1885–86 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1885–86 season
Chairman	William McGregor
FA Cup	2nd round

The 1885–86 English football season was Aston Villa's 7th season in the Football Association Cup, the top-level football competition at the time. This year saw Villa's most modest Cup performance since their first effort to win the trophy, in 1880. Villa were beaten in the second round by Derby County.

Denny Hodgetts signed for Villa in February 1886.^[1]

Following the professionalisation of football in 1885, the club decided that it needed a full-time paid manager. The following advert was placed in the Birmingham Daily Gazette newspaper in June 1886:

'Wanted: manager for Aston Villa Football Club, who will be required to devote his whole time under direction of the committee. Salary £100 per annum. Applications with reference must be made not later than June 23rd to Chairman of the Committee, Aston Villa Club House, 6 Witton Road, Aston’

Villa received 150 applicants for the role, but with his strong association with the club George Ramsay was the overwhelming choice of the membership. Thus on 26 June 1886, Villa appointed what has been described as the world's first football manager.^[2] The position predates the modern role of a football manager, the advert used the title 'manager' but the club settled on the title of 'secretary'. Ramsay was responsible for the team, including controlling recruitment and transfers, supported by a specialist trainer, who from 1893 until 1915 was Joe Grierson. The team was selected by the committee each week, which consisted of such figures as William McGregor, Fred Rinder and, following their retirement, former club captains John Devey and Howard Spencer.

Ramsay would hold his position at the club for a remarkable 42 years, in which time Villa won the Football League and FA Cup 6 times each, establishing themselves as the premier football club in England. Villa's style of play under Ramsay consisted of high speed dribbling, short passes and powerful shooting.^[3]

There were debuts for Charlie Hobson, Wally Jones, Jack Burton and Richmond Davis.

FA Cup details

1st Round v Walsall Town (A) 5–0 ^[4]
2nd Round v Derby County (A) 0–2 ^[5]

References

^ Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 148. ISBN 1-84018-821-9.
^ Lerwill, John (2009). The Aston Villa Chronicles 1874-1924. Aston Villa Ltd. p. 198. ISBN 9780956286109.
^ Lerwill, John (2012). Aston Villa - The First Superclub. A & JL Solutions. p. 37. ISBN 978-0956983312.
^ 🟩 17 Oct 1885, Villa 5-0 Walsall Town, The Chuckery
^ 🟥 14 Nov 1885, Villa 0-2 Derby, Racehorse Ground

[1] Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 148. ISBN 1-84018-821-9.

[2] Lerwill, John (2009). The Aston Villa Chronicles 1874-1924. Aston Villa Ltd. p. 198. ISBN 9780956286109.

[3] Lerwill, John (2012). Aston Villa - The First Superclub. A & JL Solutions. p. 37. ISBN 978-0956983312.

[4] 🟩 17 Oct 1885, Villa 5-0 Walsall Town, The Chuckery

[5] 🟥 14 Nov 1885, Villa 0-2 Derby, Racehorse Ground

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1885–86 in English football
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