Sammy Law

Sammy Law
Personal information
Date of birth January 1850 (1850-01)
Place of birth Handsworth, Staffs
Date of death Unknown
Position Half back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1879–1882 Aston Villa 11 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Samuel Richard Law (born January 1850, Handsworth) was an English footballer. He played in Aston Villa's first ever FA Cup tie.[1]

The 1879–80 English football season saw Aston Villa's entry into top flight competitive association football with their first tie in the FA Cup.[2] The start of the official record was Saturday 13 December 1879 when Villa faced Stafford Road F.C., of the Stafford Road railway works, Wolverhampton. The match was played before a crowd of 2,000 at Stafford's Half-Way House Ground.[2] In 2024, celebrating the club's 150th anniversary, Aston Villa Legacy Numbers were introduced indexing every first-team player who had represented the club in a competitive fixture.[3] Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1.[4] Half-back Law received Legacy Number #7,[1] Andy Hunter #4,[5] officially became Villa's first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw.[2]

The replay was held at Villa's Wellington Road ground on 24 January 1880 with inside-forward George Ramsay #12 replacing Charlie Johnstone. Villa defeated Stafford Road 3–1. Billy Mason scored a brace with Law getting the third goal.[6]

The 32-year-old Law played his final game on 21 January 1882 in Villa's 4th Round away defeat to Wednesbury Old Athletic.[7] He subsequently retired.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sammy Law". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  2. ^ a b c "🟨 13 Dec 1879, Villa 1-1 Stafford Road, Half-Way House Ground". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  3. ^ "Legacy Numbers: Aston Villa approach 1,000th player". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  4. ^ "John Ball". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  5. ^ "Andy Hunter". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  6. ^ "🟩 24 Jan 1880, Villa 3-1 Stafford Road, Wellington Road". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  7. ^ "🟥 21 Jan 1882, Villa 2-4 W.O.A.C, The Oval". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
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