Claret & blue: the history?

[joe_c]

The theory that other clubs copied us because we were quality at the time makes sense to me. After all, Leeds wear all white because they wanted to look like Real Madrid.

I seem to remember reading in what looked like a reliable source that this was precisely why Burnley went for claret and blue.

In a previous job a Burnley fan - having found out I was a Villa fan - proudly approached me telling me that Burnley were (I vaguely remember) founded in 1905 (could check that up but that's too much like work) and they took their claret & blue from the biggest club of the day which were Villa. He said he always had a soft spot for us because of that.

Burnley originally played in green and changed to claret in blue in homage to Villa.

[SX150]

I'm sticking with Claret & Pale Blue for the club colours then which has been the belief for many generations of our Villa family. Only recently have I been told we play in Sky Blue. Maybe Mr Woodhall can shed some light or express his belief.

I started in the 50s. I always thought our colours were claret and ice blue.  Interesting thread though!

Interesting, I started in the 70's but Grandad etc range from 1910 onwards. Often heard Chocolate mentioned  saying the original colour was nearer to Chocolate than Claret and also Pale Blue. Ice Blue is another option and coming from someone who has supported the Villa from the 50's. Sky Blue seems to have been adopted by a younger generation in my opinion and frequently mentioned on here. I just doubt it ever was Sky Blue and find it strange only 2 of us think it was anything other than Sky Blue.

[Dave Cooper please]

The chocolate colour later became claret. Nobody is quite sure why claret and blue became the club's adopted colours."

So, I wonder if it may have been a mistake at the factory?

Someone (probably Mr Woodhall) had said that as McGregor owned a drapers it was probably because he had a couple of rolls of claret material he couldn't otherwise get rid of.

I wasn't being entirely serious with that one.

I wasn't being entirely serious when repeating it! I don't do emoticons.

[Brian Taylor]

We 'donated' our kit to West Ham as they played in Motley in the first meeting of the clubs. We gave them our second older kit, allegedly, but they have become known as 'the shirtstealers' by many honest Villa fans who have had, perhaps, a shabby experience or something in dealings with chaps of an East End origin. Me? I don't believe it for a monent that they would stoop to nicking our kit; not for a moment.. I think someone just forget to load it on the coach and horses, in the eurphoria of the moment after we'd thrashed them, before going back to Euston. Then again, maybe it fell off the back of the coach?

[Brazilian Villain]

Burnley originally played in green and changed to claret in blue in homage to Villa.

Walsall also wore claret and blue in homage to Villa for 30 years from 1920-50.

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Walsall/Walsall.htm

[Legion]

Burnley originally played in green and changed to claret in blue in homage to Villa.

Walsall also wore claret and blue in homage to Villa for 30 years from 1920-50.

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Walsall/Walsall.htm

Lovely.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Aston_Villa/Aston_Villa.htm


1874 - 77
The first kit.



1878 -79
My favourite of the non claret & blue.




April 1884?-1886 
Described as "piebald"

The team's first colours were described as "scarlet and royal blue stripes" (i.e. hoops - vertical stripes did not appear until the 1880s). The following season they wore black and white tops and in 1878 they purchased a set of black shirts emblazoned with the Scottish lion rampant. William McGregor actually went to Scotland to purchase the lion motifs and they were subsequently sewn on by the sister of the club secretary (ref: The Aston Villa Chronicles).

John Lerwill's research suggests that vertically striped in black and white were worn from at least May 1886 (and probably considerably earlier) while Bernard Gallagher has uncovered evidence that " piebald shirts" in white and red were perhaps worn before the striped tops appeared. Gauntlett has found a reference in the Birmingham Gazette dated 5 April 1884 that describes Villa playing against West Brom "in a brand new and pretty uniform." Alas the writer gives no further detail but it may be he was referring to the first use of the piebald tops. Given the scarcity of original references it is hard to be certain so the graphics presented above are to a degree, provisional.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Was 1884 when we signed that sponsorship deal with Tampax?

[flybo]

Crystal palace also was claret and blue at one time

[Risso]

Was 1884 when we signed that sponsorship deal with Tampax?

You horrible bastard.

[PeterWithesShin]

Crystal palace also was claret and blue at one time

It was C&B for most of their history. In fairness they had some nice kits in those days.

It's also a little known fact that Albion wore claret and blue before we did. Apparently.

[Dave Cooper please]

Was 1884 when we signed that sponsorship deal with Tampax?

It was a great period in our history.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Was 1884 when we signed that sponsorship deal with Tampax?

It was a great period in our history.

Some opponents said we were a bit jammy.

[Dave Cooper please]

This pun-fest could have wings.

[LeeB]

This pun-fest could have wings.

Leave it where it is, we must press on.