Premier League action returns to Villa Park on Sunday as Aston Villa take on Tottenham Hotspur.
The teams are separated by just one place and five points in the table, making this weekend's match an important one for both sides.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the encounter to enjoy your visit to the stadium on matchday...
Charitable Causes
Level Playing Field: Unite For Access
Aston Villa is proud to once again be supporting Level Playing Field at Sunday's fixture.
Level Playing Field is the leading charity advocating for disabled sports fans in England and Wales.
The charity’s 'Unite For Access' campaign will be a feature of matchday and has been supported in stadiums up and down the country.
The campaign is a celebration of accessibility and inclusion for disabled sports fans.
Villa players will be showing their support for the cause by wearing Level Playing Field t-shirts during the warm-up.
100 strikes at cancer
Edward Simpson will be taking an important penalty kick on the pitch at half-time on Sunday.
He launched '100 strikes against cancer' following his own diagnosis and treatment for a brain tumour. He went through multiple operations, high-dose radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy cycles. His courage and strength throughout this ordeal were extraordinary. He never moaned or complained but instead focussed on how he could use his own horrific experience to help others. And so 100 strikes was born.
Launched on the day of his final operation (August 2021), Edward aims to raise £100,000 for Brain Tumour Research by taking 100 penalty kicks at 100 different locations. Sometimes with only jumpers for goal posts sometimes as half-time at major football grounds, each kick is a major achievement for a boy who came out of surgery unable to walk or talk.
Brain cancers are the biggest cancer killers of children and adults under 40, yet historically, only 1% of national cancer spend has been on this devastating group of diseases. This group of cancers is so underfunded that large amounts of money are required if we are to improve the treatments on offer and help those who will face this diagnosis in the future.
Every penny is needed, every penny will help. Your donations to this cause will make a genuine difference.
Online donations go directly to Brain Tumour Research and can be made through the JustGiving page here.
Alternatively, you can make a donation of £5 via text message!
All you have to do is text STRIKE to 70085 and the money will go direct to Brain Tumour Research (texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message).
Getting to the game
Click on the sections below to learn more about tickets, Villa Park and transport to the stadium.
Tickets
There are a limited number of tickets remaining for the match. Find your seat and book here.
Season ticket holders unable to attend can list their seat for resale online or by calling our ticket office on 0333 323 1874. Resale is open until 24 hours before kick-off.
The best way to secure tickets for future matches at Villa Park is via a Membership.
Tickets for upcoming Aston Villa Women games can be purchased here.
Hospitality and Premium Experiences
Supporters can get tickets for the club's ultimate fan experience in the Terrace View suite, with seats in the heart of the Holte End. Check out all the information here and book online.
Fans can also secure their spot in The Lower Grounds for the encounter. The Lower Grounds is the club's new matchday offering - creating a fan-focused experience which includes food and drinks as part of the package. You can book online here.
Hospitality bookings for our upcoming home matches can be made over the phone on 0333 323 1982 (option 1) or by emailing hospitality@avfc.co.uk.
Under-3s Policy
Many supporters may not be aware of the policy regarding under-3s, so we are reminding supporters that under-3’s are only permitted to be in the Family areas in the Trinity Road stand at Villa Park and must have a match ticket. Further information can be found here Aston Villa Ticketing (avfc.co.uk)
E-ticket Entry
Villa Park is now fully NFC ticketing enabled for supporters to access the stadium. Near-Field Communication (NFC) enables fans to enter the stadium via Apple or Google Wallet. Click here for more information.
Supporters can now also access their match-by-match tickets and enter the stadium directly via the Aston Villa app. Simply log into your Digital Account in the app and your tickets will appear under the ‘Tickets’ section. Supporters must update their app to the latest version to ensure in-app ticketing works without issue.
Visiting Villa Park
It's important that supporters take steps to plan their visit to the stadium.
Turnstiles open at 11.30am, so make sure you arrive at the stadium in plenty of time ahead of kick-off to ensure smooth entry.
Please note, access to stiles is maintained during the first half and will close once the half-time whistle is blown.
