Birmingham Daily Mail 1874
Aston Villa was effectively formed when four men made the decision to play soccer not rugger. This took place under a gas lamp at the top of Heathfield Road at Villa Cross. Shortly after that decision Aston Villa played its first ever game of football against St Mary’s, Aston Brook. In 1924 a former Villa player who was there under the lamp when the decision was made, said the match report appeared in the Birmingham Daily Mail. But another report, much closer to the event, published in 1887 suggests that the game took place in the latter part of the year after November 21. If the match report can be found then the argument about which month Aston Villa was formed will be over.
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Henry Vii commented
Such a cool piece of history! It's crazy how something as small as a match report can change the timeline. Hopefully, that 1887 report turns up and puts the debate to rest Aston Villa’s origins are definitely worth knowing!
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Aston Villa was effectively formed when, in 1874, four men made the decision to play soccer not rugger. This took place under a gas lamp at the top of Heathfield Road at Villa Cross. Shortly after that decision Aston Villa played its first ever game of football. It was against St Mary’s, Aston Brook. In 1924 one of the men, a former player who was there under the lamp, Jack Hughes, stated that the match report appeared in the Birmingham Daily Mail. Jack said this happened in March, but another account, given in 1887, suggests it took place in the latter part of the year sometime after November 21. If the match report can be found in the above paper, or any other paper for that matter, then the arguement about which month Aston Villa was formed will be over.