Villa in the U.S.A.

[Legion]

Getting a-head

By Laura Brett - Club Archivist

Villa have received varying gifts over the years from other clubs during international matches and overseas tours but not many are as unusual as this huge head carved from a solid piece of wood.

It was awarded to the club by the Atlanta Chiefs in 1969, when Villa played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) International Cup.

The NASL had been set up the previous year in order to increase interest in football in the USA.

The NASL found it difficult to sell the sport to North Americans so they decided to modify the traditional football rules in order to make them more 'Americanised'.

The changes included a clock that counted time down to zero rather than upwards to 90 minutes as was traditional, a 35-yard line for offside rather than the usual half-way line and a shootout to decide matches that ended in a draw.

Before the regular season started in 1969, the NASL conducted this double round-robin tournament called the International Cup.

UK teams were imported to represent the USA clubs in this exciting event.

There was West Ham for Baltimore Bays, Dundee United for Dallas Tornado, Wolves for Kansas City Spurs, Kilmarnock for St Louis Stars and, of course, Aston Villa for Atlanta Chiefs.

The players not only took part in the tournament, they - along with manager Tommy Docherty and assistant Vic Crowe - also visited schools and colleges to coach the students and encourage them to take an interest in the sport.

Wolves Kansas City Spurs romped away with the trophy in the end. Aston Villa Atlanta Chiefs came fourth in the tournament, winning two of their eight games.

They beat Kilmarnock 2-1 in the opener, before a 2-2 draw and 2-0 win over Dundee United. They then lost 2-1 to Wolves, drew 2-2 with West Ham and lost 2-1 to Kilmarnock.

Despite not winning the tournament, Charlie Aitken and Brian Tiler made it into the tournament's all-star team, alongside the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Derek Dougan.

Villa also played two international exhibition matches while out in the USA, beating Atlanta Chiefs 2-0 at the Atlanta Stadium in the opening game, goals coming from Barrie Hole and Willie Anderson.

They drew 2-2 with Tottenham in the second match, a Cyril Knowles own-goal and Lionel Martin for Villa and Jimmy Greaves [2] for Spurs.

Villa skipper Brian Tiler was in positive spirit when he arrived back in Birmingham.

He said: "I can tell you quite honestly that it was a very choked party of Villa players and officials that flew out of Atlanta.

"Not because we weren't looking forward to rejoining our families and friends but because we had experienced most wonderful hospitality."

He also predicted that in America "it will take some considerable time before soccer really catches on-but make no mistake, it WILL become a national sport."

Indeed the NASL never fully captured the American audience as it expanded far too quickly and the signing of mostly foreign internationals [Pele famously joined the New York Cosmos in 1975] caused resentment from many as the home-grown talent was mostly sidelined by these often more experienced players.

The NASL ultimately failed and was suspended in 1985.

This was not, however, the end of football in America as Major League Soccer was introduced in 1993 as part of the USA's bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup and its growth over the past two decades suggests that Tiler's prediction might eventually come true.

Trans-Atlantic transfer

When Villa were in Atlanta the club officials kept in touch with events at home in order to negotiate the transfer of Ian 'Chico' Hamilton from Southend United.

Doug Ellis and fellow director Jim Hartley may have been out in the USA but they relayed the message to the UK that Villa were prepared to pay the terms and the deal was done.

Chico went on to become a real cult favourite with the fans. He served Villa for seven years.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Atlanta Chiefs were only around 1967-73, and briefly again 1979-81.

So many names from Villa were involved playing or organising them.

Off the top of my head - Phil Woosnam, Vic Crowe, Peter McParland, Eric Woodward (our old commercial manager), Mike Hoban, Paul Child, Barry Lynch, Ray Bloomfield, Freddie Mwila, Emment Kapengwe.

[PGW]

I aint got a clue how to start a new topic - so perhaps someone else can start one - but i was disappointed to read that Phil Woosnam one of the founding fathers of soccer in the states passed away yesterday aged 80.
I remember him with fondness at his 4 years with us, very cultured player. Played 125 times for us scoring 29 goals in total.

[PeterWithesShin]

I aint got a clue how to start a new topic - so perhaps someone else can start one - but i was disappointed to read that Phil Woosnam one of the founding fathers of soccer in the states passed away yesterday aged 80.
I remember him with fondness at his 4 years with us, very cultured player. Played 125 times for us scoring 29 goals in total.

When you are on the main page of the forum you want (for example in this case, Heroes Discussion) just above the list of threads on the right is a button "NEW TOPIC", just click that fella and away you go