However you're planning on getting to the match, take a look at our Travel & Parking guide before leaving home.
A traffic exclusion zone will be in operation around the stadium, meaning there will be less traffic on Trinity Road and Witton Lane from up to two hours before the match starts.
The Holte Pub will open three hours prior to kick-off and close two hours after full-time.
Parking and Travel
Aston Villa supporters can pre-book official matchday parking for the first time thanks to new partnerships.
Supporters can pre-book their space via either of the links below.
www.countrywidemanagementsolutions.co.uk
Supporters are also advised of the following matchday parking sites around Villa Park:
- Powerleague (£10 – payment by cash or card)
- Aston Tower School (£7 - cash only)
- Birchfield School (£7 - cash only)
Broadway School and Aston Social Club should also be available for supporters to access.
The club has a dedicated bus service that runs to Villa Park on matchday; AV1 which runs from Tamworth. You can purchase tickets here.
The bike rack at Villa Park has now been moved behind the Villa Village building on the North Stand car park.
New covered cycle parking is also available at our Inner City Academy on Witton Road.
Please plan ahead and leave more time for your journey. To plan your journey by public transport, visit www.tfwm.org.uk.
Travel Updates
Engineering work is taking place on the railway between Rugeley Town and Rugeley Trent Valley. Trains between Birmingham New Street and Rugeley Trent Valley will run between Birmingham New Street and Hednesford only. Rail replacement buses will run between Hednesford and Rugeley Trent Valley.
Engineering work is also taking place in the Rowley Regis area, closing all lines.
Trains between Stourbridge Junction and Dorridge will run between Birmingham Snow Hill and Dorridge only. Rail replacement buses will operate between Stourbridge Junction and Snow Hill.
No Chiltern Railways trains will operate via Rowley Regis. Supporters who use Chiltern Railways services should use West Midlands Railway services.
If you are affected by any of the above service disruption, you can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries journey planner here.
Make sure to check your routes into Villa Park this weekend and keep up to date with any disruption using:
Pre-match activities
Click on the sections below to learn more about activities taking place at Villa Park before kick-off.
Family Fun Zone
The Family Fun Zone in Villa Park’s Academy Building will be fully operational on gameday from 11am-1pm
Young Villans can take part in a number of exciting, fun activities ahead of kick-off including inflatables and face painting.
We want to see your experiences of matchday at Villa Park. Post your photos, tag #UTV and you could be featured on the big screens at the stadium!
We kindly ask that fans do not bring their own footballs into the Fun Zone. Unsupervised games of football cause increased risk of harm to all in attendance. Thank you as always for your cooperation and support.
We will have a Welfare Officer based in the Fun Zone, as well as others around the stadium, wearing distinctive high vis who are on hand to help with any questions or concerns while visiting Villa Park.
Purple wristbands will once again be available from the Fun Zone to help keep children safe. Staff will be offering parents the opportunity to receive a purple wristband that your child can wear.
Parents can write their contact details on the wristband and if your child was to become separated from you or felt unsafe, they could approach a steward or another member of staff and show their wristband. Stewards or staff can then duly contact parents and/or Aston Villa's Head of Safeguarding for assistance and support.
Food and Beverage
Villa Park offers a wide range of cuisine and beverages on a matchday.
Outside the stadium, several street food trucks will be situated on the Trinity Stand forecourt alongside a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks from 10.30am.
Lions Square Fan Zone
The Trinity Fan Zone has been renamed 'Lions Square' for the new season!
Take in some great entertainment as you countdown to kick-off on every matchday at Villa Park. See below for Saturday's line-up...
10.30am: Bar, food and fan activities
11-11.45am: Live music from The Last Rogues
12pm: Q&A with a former Villan
We want to see your experiences of matchday at Villa Park! Post your photos and tag #UTV and you could be featured on the big screens at the stadium!
Cashless Stadium
Please note, Villa Park will be cashless to help ensure safe social distancing practices and minimise contact at all points of sale. This includes the Villa Store, with card payments widely accepted in and around the stadium.
The only exception is programme kiosks outside the ground, which will still accept cash.
