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!
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.
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!
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