubs have Villa in the UK and in other countries?
And have Villa any deal with any hotel that the supporters clubs can use?
/Johan
Lee: We have 59 overseas clubs and 39 in the UK. Another 3 or 4 clubs currently going through probationary period so hope to have over 100 by the summer. We have no official deal with hotels unfortunately.
What is your Villa dreamteam all the time?
/Anders
Lee: Now this is a difficult question!! Assuming 4-4-2 formation………..
Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich
Right back Mark Delaney
Left back Alan Wright
Centre half Paul McGrath
Centre half John Terry
Midfield left Tony Morley
Midfield right Tony Daley
Midfield centre Gordon Cowans
Midfield centre Gareth Barry
Forward Savo Milosevic
Forward Dwight Yorke
If you asked me again tomorrow it would probably be a different answer!! There are explanations for why I have chosen these which I will save you from!
If we are in the race for direct advancement, will Trinity be open up the four last homegames?
/Magnus
Lee: Trinity Upper will be open for any game where demand for tickets is high.
If somebody want to visit Bodymoor. If its possible? It does not have to be on any training day? I'm just curious to see what it looks like.
/Johan
Lee: We have so much activity including 1st team and then junior teams from 8 years to under 23 years it is very difficult for us to allow access. Answer is probably not – sorry!
How do I do to get a client number/fan id?
/Håkan
Lee: Next time you purchase a ticket or if you purchase a membership a FAN ID will be created.
Is there any possibility of meeting any player after a game?
Patrik
Lee: Very difficult to arrange I am afraid. If you are at Villa Park, lots of fans wait around the players’ car park – players can be very good at saying hello, signing autograph etc before and after matches.
