The Villa Timeline
2001 – Present
2007: Villa change there crest.
2006: Doug Ellis sells the club to Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner and Martin O’Neill replaces David O’Leary as club manager.
1981 – 2000
2000: Villa lose in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea in the last game to be played at the Old Wembley Stadium.
1996: Villa win the League Cup again, this time under the guidance of Brian Little after a 3-0 win over Leeds United. This final will always be remembered for a superb goal from Savo Milosevic.
1994: Ron Atkinson guides Villa to a win over his former club Manchester United at Wembley as they become League Cup Champions.
1992: The Premier League is founded with Villa being one of the founder members. They went on to finish runners-up to Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
1990: Villa finish runners-up in the First division.
1988: New manager Graham Taylor guides Villa back into the top flight of English football.
1987: Villa are relegated to the Second division.
1983: Villa beat Barcelona in the final to be crowned European Super Cup Champions.
1982: Tony Barton guides Villa to there greatest night in there history. Villa became the Champions of Europe after a 1-0 victory over German side Bayern Munich, thanks to a goal from Peter Withe.
1982: Ron Saunders resigns from the club after falling out with the chairman, despite being in the European Cup Quater Finals.
1981: Villa announced themselves back amongst the elite, as they were crowned First division Champions.
1961 – 1980
1975: Ron Saunders no nonsence approach helps Villa to win there second League Cup.
1974: Ron Saunders is named manager of Aston Villa.
1972: Under the guidance of Vic Crowe, Villa return to the Second division with a record 70 points.
1970: Despite new ownership, they couldnt provent Villa from being relegated to the third tear of English Football.
1968: After lying at the foot of the Second division, the fans protested for the fans to retire. The board sacked Tommy Cummings, and within two weeks the entire board resigned. After much speculation, control of the club was bought by London financier Pat Matthews, who also brought in Doug Ellis as chairman.
1967: For the third time, Villa are relegated to the Second divison, under Dick Taylor.
1964: Joe Mercer retires from football which signaled a period of deep turmoil for the club.
1961: Villa become the first winners of the Football League Cup.
1941 – 1960
1960: Under the management of Joe Mercer, Villa returned to the top flight as Second division Champions.
1959: The club struggled in the league and were eventually relegated to the second division.
1957: Eric Houghton led the club to there 7th FA Cup and Villa’s first trophy in 37 years. They beat the ‘Busby Babes’ of Manchester United.
1945: English football started again after the 7 year gap for the Second World War. Former player Alex Massie rebuilt the team after a lot of players careers as ended due to the War.
1901 – 1940
1939: Like all English clubs, football came to a hault for seven years due to the Second World War.
1936: Despite being one of the most famous names in World Football, Villa were relegated, largely because of the 110 goals they conceded in just 42 games.
1920: Aston Villa are crowned FA Cup Winners for the 6th time.
Before 1900
1897: The year Villa won the league and cup double. They moved into there current home ‘Aston Lower Grounds’, although it was known unofficially to fans as Villa Park.
1888: Aston Villa were one of the dozen teams that competed in the inaugural Football League with one of the club’s directors, William McGregor being the league’s founder.
1887: Archie Hunter helps the club to win there first FA Cup.
1880: Villa established themselves as one of the best in the Midlands after winning the Birmingham Senior Cup, under the captaincy of George Ramsey.
1874: Aston Villa were formed by members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth. The four founders of Aston Villa were Jack Hughes, Frederick Matthews, Walter Price and William Scattergood.