In-stadia betting kiosks will also be in operation for this fixture and such service will be provided on a cashless basis.
Villa News & Record
Pick up your edition of Sunday's Aston Villa News & Record.
The matchday programme is packed with exclusive content and features, including insights from head coach Unai Emery, in-depth player interviews from across the squad, opposition analysis, unrivalled dives into the archives and the latest from the club’s youth teams.
The publications are available to purchase for £3.50 around the stadium via cash or card on matchdays - as always – with each seller armed with contactless payment units for a swifter transaction process.
You can also have every issue delivered direct to your home for the duration of the 2023/24 campaign by taking out a seasonal subscription, and you’ll only pay for the price of 18.
This package covers the claret and blues’ 19 home Premier League fixtures, starting with Everton’s visit on Sunday, August 20 and culminating with Liverpool’s trip to the West Midlands in May 2024.
Find out more, here.
Villa Store
Click on the sections below to learn about merchandise points around the stadium.
Store Opening Hours
There are a number of places where supporters can shop for Aston Villa merchandise on a matchday. Below you'll find the opening times for each shop around the ground...
Villa Store: 10am-4pm
Holte Store: 10am-1pm and 2.30-4pm
Trinity pop-up store: 11:30am-1pm and half-time
Family Fun Zone: 11am-1pm
82 Lounge: 10am-1pm and 1.30-4pm
Lower Grounds: 10am-1pm and 1.30-4pm
Click and Collect
Pre-order your items and collect at the Villa Store, Holte Store, Holte Suite or Hospitality 82.
Please note, the Click and Collect order option will be turned off at half-time but any orders placed up to then will be available to collect until that retail unit closes. Click and collect now here.
Personalised Gifts
Personalised souvenirs are now available at the Villa Store at Villa Park, with our new interactive touchscreen kiosk. Create unique gifts including tumblers, notepads, keyrings, and coasters with designs made just for you! Prices start from just £5.
During the game
Click on the sections below to learn more about events that take place during the match.
See it...hear it...report it!
If you witness discriminatory behaviour at a match or around a stadium, please report it to the police or a steward.
Supporters at Villa Park can text REPORT to 60060 along with the location of the incident and details of what you have witnessed.
The text line also includes the reporting of any safeguarding concerns. The text service will be supported by our security team and West Midlands Police. Each text costs one standard message at your network rate. The club may share your details with West Midlands Police if further information is required to assist with a criminal prosecution.
All-seater Stadium
We would like to remind supporters that Villa Park is an all-seater stadium.
In all areas of Villa Park, we have children, elderly fans and those with medical conditions who are unable to see or watch the match if supporters stand up in front of them.
Please be mindful of this at all times and thank you for your cooperation.
Fan Engagement
Click the sections below to learn about how you can get involved on matchday and our fan loyalty programme, Pride Rewards.
Get Involved
A new ‘Match Predictor’ game is now live on the memberships portal. Fans can enter for free, you don’t need a paid membership, just a free digital account.
Simply predict the score and first goal scorer for the chance to win prizes. The match predictor will be live for all home games going forward. There is an overall season leaderboard and prizes will be awarded for every home game week.
One lucky fan will win the chance to play 'Score at the Holte' with the opportunity to win big on the pitch! Members and Season Ticket Holders can enter NOW for the chance to take part in upcoming games!
We want to know about your matchday experience at Villa Park. Tweet us using #UTV and you could feature on the big screens at the stadium!
Pride Rewards
The Pride Rewards collection point will be open from 10.30am-12.30pm. Please note that the queue may close up to 15 minutes prior to the collection point closing to ensure all fans waiting in line can be served before 12.30pm.
Fans will again be able to take part in the ‘Pick a Player’ game on Pride Rewards for the chance to earn loyalty points. All you have to do is pick a player for the match and their performance during the game will earn you points.
Season Ticket holders and Members can head to the Pride Rewards page now and use their loyalty points to redeem amazing money-can’t-buy experiences and gifts. Supporters can now enter the draw for the chance to step onto the hallowed Villa Park turf and see the teams up close in our Watch The Warm Up experience.
