William McGregor's grave

[Louzie0]

Donated.

Could there be something introduced on the FA website, the National Trust/Heritage literature or on the wall outside or inside the church? 

Could BBC/ITV/SKY be induced to cover a service on 20th December?

[dave.woodhall]

Donated.

Could there be something introduced on the FA website, the National Trust/Heritage literature or on the wall outside or inside the church? 

Could BBC/ITV/SKY be induced to cover a service on 20th December?

It's all in hand.

[Louzie0]

Good!  Appreciate what you are doing to mark this, Dave.

[dave.woodhall]

Good!  Appreciate what you are doing to mark this, Dave.

I've hardly done anything. The man pulling it all together is Peter Lupson.

[Lizz]

A friend's donated via Paypal tonight on my behalf and I've paid her in cash.

[Sister of Top Cat]

Done.

[Woody]

Donations to date stand at just shy of GBP 345 (from 29 people) + 1 cheque received by post

[AV82EC]

Done.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

You posted this on Villa talk?

Also, could the club not advertise this on the OS, Facebook or Twitter?

[dave.woodhall]

You posted this on Villa talk?

Also, could the club not advertise this on the OS, Facebook or Twitter?

The club know about it; I don't know if they've linked. If anyone wants to mention this on Villatalk or elsewhere they're more than welcome.

[joe_c]

I am experiencing difficulty in accessing the Trust website. I have managed to find the paypal link and donate but might need someone to have a look at?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

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

Brilliant photos Steve.
Much of the area has changed now, but I was born and used to live in Rodway Street. It wer'n 'alf rough! It was my grandma's house and mum and dad took it over after she passed away. The street was flattened but they kept some of the road names, hence Rodway Close. Just the names Brearly St and Alma St, and "good old" Summer Lane have taken me back to the 50s and early 60s when I was a babby and we used to sneak into Villa Park free after half time!. Happy days!
Cheers mate!

[Hillbilly]

It would be nice to see a blue plaque on the house. Birmingham Civic Society need to pull their fingers out. There's one for Major Tennis-Chap, one for Sid Field and three for frickin' Tolkein. McGregor certainly deserves one in that company.

[dave.woodhall]

It would be nice to see a blue plaque on the house. Birmingham Civic Society need to pull their fingers out. There's one for Major Tennis-Chap, one for Sid Field and three for frickin' Tolkein. McGregor certainly deserves one in that company.

It's mentioned earlier that the current residents don't want one. There's also been mention of a plaque on the site of his shop but the building is derelict and therefore the blue plaque people didn't think the surroundings appropriate.

[SteveD]

That's the problem with the area, it's all changing. Even the buildings which replaced the old McGregor shop are being replaced. That's why the statue was such a good idea in the first place. Plaques (and not blue, claret please) could only really go on buildings with the consent of the owners. I like the idea of some sort of Victorian Villa trail - you could have pavement plaques etc at some of the old sites. A lot of council red tape I suspect though.