William McGregor's grave

[Villan For Life]

Donated

[brian green]

Cheque winging its way.   Will the headstone tell of the great man's achievement or are the details simply personal?   It is not clear from the photo.

If the Bishop of Aston cannot do the gig, the retired bishop who performed the marriage of my younger son is a mad Sunderland (founder members) fan who wears his red and white stripes under his clerical vestments.

[martin@ardenley]

Cheque winging its way.   Will the headstone tell of the great man's achievement or are the details simply personal?   It is not clear from the photo.

His gravestone inscription reads:

"In Loving Memory.
Jessie the beloved wife of William McGregor, who died December 13th 1908 aged 60 years. Peace Perfect Peace.
Also William McGregor, beloved husband of the above, who died December 20th 1911, aged 65 years. Thy Will Be Done."

[brian green]

Thank you.   I suppose a small inset panel or secondary inscription conveying the importance of WMcG historically would be inappropriate or out of the question.

[serbentoflight]

Done - Best fiver i've spent this weekend.

[dave.woodhall]

Thank you.   I suppose a small inset panel or secondary inscription conveying the importance of WMcG historically would be inappropriate or out of the question.

I may be wrong, but I love the fact that the grave of the most important figure in football history doesn't mention football.

[Toronto Villa]

great cause, and count me in a for a few quid. Often lost with the Sky revolution of how many consider football today is the history of the game. Always important to keep a candle burning to the memory of this great man.

[dicedlam]

Thank you.   I suppose a small inset panel or secondary inscription conveying the importance of WMcG historically would be inappropriate or out of the question.

I may be wrong, but I love the fact that the grave of the most important figure in football history doesn't mention football.

Same here.

[frank]

Donated. Thanks for setting this up

[SteveD]

Good cause. I've got Simon Inglis' centenary history of the Football League - the Men Who Made It (1988) and his opening chapter is appropriately devoted to McGregor and there are some good anecdotes in there, including when he once tracked a thief to London who had stolen a piano from Villa's meeting room.

A couple of years ago, before inevitably dropping in at the Barton's Arms, I had a walk around the area to see how many of the old Villa haunts were still standing (not too many). Not many on the No 7 bus would think there's a bit of heritage not far away...

McGregor's old house in the late 1880s, early 1890s in Witton Road:
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af264/DAFTS_photos/OldVilla10.jpg

Roughly the site of his old draper's shop in Summer Lane, where according to Inglis, Andy Hunter worked as an assistant after he retired from playing:
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af264/DAFTS_photos/OldVilla4.jpg

This has been flattened now. It's the site of the old coffee house, where according to the story McGregor and his friend Joe Tillotson - both active Liberals and Villa enthusiasts - discussed the idea of a Football League. Apparently its use by the Villa players was also encouraged to keep them out of pubs:

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af264/DAFTS_photos/OldVilla5.jpg

[brian green]

I too think the understatement of a headstone bearing only the minimum information is refined and dignified.

However, I still think his monumental accomplishments should be nodded to even in death.

When Damon and I took Toby his son to see the Flanders war graves we came by chance upon the cemetery where Baron Von Richthofen had been laid to rest.   A simple plaque by the gate of the cemetery noted the location of the Bloody Red Baron's plot.

All in very good taste I thought.

[Villan For Life]

Good cause. I've got Simon Inglis' centenary history of the Football League - the Men Who Made It (1988) and his opening chapter is appropriately devoted to McGregor and there are some good anecdotes in there, including when he once tracked a thief to London who had stolen a piano from Villa's meeting room.

A couple of years ago, before inevitably dropping in at the Barton's Arms, I had a walk around the area to see how many of the old Villa haunts were still standing (not too many). Not many on the No 7 bus would think there's a bit of heritage not far away...

McGregor's old house in the late 1880s, early 1890s in Witton Road:
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af264/DAFTS_photos/OldVilla10.jpg

Roughly the site of his old draper's shop in Summer Lane, where according to Inglis, Andy Hunter worked as an assistant after he retired from playing:
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af264/DAFTS_photos/OldVilla4.jpg

This has been flattened now. It's the site of the old coffee house, where according to the story McGregor and his friend Joe Tillotson - both active Liberals and Villa enthusiasts - discussed the idea of a Football League. Apparently its use by the Villa players was also encouraged to keep them out of pubs:

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af264/DAFTS_photos/OldVilla5.jpg

Great pictures Steve. McGregor's house on Witton Road should be marked with some sort of heritage plaque.

[The Laughing Policeman]

The idea of a Blue Plaque on 9 Witton Road is excellent. I wonder if the people that live there now realise the significance of that address?
I often bump into Mike Whitby in my local and next time I see him I'll bring the subject up.

[dave.woodhall]

It's been mentioned but the current owners aren't too keen.

[brian green]

I am a member of the Auden Society and we had the devil of a job trying to get a blue plaque on the poet's family home in Harborne.  People seem to think it attracts burglars.