1880–81 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1880–81 season
Chairman	William McGregor
FA Cup	4th round

The 1880–81 English football season was Aston Villa's 2nd season in the Football Association Cup, the top-level football competition at the time. In 1881 Villa departed the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage.

Having avoided last season's opponent Stafford Road, in the first round, Villa faced only their second ever opponent, Wednesbury Strollers.^[1] The club was considered a more upmarket side than the Wednesbury Old Athletic Club with generally richer patrons but less public support.^[2] There were season debuts for Howard Vaughton^[3] George Copley,^[4] Bill Watts ^[5] and Arthur Brown.^[6]

In 1881 The referee is introduced to decide disputes between the umpires. The caution (for "ungentlemanly behaviour") and the sending-off (for violent conduct) appear in the laws for the first time.

Villa's first ever official defeat came against the same team against whom they had achieved their first victory in the competition, Stafford Road. They also defeated Hearts 4–1 in a "glamour" friendly at Wellington Road.

FA Cup

30 Oct 1880: 1st Round v Wednesbury Strollers (H) 5–3 ^[1]
4 Dec 1880: 2nd Round v Nottingham Forest (A) 2–1 ^[7]
12 Feb 1881: 3rd Round v Notts County (A) 3–1 ^[8]
19 Feb 1881 4th Round v Stafford Road (H) 2–3 ^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b "🟩 30 Oct 1880, Villa 5-3 Wednesbury Strollers, Wellington Road". AVFC History. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
^ "Football". Sports Argus: 1. 8 January 1916.
^ "AVFC History - Howard Vaughton". avfchistory.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
^ "George Copley Aston Villa Goalkeeper". AVFC History.
^ "Bill Watts Aston Villa Forward".
^ "AVFC History - Arthur Brown". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
^ James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk, 🟩 4 Dec 1880, Villa 2-1 Forest, Trent Bridge
^ James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk, 🟩 12 Feb 1881, Villa 3-1 Notts County, Trent Bridge
^ James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk, 🟥 19 Feb 1881, Villa 2-3 Stafford Road, Wellington Road

[G3-1] "🟩 30 Oct 1880, Villa 5-3 Wednesbury Strollers, Wellington Road". AVFC History. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2026-01-29.

[2] "Football". Sports Argus: 1. 8 January 1916.

[3] "AVFC History - Howard Vaughton". avfchistory.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2026-01-29.

[4] "George Copley Aston Villa Goalkeeper". AVFC History.

[5] "Bill Watts Aston Villa Forward".

[6] "AVFC History - Arthur Brown". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-29.

[G4-7] James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk, 🟩 4 Dec 1880, Villa 2-1 Forest, Trent Bridge

[G5-8] James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk, 🟩 12 Feb 1881, Villa 3-1 Notts County, Trent Bridge

[G6-9] James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk, 🟥 19 Feb 1881, Villa 2-3 Stafford Road, Wellington Road

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