Aston Villa

Club History

Aston Villa was founded in 1874 by members of a Wesleyan chapel’s cricket team in Handsworth (now part of Birmingham) looking to stay active during the winter. They were a dominant force in the early years of organized English football—winning multiple league titles and FA Cups—and were also a founding member of the Football League in 1888 under the leadership of William McGregor. Over time, Villa Park became their storied home, and although the club has seen ups and downs, Villa remain one of England’s historic clubs with both domestic and European honours, including winning the European Cup in 1982.