Everyone likes a good story, and even guys who are apparently tough like certain romantic stories - especially when it comes to football! Especially for us Villa supporters.
As a historian, over the years I have been very interested in the kind of stories that develop as mythology - in this context, about the Villa. Here are a few of the more commonly known examples, together with my understanding of what really happened:
1. That the Villa was formed by four members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Church under a streetlamp. These are the facts about the matter:
(a) The "Villa Cross Wesleyan Church" was actually the Aston Villa Wesleyan Church (or Chapel) from which the football club took its name. The location of the Church was at what became known as Villa Cross;
(b) This Church's bible class already had a cricket club, and the teacher of this class suggested that they keep fit during winter by taking up an appropriate sport. A delegation of four of their members were asked to view a rugby match to see what they thought of that, and, thus, those four viewed such a match in Heathfield Road and afterwards gathered under a streetlamp to discuss the merits of the game. They decided that rugby was too tough and that they would recommend that soccer (yes, the word 'soccer' derives from the UK!) should be the desired sport. Subsequently, they reported back and 15 members of the bible class formed Aston Villa FC - including the four members that had been delegated to view the rugby match.
2. That Aston Villa was formed in March, 1874. Other historians as well as myself have long been sure that March is in error. This myth appears to have taken root in 1899 at the time of the club's 25th anniversary, but now I can say with substantial conviction that the real month should be taken as October, as my future publication will explain.
3. That Billy Walker (1920-33) was Villa's greatest player. Well, as he is in the records as having scored the higher number of goals (slightly ahead of Harry Hampton) and played for England more times than any other Villa player until David Platt came along in the early 1990s, people can be forgiven for thinking he was Villa's 'greatest'. The fact is, however, that some knowledgable people of the 1920s/30s who saw him play, and who also saw earlier great Villa players, actually thought that Billy was not as good as the likes of Hodgetts, Wheldon, Bache and Clem Stephenson as a 'number 10'. This matter is probably best left alone, as the style and methods of football have changed considerably anyway between eras. Perhaps we should just say that certain players were the best of their era - in Walker's case in the era 1919-1939.
4. That Doug Ellis ran down the club after coming back as chairman in 1982. There was considerable angst against Doug from many quarters among the supporters, and I would never say he was the ideal chairman either. He certainly didn't have the vision that would have been more appropriate and neither did he like his managers to have too much power, but... In 1982 the Villa were beginning to suffer very reduced gates due to the Midlands' economic recession and in those days income from gate money was still the primary source. There had also been the North Stand building fiasco. Therefore Doug was cautious - rightly so - about the finances, though it is fair to say he didn't gain friends by taking what was seen to be a fat salary. Further, some say that he ran down the European Cup squad too quickly, but the fact is that several of the players were ageing. The main problem was, as I see it, that he made the wrong choice of manager too often and seems to have told them what to do, until Graham Taylor came along. After that, Doug's lack of vision certainly seems to have affected matters.
Well, those are the main 'myths' that have gained popularity over the years. I hope the truth is not too boring!
I am sure we all look forward to the Villa returning to great heights again - but this time more permanently (Liverpool-like) rather than being seen as a 'sleeping giant'.
UTV!
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