Aston Villa
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 Aston Villa Football Club
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Archie Hunter,
The first of the Villa captains to lift the FA Cup
Lived at 18, Potters Hill Aston in 1881
ASTON VILLA F.C. 1886 - 1887
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 Standing Left to Right
F Coulton, J Warner, F Dawson, J Simmonds
Sitting Middle Row
R Davies, A Brown, A Hunter, H Vaughton,
D Hodgetts
Sitting On Ground
H Yates, J Burton
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JIMMY WARNER The photo of James (Jimmy) Warner was taken in the 1880's. He was born September 30, 1863 in Birmingham. He died in November of 1943 in Pennsylvania, USA. He was with the Aston Villa football team from 1886-1892 and was the goalie for the championship win in the 1886-1887 season. He came to the US in 1907 and lived with his daughter Lilian Warner Lloyd.
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| ASTON VILLA F.C. circa 1900 |
  Image Courtesy of Wendy Partridge
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MY FAMILY LINKS WITH ASTON VILLA
Vic Garvey
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My grandfather, Bartholomew Garvey was born in Rocky Lane, Aston on 5th October, 1865. He was, in fact, first generation English born of an Irish father, also named Bartholomew Garvey. His father had emigrated from County Roscommon, together with his brothers and sister around the mid-1840s. At that time, the great potato famines were already devastating Europe, but it's effect upon Ireland was a great deal worse. The Irish population were mainly a labouring class, many of whom had small plots of rented land upon which to grow a meagre supply of vegetables to sustain them through the harsh winters. Thus, the potato was the man stay of their diet, and when the crops failed due to 'blight,' starvation took over.
The English counties in the North and Midlands were those where work was plentiful. At first the family moved in and around the Staffordshire areas of Wolverhampton and Willenhall. Amelia Shelvoke my Great grandmother had been born in Willenhall, in 1835. It is thought that she and Bartholomew had met there about 1853 and later moved to Birmingham. They lived as common law man and wife and raised five children, three boys, and two girls. The boys, Thomas, William and Bartholomew all played football. Their pitches were where they found them, around Perry Barr, Birchfield and of course, Aston Park.
In a report dated 12 November 1869, printed in the Midland Athlete, we read: 'VICTORIA v ASTON SHAKESPEARE - Played on Saturday last, and after a fast and exciting game, ended in a win for the former, by two goals to one. The Shakespeare in ten minutes had scored a goal. Victoria tried to make matters equal and in a scrimmage in the mouth of the goal, Parker scored one for Victoria. Before half-time was called, Hatell scored another goal for Victoria. Nothing more of importance happened.' After listing Victoria team members, the article spells out the Shakespeare team as:
'T. Garvy, Merrit, Lawley, Cox, Foster, Morris, Hurley, W. Garvy, Fox, B. Garvy, Walters.' This spelling of the Garvey name was not unusual as it appeared that way on the birth records of Bartholomew's father's Christening in Ireland.
On that day in November 1879, Bartholomew, would have been 14 years old, and as a young player, he possibly showed merit, to the extent that in 1888, he had turned out for Aston Villa.
The photograph show the Villa team that took THE BIRMINGHAM MAYOR'S CHARITY CUP (on the left) and THE BIRMINGHAM FA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP (on the right). This was one of a number of official photo shoots that took place on June 22nd 1888, and was possibly taken at the Perry Barr ground in Wellington Road, Aston. This was the team that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final, 2.0. However, there is more to tell about this photograph as I will now relate.
I had taken to researching our family history, and the photograph had been handed down from my father. I needed to authenticate it for possible future use, so, I wrote Villa Park in June 1997 asking about the history of it. Imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail back from Bernard Gallagher editor of Villa matchplay programme and publisher of CLARET & BLUE, the official Villa Magazine. They had no knowledge of this particular picture, and more important, had no record of the shirts the players wore. I was able to let Bernard borrow the picture and a copy is now in the Villa archives. And the shirts? 1888/89 was the first time Villa changed the material of the jersey from wool to cotton. However, the material didn't stand up to the wear and tear of the game, and in early 1889, changed back to wool.
Then, later, Bernard advised me that another similar photograph had turned up. This belonged to Philip Clamp. Philip's Grandfather had been secretary to the Villa board of directors at the time, and on his photo, his Grandfather is seen seated next to my Grandfather. In the event, and as it was Bernard's birthday, he invited me and my brother Clifford, to visit Villa Park and have a spot of lunch with them. 'Keep me away',I shouted!
After a splendid meal, over looking the hallowed turf, we were photographed together and so, the Grandsons were pictured as the Grandfathers had been 109 years before.
