ASTON VILLA Birthday

[flybo]

All over Facebook that today 21st Nov is our clubs birthday.
Who decided on this date?
And is there anything to back it up?

[MoetVillan]

If in doubt use Wikipedia and then make it up

[dave.woodhall]

It was tied in with that 140th anniversary thing two years ago. It's a nice story but there's no evidence to suggest there was a gaslight meeting at any time, least of all 21st November 1874.

[oldtimernow]

In the post-truth era does it matter?

[Old Kodjia]

I'd sooner any date other than this.  21 November 1974 is the date of the pub bombings.

[Holtemeister]

What difference does the truth make ... after all according to Sky football wasnt even invented until 1992

[olaftab]

I heard it was at 7.30 PM. That's why all evening games used to kick off at 7.30

[amfy]

Calling Trevor Fisher to the thread! I am sure he has the definitive answer!

[Ad@m]

In the post-truth era does it matter?

Very good.

As others have said, just make it up.  If enough people believe you it becomes the truth anyway.

[DB]

In the post-truth era does it matter?

Very good.

As others have said, just make it up.  If enough people believe you it becomes the truth anyway.

People have been bull-shitting for years and getting away with it.

[Legion]

In the post-truth era does it matter?

Very good.

As others have said, just make it up.  If enough people believe you it becomes the truth anyway.

People have been bull-shitting for years and getting away with it.

aka Twitter

[cdbearsfan]

I doubt people would be standing under gaslights in November when it's freezing, wouldn't they just go to somebody's house or a local pub?

Sometime around when the cricket season finished seems more likely as all of the players would've been in one place.

[Ron Manager]

I doubt people would be standing under gaslights in November when it's freezing, wouldn't they just go to somebody's house or a local pub?

Sometime around when the cricket season finished seems more likely as all of the players would've been in one place.

Or perhaps discuss it with each other during the match they were watching?

[dave.woodhall]

I doubt people would be standing under gaslights in November when it's freezing, wouldn't they just go to somebody's house or a local pub?

Sometime around when the cricket season finished seems more likely as all of the players would've been in one place.

They wouldn't have gone to a pub as they were a Methodist group and most lived in lodgings so that was unlikely as well. Most likely they met at a bible classs or similar.

[Louzie0]

This time of year for founding Aston Villa FC seems to fit with the first matches being played in January 1875 against Aston Unity FC, by a team from Aston Villa cricket club. A month or so to get fit, run off the Christmas turkey and then; new year, new sport, new team! 

They could have stood under the nearest lamp to write down the names of everybody interested or who they were going to recruit, after watching a game in the park on their way to bible class.

'That looks good, why don't we do it and play other teams like Aston Unity?'
'It would keep us fit'
' And no broken fingers like rugby'
' Let's do it. Who's in? I'll make a list. Oooh, it's dark early on, I can't see.'
'There's a lamppost over there...'
'Make sure Jack's down as captain or he won't get the cocoa in'

It's too good a story not to have some truth in it.

1874. Make it so.


( Historical bits from my Aston Villa Miscellany)