Aston Villa News

Here at the Transfer Tavern, we have created a portal dedicated entirely to Aston Villa FC, one of the most prestigious teams to ever take part in the beautiful game.

Check back in everyday to catch all the latest headlines, gossip, transfer news and more about your favourite Villans.

Aston Villa History

The Claret and Blues are one of English football’s most successful sides ever, a far cry from the original Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel cricket team, who initially formed the club in order to take part in a local rugby match.

Starting out at Wellington Road, Villa won their first major honour, the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1880, before beating West Bromwich Albion to lift the FA Cup in 1887. A year later the director William McGregor was recognised as the founder of the Football League, the oldest competition of its kind in world football.

Arguably the club’s golden era started to wane at the beginning of the First World War.

A founding member of the Premier League in 1992, the Lions just missed out on the trophy in its inaugural season.

How many trophies have Aston Villa won?

Aston Villa have won both the top flight and the FA Cup a staggering seven times, famously beating Manchester United’s Busby Babes in the final in 1957. They are also one of only five English teams to have lifted the coveted European Cup, stunning favourites Bayern Munich, having claimed the First Division title the year before.

After winning the Double in 1897, the Midlands side moved to Villa Park, where they remain to this day.

Aston Villa Facts

Given the club is so steeped in football history, it is hardly surprising that AVFC is full of many interesting anecdotes.

Remarkably, former player Archie Hunter became the first player in the competition to score in every round of the FA Cup when they seized the trophy all the way back in 1887.

Villa’s kit has changed a number of times over the years, but since 1893, the body of the strip has been claret, with blue sleeves and white socks for the most part.

The home ground lies just below the Aston Hall country house and has hosted matches from the 1966 World Cup and 1996 European Championships in the past.

Who are Aston Villa’s rivals?

Villa’s arch-rivals are Birmingham City and both teams form the local Second City derby. West Brom have also been acknowledged as their greatest rivals after a number of memorable clashes.

Famous Aston Villa players

Fans have been treated to lots of impressive performances ranging from the legendary Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring to Peter Schmeichel, David Platt and current England manager Gareth Southgate.

In more recent memory, the likes of Jack Grealish, Stiliyan Petrov, James Milner, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Dwight Yorke and Gareth Barry have all graced the turf of the Aston Lower Grounds.