The story was published in CLARET & BLUE Number 31, January 1998, and it also appeared in Carl Chin's 'Old Brum' issue 7 and the 'Evening Mail' December 28, 1998.
Bartholomew or 'Bat' Garvey was not the only Garvey to play for Villa. His brother William is mentioned together with 'Bat' in two matches, one, a reserve match played on 'Saturday Night' November 3rd 1888 against Stoke Swifts. The second was another reserve match dated 6th October 1888, beating Unity Gas 4-2 at Perry Barr ground.
'Bat' first turned out in Claret and Blue in 1888 in a game against Blackburn Rovers. Villa won, 4-2, and he had the satisfaction of marking his debut by scoring 2 of Villa's goals. Another 'first' took place at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Dudley Road, ground on September 8, 1888 which was the first English Football League match Villa ever played. The League had been the brain child of amongst others, William McGregor, a Scotsman who had come to Birmingham to find work. A report of that match stated:
GARVEY and HODGETTS were on the left for Villa. 'Garvey dribbled the ball right through the Wanderers back up to the goal and BAYNTON, by a brilliant display of goalkeeping cleared his position'. . . . .also' As half time drew near, BROWN, GARVEY, and GREEN broke away, and GARVEY again, dribbling well into goal, shot. GREEN was in the way, but the ball came out to BROWN who passed it in the centre, and GREEN getting it onto the side of his foot and sent it against the goal post and it glided through the Wanderers goal, making the score equal.'
My Grandfather followed football all his life, although his professional days ended mid 1890s. He died on December 18th 1911, aged 46. One of his obituaries, in the Birmingham Daily Mail, dated 19th December 1911 said:
'Garvey, Bartholomew, beloved husband of Louisa, died after a short illness at 260, Clifton Road, Aston; much lamented. Late of Aston Villa Football Club.'
Vic Garvey, October 2002
Villa News edition (January, 1909) Courtesy of John Lerwill
* 'Bat' Garvey came to Aston Villa from Aston Shakespeare in 1888;
* Information about his first game vs. Blackburn 'Bat' played in that game because Dennis Hodgetts was off playing for England for the first time;
* 'Bat' gave up senior football with the Villa in 1893.
Now, the main article surrounding 'Bat's personal contribution (either an interview or taken from a transcript - it doesn't say - in 1908 or beginning January 1909):
In a match against Preston North End in the same season as the Blackburn match, [both of which would appear to have been before the League started; in season 1887/88 perhaps] Archie Hunter exhorted his team to "do their best to beat North End", then in the heyday of their fame.
[Wrote Garvey] "Whenever our captain felt like that we were always sure to win, and about 20 minutes after we started Archie passed to me and shouted, 'Go all the way with it!'; which I did, and scored the opening goal. A lot of excitement was caused through the Villa scoring the first goal. We won the match sure enough, but I cannot remember what the score was."
"I very well remember a match one Christmas with Preston North End, two years later than the one previously mentioned, and when the star of North End had begun to fade [it looks like the match he speaks about is that on
25/12/1889 in season 1889/90]. We were all promised a gift if we won - (what would the F.A. say to this nowadays?) - but we lost the match through the modesty of our umpire. We were winning 2-1 at half-time. In the second-half, Jimmy Ross, who played forward, was standing by our goal, and when the ball came to him he kicked it into the net. We appealed for offside, but our umpire took no notice. Sudell, the Preston umpire, appealed for a goal, and as our umpire would not give his opinion, a goal was allowed. About 10 minutes before time, Ross was standing by our goal again, and when the ball came in he deliberately punched it into the net, and it so happened that the referee did not see him do this. We appealed for a foul, and Sudell for a goal. Again our umpire would not come up and discuss the matter with him, so a goal was given. We lost the match through our umpire - which was hard luck, as we had much the best of the play, and it took Preston all their time to keep us out."
"Next day we played Accrington at Perry Barr, and if anyone had seen this match and the one the day before at Preston they would have thought we were not the same men, for, as the saying is, Accrington simply 'walked round us' and won the match by about five goals." [BIG NOTE! : From my records it looks as though Bat's memory is at fault as, though Villa *did* play Accrington at home on the Boxing Day, it looks as though Accrington won 2-1 and *not* by five goals. However, on the 28/12/1889, Villa played at Derby and lost there by 0-5. It's strange that Bat's memory seems to have not worked for him there, because it was he that scored against Accrington according to my records!]
