Aston Villa F.C. founded (1874–1879)

Aston Villa Football Club was founded in 1874 in Birmingham, England, by members of the Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth. The club originated as a cricket team seeking winter fitness activities. It established its home ground at Villa Park in 1897, having previously played at Aston Park and Wellington Road.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Birmingham is a city in the West Midlands region of England. Aston Villa Football Club is based in Aston, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and is one of the oldest professional football teams in the country. It currently plays in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.

Formation. Aston Villa are believed to have formed on 21 November 1874, by members of the Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth, which is now part of Birmingham. The four founders were Jack Hughes, George Matthews, Walter Price, and William Scattergood. They were members of the chapel's cricket team looking for a way to stay fit during the winter months.

Early History. The infant club's fortunes changed when a young Scotsman called George Ramsay stumbled across the Villa players' practice match in Aston Park in 1876. The team previously played at Aston Park from 1874 to 1876 before moving to Wellington Road. For a few years after that, the team wore several different kits.

People involved

Sources

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