More News Of Villa's Great Past!

I'm glad to tell you that Volume 2 of Aston Villa Through The Ages - all about a very major period in Villa's history (1893-1905) - is now up and available, and at a very agreeable price - I think! 

Volume 1, of course, remains available as well.

For details of this and for further particulars about the series, including how to purchase and availability of the next volume, please click here to link to my webpage.


Thanks, and UTV!

Some Things Never Change

A friend wrote and referred to a reference in Volume One of "Aston Villa Through The Ages" to Archie Hunter's departure from the Villa in 1881 and that the Sport and Play periodical wrote about "scores and scores of 'fair weather' supporters" and "by and by we shall see Villa once more singing a triumphant march and the croaking prophets of evil today trooping at the heels of the players with all the brazenness of gilded weather-cocks".

The friend said that for some reason it struck a note with him and wondered why!

Well, there are some things that never change, but in that account, Jack Urry, the Sport and Play reporter and commentator and later VN&R writer, illustrates the power of his reports and comments.

When I did that big Villa research through all those publications so long ago I would come across Urry time and again and got to love his perception and way with words.

Which other football club possesses anything like this heritage? No other.

This is part of why Villa is special i.m.o. There was once a link that was more than normal between its organisers and players, and I think that spirit is still there today and what makes the club so special. No-one but a Villan could understand that.

Up the Villa!

Please have a look at my new Villa history magazine series "Aston Villa Through The Ages": just click here. A sampler is available for download. Thanks, and happy reading!

Hope Springs Eternal. Especially at The Villa!

I understand that on Thursday we will get to know what the fixture list is for next season, Villa's 121st season in league football, half of which has been spent in the top-8 of the top tier, believe it or not. After the last 8 years it doesn't seem like Villa have been so prominent through most of their history, does it?

But let's not expect too much too soon. With at least half of the first-team squad up for replacement with new players from outside as well as a probable infusion from the reserves, such as O'Hare, I would be happy just to see Villa finish in the top-half this coming season. But what would be tasty is to have a good run in one or more of the Cups. It's about time we won one of those again!

What is good about the situation at Villa Park today is that I feel that there's a return to the kind of team spirit we saw when we gained excellent League Cup triumphs in 1994 and 1996. There's now a kind of determination in the team that says "thou shalt not pass", and if we can permanently bring in the likes of Mings, Hause and El Ghazi, players that showed strong commitment and skill last season, then I do indeed feel hopeful of it being a good season in 2019-20. Their signing as permanent players does, indeed, look very promising.

But what is daunting is that having unloaded a lot of players that clearly would not serve Villa's interest in the Premiership (with some sadness at some of those departures), there are still so many signings to make to fill the gaps. Yet, in a little over a month's time, we'll be into the pre-season run of friendlies, with the season itself starting on the 9th/10th August.

So, so, little time for preparation. But at least I have a lot better confidence in the setup that now exists at the Villa.

Up the Villa!

Please have a look at my new Villa history magazine series: just click here. A sampler is available for download. Thanks, and happy reading!

Villa In The Historical English Top 5

By courtesy of https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/picture-aston-villa-liverpool-fans-16386611

Another Villa Triumph! A New On-line History Magazine Series!

I am pleased to announce a 10-volume on-line magazine series of quality called "Aston Villa Through The Ages". Each of these volumes will be centred mostly around the players and particularly about long-serving playing legends of the club.

The very first purchaser made the comment: "a work of devotion", and added his praise.

All volumes are inexpensively downloadable in PDF form. An option for printing is provided. 

This series takes the opportunity also to bring the known history of Aston Villa completely up-to-date.

An additional attraction is that I welcome former Villa News & Record editor and leading Villa writer Rob Bishop, who has kindly agreed to write lead articles for the three 'Ages' from 1976 to 2012. Please note that a free 11th volume of the series will also be available. For details of this and for further particulars about the series please link to my webpage, or to directly purchase a copy of the newly-released first volume, please click here. 

Thanks for calling by, and Up The Villa!