1874 Club Formed (probably in October
but March was stated by Jack Hughes,
a co-founder).
1875-76 George Ramsay arrives & becomes captain.
1876 First permanent ground (Perry Barr).
1877 Arrival of William McGregor.
1878 Arrival of Archie Hunter.
Introduction of the lion as the club's
logo and "Prepared" as their motto.
1879-80 First entered F.A. Cup.
First won Birmingham Senior Cup.
The Club and its Followers from now on
known as "the Villans".
1880 Archie Hunter becomes captain.
1885 The club turned professional
1886 William McGregor leads a re-organisation
of the club's administration.
George Ramsay appointed first full-time
club secretary.
1886-87 F.A. Cup Winners (First Midland winners)
1887 Claret and light blue become the club's
colours, based on the Cup-winning colours
of chocolate and sky blue.
1888 Villa's William McGregor founder of the Football League and its first chairman. 1888-89 Founder member of Football League Football League runner-up 1889 McGregor tries to turn the club into a limited company but gets agreement only to do so as a limited company without profits. Only in 1896 is McGregor's full idea implemented. 1891-92 F.A. Cup Finalists 1893 (Feb) Fred Rinder leads a re-organisation of the club's administration 1893 Joe Grierson appointed as trainer. He oversees Villa's first 6 championship wins 1893-94 Football League Champions 1894-95 F.A. Cup Winners (2nd time) (Sep) The F.A. Cup stolen while on display & never seen again (see video below). 1895-96 Football League Champions (2nd time) 1896 (Jan) Limited company formed; J.Margoschis the first chairman in this business form. Share capital raised for Villa Park. 1896-97 Football League Champions (3rd time) F.A. Cup Winners (3rd time) [Second winners of the 'Double' & the last till 1960-61] 1897 Villa Park opened, though not officially known by that name until 1969. Villa's John Devey first (co-)chairman of the PFA. 1898 Fred Rinder Chairman of Aston Villa. 1898-99 Football League Champions (4th time) 1899-00 Football League Champions (5th time) 1900-01 F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1902-03 Football League runner-up F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1904-05 F.A. Cup Winners (4th time) 1906 (Sep) the Villa News & Record is launched. 1907-08 Football League runner-up 1909-10 Football League Champions (6th time) 1910-11 Football League runner-up 1911 Aston Villa purchase the freehold of Villa Park. (Dec) Death of William McGregor. 1912-13 F.A. Cup Winners (5th time) Football League runner-up 1913 Significant ground re-development started but, interrupted by WW1, the plan was never fully carried out. The Holte End development was not completed until 1940. 1913-14 Football League runner-up F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1915-19 WW1: No League nor F.A. Cup 1919-20 F.A. Cup Winners (6th time) 1923-24 F.A. Cup Finalists 1925 Opposition causes Fred Rinder to resign from the Board, ending 32 years in office. 1926 George Ramsay retires after 40 years. 1928-29 F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1930-31 Football League runner-up Record number of league goals: 128 (still the record for the top division) 1932-33 Football League runner-up 1933-34 F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1934 First Professional Team Manager appointed. 1935 (Nov) Death of George Ramsay. 1935-36 Relegated to Division Two (1st relegation) 1936 Board of Directors replaced, with Fred Rinder returning after 11 years. 1937-38 Football League Division Two Champions Promoted to Division One F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1938 (Dec) Death of Fred Rinder. 1939-45 WW2: No League nor F.A. Cup 1944 Winners of Wartime League Cup (North) 1946 Gate record of 76,588 against Derby in the F.A. Cup 1956-57 F.A. Cup Winners (7th time) 1958 Floodlights installed for the first time. 1958-59 F.A. Cup semi-finalists Relegated to Division Two 1959-60 Football League Division Two Champions Promoted to Division One F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1960-61 Inaugural Football League Cup winners 1962-63 Football League Cup Finalists 1964-65 Football League Cup semi-finalists 1966 A host ground for World Cup finals 1966-67 Relegated to Division Two 1968 (Dec) The club is saved from financial ruin in a takeover. The reign of Doug Ellis begins, interrupted only by a short period at the end of the 70s. 1969-70 Relegated to Division Three 1970-71 Football League Cup Finalists 1971-72 Football League Division Three Champions Promoted to Division Two 1974-75 Football League Cup Winners (2nd time) Football League Division Two runner-up Promoted to Division One 1975-76 First Entry to European Competition (UEFA Cup) 1976-77 Football League Cup Winners (3rd time) 1977 The Witton Lane terraces replaced by the North Stand and seating only. 1977-78 UEFA Cup quarter finalists 1980-81 Football League Champions (7th time) 1981-82 European Cup Winners 1982-83 European Super Cup Winners European Cup quarter finalists 1983-84 Football League Cup semi-finalists 1985-86 Football League Cup semi-finalists 1986-87 Relegated to Division Two 1987-88 Football League Division Two runner-up Promoted to Division One 1989-90 Football League runner-up 1990 With the departure of Graham Taylor to manage England, Villa appointed the first overseas coach in English top-tier football: Dr. Josef Venglos. Sadly, he lasted just one year.
1992-93 Founder member of F.A. Premier League F.A. Premier League runner-up 1993-94 Football League Cup Winners (4th time) 1994 Villa Park becomes all-seater with the re-development of the Holte End. 1995-96 Football League Cup Winners (5th time) F.A. Cup semi-finalists 1996 A host ground for European Nations Cup 1997 The club lists on Stock Exchange (a PLC) 1997-98 UEFA Cup quarter finalists 1999 Villa Park hosts the last ever European Cup Winners' Cup Final. 1999-00 F.A. Cup Finalists Football League Cup semi-finalists 2000-01 Re-development of the Trinity Stand. 2003-04 Football League Cup semi-finalists 2006 Mr. Ellis' reign as chairman at end after 24 years, and at Villa since 1968, except 1979-82. American Mr. Lerner takes over as sole owner, and club delists from Stock Exchange. 2007-08 A modern record for average attendance (over 40,000, of 42,000+ capacity) achieved. 2009-10 Football League Cup Finalists F.A. Cup semi-finalists 2012-13 Football League Cup semi-finalists 2014-15 F.A. Cup Finalists 2016 (Jan) Englishman Steven Hollis takes over as pro-tem chairman from Randy Lerner. 2015-16 Relegated to The Championship. 2016 (June) Dr. 'Tony' Xia replaces Mr. Lerner as the club's owner. 2016 (July) The club opens their first football academy outside England - in New Delhi. 2016 (Aug 31) At the end of the transfer window a record 9 new players had been signed and 14 players moved on, some on loan. 2018 Villa reach the promotion play-off final at Wembley (vs Fulham), but lose. 2018 The club gets into financial difficulties. Dr. Xia sells a majority holding to N.Sawiris(Egypt) and W.Edens(USA). 2018-19 Promoted from Championship via play-off final (vs Derby C) to the Premier League. 2019-20 Football League Cup Finalists
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