His memory of the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup, which was played on the Warwickshire cricket ground [year not given - looks like 1888?]:-
"It was one of the first matches I ever played in. It was against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Dennis Hodgetts and I had our work cut out that day with Harry Louder and Dick Baugh; but we won by 3 goals to 0."
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ASTON VILLA F.C. 1888
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 Back row, left to right - Frank Coulton, Harry Dewey, James Warner(Goalkeeper), Harry Yates, Gershom Cox, Fred Burton, J. Gorman(trainer).
Front Row, left to right - Albert Brown, Albert Allen, Archie Hunter(Captain), Dennis Hodgetts, Bat Garvey.
Mayor of Birmingham's Charity Cup, left, Birmingham F.A. Senior Challenge Cup, right.
I am indebted to Bernard Gallagher of Sports Projects Ltd. for naming the team for me and helping me with my research.
Vic Garvey, October 2002
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ASTON VILLA F.C.
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 This portrait of Bat Garvey first appeared in
THE VILLA NEWS AND RECORD
for February 6, 1909, under the heading
OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Although possibly not easily visible is a buttonhole of Shamrock. Bat was first generation English from an Irish father. The watch chain sports the two cup medals mentioned above.
Vic Garvey, October 2002
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ASTON VILLA F.C.
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The following photograph appears by courtesy of my cousin Nigel Garvey, Edinbourgh, Scotland who is also a descendent of Bat Garvey and acknowledges his kind help in this matter.
 This picture shows from the left Thomas Garvey, seated, Amelia Johnson (formerly Amelia Garvey nee Amelia Shelvoke), William Garvey, and Bat Garvey. Taken on the occasion of William's marriage, in the small garden
of No. 6, William Henry Street, Aston.
Thomas and Bat have shamrock buttonholes, William and his mother flowers.
William and Bat sport their watchchains, complete with medals.
Vic Garvey, October 2002
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ASTON VILLA F.C.
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 Phil shows off his picture. Taken in the Archive room at Villa Park, from left to right, Clifford Garvey, my brother, Reg Thacker, Villa archivist, Philip Clamp, grandson of Philip Clamp, Villa Club Secretary, 1888, and myself. the old Vic! The photograph we are touching reverently, shows the full Villa Board of Directors at the time, 1888, with my grandfather and Phil's grandfather seated next to each other front row.
Vic Garvey, October 2002
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Aston Villa Football Club, 1887
Aston villa F C was founded in 1874, Villa's origins lay in the Bible Class of Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel. The club turned professional in 1885 and won the F A trophy cup seven times Villa's first playing venue was in Perry Barr, but they moved to their present ground and have played all their home matches at Villa Park since 1886
League Champions 1893-94,1895-96, 1896-97, 1898-99,1899-1900,1909-10, 1980-81
F, A, Cup Winners, 1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957.
League cup Winners 1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, 1996,
European, 1982
European, Super Cup Winners, 1983
Today's Premiership league owes its existence to the Football league that in turn owes their beginnings to Aston Villa.
The infamous Summer Lane, Aston was were it all began in a small but significant drapers shop the owner was a canny middle-aged Scotsman by the name of William McGregor who was also a director of the newly formed professional football club Aston Villa, his close friend and businessman Joe Tillotson, a regular Villa supporter who kept a small eating house or coffee shop as we know them today discussed the fear of other clubs in the country had, that was attracting larger crowds to pay at the turnstiles At this time clubs only played friendly games within the vicinity of their origins there was the occasional game or cup competition but they where badly organised when on occasions teams from the north came down,
Football in Lancashire was very popular and drew on large crowds each week, a local news paper journalist who reported on the local games to had copied the American Baseball system of giving winning teams a status over the loosing sides
McGregor could well see the possibilities in this approach and called for a board meeting with his fellow directors and put forward his idea that all teams should meet on an home and away basis and all fixtures must be fixed for the football season The midnight oil burnt for many months most of the clubs were frightened by the wrath of the Football Association, and where not to interested in this idea of McGregor's
The football league as we know it today bares witness to the seeds of William McGregor to the fact there is indeed no organisation quite like it. Indeed it has been copied and revered as the acme of efficiency and incorruptibility
During its long history the Football league has survived many battles of change the impact of two world wars many social changes and still it marches proudly on looking forward to the future.
Where I wonder would football be with out the Scotsman William McGregor and Aston Villa Football Club
Stolen Cup!!
