European Cup Winners, 7 times Champions (and 12 times runners-up), 7 times F.A. Cup Winners, 5 times League Cup Winners - these are some of the achievements of Aston Villa F.C. But in the early days, Villa were instrumental in the acceptance of professionalism and fairness in the game, and (particularly through William McGregor) were instrumental in the creation of the first football league in the world.
I am currently completing original research into Villa's history, and writing a book with the intention of producing fresh archives called The Aston Villa Chronicles, to further highlight these achievements and to bring to light many stories not seen for 100 years. This history of the Villa will be like no other! Please see across for details of the Project.
The Status of the Book
(As at June 24, 2008): The 'Chronicles' is nearly through the proof-reading stage and once the detailed amendments are made and re-checked, and the Preface written by a well-known personality, the book should be available for publishing in September/October.
The proof-reader - a non-football supporter! - gave her opinion of the book at the half-way stage:
I can truly say that the book was easy and interesting to read – and gets better as it goes on! Of course, I cannot say much with regards to the actual accuracy/relevance of the content as I have no prior knowledge of the Villa, but the research you have used to compile the book really has been well-done and your efforts come across in the level of detail you present. I am learning more each day and I think that is the most important thing for any reader too. You entertain with jokes and light-hearted tales throughout which I liked as with histories, reading the same sort of writing throughout can be tedious.
Examples from The Chronicles
A match report from 1883 (as reported by Jack Urry):
Versus Wednesbury Old Athletic in the F.A. Cup, 29th December, 1883: 7-4 to the Villa.
Wednesbury Old Athletic were in the heyday of its glory and the Villa were rising stars in the football firmament. The match was at what used to be known as Elwell's Ground, belonging to the big factory of that name near Bescot Junction… Of all the ungodly places first-class football was ever played at, surely that was the most unpicturesque!
Well, Elwell's Ground, so far as I remember it, lay between two swamps or reservoirs, and at a little distance there was a pit bank that shut out all the rest of the world on the south side, and on the north it was bounded by the aforementioned factory and probably the ugliest and draughtiest railway station in the wide, wide, world. It was as bleak as a Russian Steppe, and when the rain came down in slanting sheets or the ghostly fog hung about the grimy lands and deluged meadows, the place would have unjollied Mark Tapley himself.
It was a green Yule, and the grass was soggy, so that the players had some difficulty in extricating themselves from their hoof-prints; the majority of the company, including the expositionists, were, so to speak, a bit 'Christmassy' in feeling; and you never heard such a row as they kicked up in all your natural… I recollect George and Jack Holden, Grocutt, Kent and Roland Morley in their [Old 'Uns] side…
The Villa went off at a rush, and before the Old 'Uns knew where they were the Perry Barr brigade were three to nothing in front! Crow! The Astonians made noise enough to raise the Ancient Britons from their graves; but before long they were destined to laugh on the other side of their mouths, for before half-time, the Wednesbury boys had not only drawn level but actually got one [in] front, so that when the Passover came, the tumult and the shouting was all for the Old Athletic, and the Villa chaps looked very glum indeed.
They went on looking glum for a good while, too, for the Aston defence seemed to have gone all to blazes, and the grimy pitmen and coalheavers 'got their own back' in tremendous style when it came to chaff that did not have much persiflage about it. Therefore, when there was only 20 minutes to go, and the Athletic still pressing, there seemed every chance that the Villa were going to be kicked clear out of the Cup. Then, presto! There came a marvellous change! Archie Hunter rolled up his sleeves, began calling on his boys to follow, and as if new life and strength had suddenly been infused into them the Villa became aggressors instead of three-parts beaten defenders, and the long and sad-looking Kent, the [Old 'Uns] custodian, had probably the most sultry time of his life. It was great to see the Villa come round and conquer in the truly wonderful manner they did.
The Wednesbury folks, disappointed though they were, after having their hopes raised so high, could not but acknowledge the superior skills and lasting prowess of the lads from Perry Barr… I remember George Holden saying to me, as he left the field, all tired and steaming, and perhaps a little bitter at the stings of defeat, "The score is a fine testimonial to the goalkeeping;" and genial old Archie slapping him on the back, and saying, "Never mind, George lad; we've all got to lose sometime; maybe our turn to-morrow. Come awa', and ha'e a wee drappie!" And off the skippers went together.
We followed them to a cosy inn - I think it was the Horse and Jockey - where we had tea, followed by mulled ale, many songs, and we followed with much jollification. Anyway, there was a good deal of chatter, argument, prophesying, and merriment and as I think the scene over again, the very lines of Longfellow come to me as they came long ago:
How they laughed and stamped and pounded,
Till the tavern roof resounded,
And the host looked astounded,
As they drank the ale!
There follows a few more snippets of what will be in 'the Chronicles':
Season 1886/87: A senior fan of the Perry Barr Pets days produced a report on the F.A. Cup semi-final vs. (Glasgow) Rangers at
Crewe, stating that at the end of the match, "William McGregor ... and
Howard Vaughton's father joined hands and did a whirling circle in honour
of the occasion" - this in addition to much other merriment it seems,
enhanced when they found that the Baggies were to be their opponents in the
Final (the news have coming come through by telegraph!). The writer stated
he was sceptical that the then modern game (1906) was better than that of
those early days - he having seen Villa play "hundreds of times" - and that
Villa's performance in that semi was "...the cleanest and cleverest ...
[they] ever played". (A report of that match is in Volume 1).
Season 1906/07: When Villa were knocked out of the FA Cup at Bolton (0-2) in an early
round, the match report summary in respect of the "Disaster at Bolton"
stated, "...whatever may have been the reason for the unusual feebleness,
there can be no disguising the fact that the play of the team as a whole
was unworthy of Aston Villa." The team's riposte was in the following week in beating Sheff Wed 8-1 in
the league! (A report of that match is in Volume 1).
Season 1906/07: In January 1907, George Robey (then a famous music hall comedian) was
performing in Brum at the Theatre Royal, and he requested Villa to put on a
charity match against an International X1. The "International X1" was to
include Robey himself, and close-in to that February meeting (for which
Robey paid all expenses and gave gold medals to all the players) Robey had
been observed getting fit by "...skipping with all the ardour of a school
(ahem!) girl". The match raised £350 for charity in Villa's 4-3 win. The
"International X1" included the great Billy Meredith of Man City and Man U fame, and
Crompton of Blackburn amongst other (then) well-known names.
Season 1907/08: The offside law changed in 1907, implementing the bit about not being offside in
your own half when the ball is played. (We know that so well now, that it's
hard to believe that law was not always there!). And would you believe it (?), in Villa's first TWO matches of 1907/08, the
referee in each match "forgot" about the new rule, and whistled up when
Villa players had a clear run in on goal...!
