Press release:
FOUNDER OF THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE REMEMBERED
Tuesday 20 December marks the centenary of the death of William McGregor, founder of The Football League and chairman of Aston Villa during a most important period of the club's history.
In celebration of the centenary, Aston Villa FC is commissioning the restoration of McGregor's grave in the picturesque churchyard of St Mary's, Handsworth, in Birmingham and planning a special centenary event with high profile guests from the world of football and beyond.
Spearheading the project is Peter Lupson, author of 'Thank God for Football!' which charts the emergence of English Premiership clubs from churches, Aston Villa included. Lupson has already undertaken similar projects with Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in rescuing the graves of their founders from dereliction and decay.
McGregor's centenary will be celebrated on 20 December at St Mary's Church in a service of commemoration attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and the chairmen or chief executives of the 12 founding clubs of The Football League. It will be jointly conducted by Rev Dr Kirsty Thorpe, leader of the United Reformed Church in the UK (McGregor was a devout member of the Congregational Church, now part of the URC), Rev Leo Osborn, leader of the Methodist Church in the UK (in recognition of Aston Villa's Methodist origin) and the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston. Also taking part will be the Rev Professor Stuart Picken, minister of Ardoch Parish Church in Braco, Perthshire, where McGregor was baptised.
Lord Brian Mawhinney, president of The Football League, will pay tribute to his organisation's founder and the principal address will be given by Peter Lupson, co-author (with John Lerwill) of the recently published biography 'The Inspirational William McGregor'.
The service will conclude with a procession into the churchyard led by the Bishop of Aston, who will rededicate McGregor's grave. Following the ceremony, Aston Villa will host a VIP reception at Villa Park.
[End of Press Release]
Note that even the vicar of Mac's birthplace (Braco, Perthshire) has enthusiastically decided he wants to be present. He was a footballer himself - in Japan!!
Just how great was Mac?
Read "The Inspirational William McGregor" to make a better judgment!
Link to the McGregor page.
The Inspirational William McGregor book is part of a larger project to commemorate the centenary of the death of 'Mac' in December.
.
FOUNDER OF THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE REMEMBERED
Tuesday 20 December marks the centenary of the death of William McGregor, founder of The Football League and chairman of Aston Villa during a most important period of the club's history.
In celebration of the centenary, Aston Villa FC is commissioning the restoration of McGregor's grave in the picturesque churchyard of St Mary's, Handsworth, in Birmingham and planning a special centenary event with high profile guests from the world of football and beyond.
Spearheading the project is Peter Lupson, author of 'Thank God for Football!' which charts the emergence of English Premiership clubs from churches, Aston Villa included. Lupson has already undertaken similar projects with Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in rescuing the graves of their founders from dereliction and decay.
McGregor's centenary will be celebrated on 20 December at St Mary's Church in a service of commemoration attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and the chairmen or chief executives of the 12 founding clubs of The Football League. It will be jointly conducted by Rev Dr Kirsty Thorpe, leader of the United Reformed Church in the UK (McGregor was a devout member of the Congregational Church, now part of the URC), Rev Leo Osborn, leader of the Methodist Church in the UK (in recognition of Aston Villa's Methodist origin) and the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston. Also taking part will be the Rev Professor Stuart Picken, minister of Ardoch Parish Church in Braco, Perthshire, where McGregor was baptised.
Lord Brian Mawhinney, president of The Football League, will pay tribute to his organisation's founder and the principal address will be given by Peter Lupson, co-author (with John Lerwill) of the recently published biography 'The Inspirational William McGregor'.
The service will conclude with a procession into the churchyard led by the Bishop of Aston, who will rededicate McGregor's grave. Following the ceremony, Aston Villa will host a VIP reception at Villa Park.
[End of Press Release]
Note that even the vicar of Mac's birthplace (Braco, Perthshire) has enthusiastically decided he wants to be present. He was a footballer himself - in Japan!!
Just how great was Mac?
Read "The Inspirational William McGregor" to make a better judgment!
Link to the McGregor page.
The Inspirational William McGregor book is part of a larger project to commemorate the centenary of the death of 'Mac' in December.
.
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