The original Football Association Challenge cup won by Aston Villa was stolen from a shop window in New Town Row the name of the shop was Shilcocks it was never found but it is reputed that it was melted down and made into half crowns
November the fifth 1887 Buffalo Bill visits Villa Park
The most famous name in American cowboy history presented is wild west show at Aston meadow lower grounds his show included over two hundred horses mules buffalos prairie elk cowboys and Indians and the famous deadwood stage at the time Aston Villa were playing at Small Heath Alliance (now Birmingham City)
Incidentally Villa won 3 goals to 0 and Buffalo Bill performed to the lowest crowd ever when touring with his wild west show'
World Cup
Villa Park as staged World cup and International football it is the F A `s choice for semi-finals and more cup semi-finals have been played at Villa Park than any other football ground there record attendance 76,588 just after the end of world war 2 it was against Derby County in the F A cup March 1946 Villa lost the tie by 3 goals to 4
Their highest league attendance was Boxing Day 1949 69,099 in 1996 for the first time gate receipts where over one million pounds
 Villa park was also prominent in the 1966 World Cup Finals staging three games
Argentina v Spain Argentina v West Germany and Spain v West Germany the three games were watched by over 150 thousand spectators Who saw the worlds most expensive player at the time one Luis Suarez… Argentina were tagged the worlds dirtiest players… also on display was the golden delights of Franz Beckenbauer
England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, have all played full international matches at Villa Park.
June the 4” 1995 in preparations for Euro 96, Brazil v Sweden, the venue Villa Park The European Championships Villa staged the games Holland v Scotland
Holland v Switzerland Scotland v Switzerland Portugal v Czech Republic'
Other Events
The football League and the Scottish League played their representative inter League games at Villa Park
It as also staged multipurpose events British and Empire Boxing championships Rugby League Internationals Great Britain v Australia the formidable All Blacks and American Gridiron Football Super Star pop concerts. The Boss Bruce Springstine performed in front of forty thousand screaming fans American Evangelists Dick Saunders also drew great crowds to Villa Park Billy Graham in 1984 attracted 257,181 people in prayer meetings over five days
Archbishop Desmond Tutu also chose Villa Park to meet his followers
 Leisure Centre
Aston Villa Football club have always been progressive in their thinking they built the Aston Villa leisure Centre also Stumps for the highly successful indoor cricket
They built one of the first American 10 pin bowling venues Fairlanes and also in conjunction with ASDA the food store giants built a super market on the old serpentine grounds that was a boating venue and professional cycling track… but it is most famous for Pat Collins's Onion Fair that attracted as many people as the football games
Pele !
February 21 1972… 54,437 people braved a dark and cold winters night to get into the ground and countless thousands were locked out when you consider that the whole country was locked into a most bizarre power crisis factories were only working three days a week how did Villa manage to get round the crisis the brought their own electric generator especially for the match then after the game sold it on at a profit Villa were in the third division for the first time in their history and what was the hue and cry for all this excitement It was the one and only PELE The south American Club Santos were to challenge the famous claret and blue but the attraction that night was to catch a glimpse of the words greatest footballer of all time PELE
As a lad finding my place up against the low white railing holding on with both hands I don't know what it was but they seemed to have an attraction even to wanting to suck at the tips Just to the right of the goal one of the rails was bent I was told and believed that our Welsh International Trevor Ford bent it shooting for goal I still would like to believe that it was true I also remember a fan may be it was a mascot all I remember he was a grown man who would walk on his hands the length of the pitch dribbling a make believe ball then he would conclude by throwing his cap into the goal net to great applause from the waiting crowd take his accolade with great aplomb jump into the crowd and then disappear
A Few Famous Names
There have been many famous names down the years far to many to name but just to wet the appetite Our name sake Eric Houghton Gerry Hitchens Pongo Waring Johnny Dixon Peter Mc'Parland he for the still talked about Challenge on the Manchester United Goal Keeper and of coarse his goals that beat United and gave us the F A cup
Doug Ellis
Doug Ellis Asked for the fans to help the ailing club who were at rock bottom along with Tommy Docherty To buy a five pound share in the club if you consider that eleven pounds a week was an average wage for the working man you can imagine the commitment for the fan £205,835 was raised those that could not afford £5 pound sent in any thing they could afford they even turned up at the grounds armed with paint pots and brushes brooms and shovels and gave Villa Park a make over that was the loyalty of an Aston Villa Fan… I who each match day join in the pilgrimage and walks the footsteps of my harbingers glow with pride as I pass their burial place in Aston Church see my self as a child rushing through Aston Park sneaking under the turnstiles of Villa Park waving my war time gas rattle pained in claret and blue shouting up the Villa and come on you lions… Five Generations Of the Houghton Family have watched and supported Aston Villa
BOB HOUGHTON
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