Degrees of separation

[Dave Cooper please]

Hans played with Lotte
Lotte played with Jane
Jane played with Willy
Willy is happy again

[dave.woodhall]

Claret represented Hearts and the blue was for Rangers. McGregor wanted to include his Scottish teams in Aston Villa's kit.

Nice story, but easily debunked by the fact that when McGregor came down to England Rangers & Hearts were virtually unknown.

[Glenn Peen]

Thanks for replying, Dave .

> Aston Villa was the area of Lozells in which the club was formed.

I remember the research and the maps (was that on VT?). I'm still not entirely convinced by that, to be honest. Isn't that a case of chance, rather than fact? Isn't the Wesleyan 'Villa' link just as possible? Happy to be told that's not the case and that you know for a fact about the Lozells link!

> The best explanation I've heard is that player & graphic designer Ollie Wheatley was asked to come up with a kit design.

Are there historical records to back up that claim? Sounds great, if correct.

> McGregor's Scottish background.

Yeah, that's commonly quoted - but, again, is that fact?

I know lots of clubs have similar issues. But we were very famous very quickly and it does seem odd that the specific answers to these questions are so shrouded in mystery. I mean, Hearts get their name from a song; Queen of the South take their name from the nickname for Dumfries.

I just think a name and colour scheme as beautiful as the Villa's must have a very strong history. It's strange it's faded over time.

[dave.woodhall]

The Aston Villa area (itself named after a house) was a prestigious part of Lozells at the time - estate agents would advertise houses as being 'near Aston Villa'.

I believe there are records to back up the Ollie Wheatley story. I heard it from someone who has done a lot of research into the period.

The badge story is commonly accepted, and I've never heard another one.

Villa were just one of dozens of clubs in the area at the time. There are archives available but they've been lost and damaged over the years.

[eamonn]

That can't really have been a Glenn Peen post, can it? Funny new forum.

[KevinGage]

Distinct lack of brown.

Weren't Villa formed before Hearts anyway?

[cdbearsfan]

Gabby Agbonlahor is a big fan of Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Archie Hunter played with George Ramsay.

[Dave Cooper please]

Weren't Villa formed before Hearts anyway?

About the same time I think, both in 1874 anyway, although a book I was reading on Hearts a few years back claimed they were formed in 1873.  This book also said they were named after a local dance hall rather than the Walter Scott novel (although the dance hall would probably have been named after the novel anyway).
Hearts don't play in claret anyway, it's maroon.