Quote from: flybo on June 23, 2012, 08:24:22 PMCrystal palace also was claret and blue at one timeIt 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.
Crystal palace also was claret and blue at one time
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on June 23, 2012, 08:35:50 PMQuote from: flybo on June 23, 2012, 08:24:22 PMCrystal palace also was claret and blue at one timeIt 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. I can't have that! That 1874-77 Villa kit is claret and blue enough for me to conclude we wore the colours first!
Quote from: Billy Walker on June 24, 2012, 03:54:57 PMQuote from: PeterWithesShin on June 23, 2012, 08:35:50 PMQuote from: flybo on June 23, 2012, 08:24:22 PMCrystal palace also was claret and blue at one timeIt 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. I can't have that! That 1874-77 Villa kit is claret and blue enough for me to conclude we wore the colours first!I think that PWS must be a closet Baggie to come up with something like that on a Villa forum.
http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Aston_Villa/Aston_Villa.htm1874 - 77The first kit.1878 -79My favourite of the non claret & blue.April 1884?-1886 Described as "piebald"QuoteThe 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.
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.
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on June 23, 2012, 08:35:50 PMQuote from: flybo on June 23, 2012, 08:24:22 PMCrystal palace also was claret and blue at one timeIt 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. Flippin' heck, he's only right (that's if historical kits is right)I can't have that! That 1874-77 Villa kit is claret and blue enough for me to conclude we wore the colours first!
I grew up believing the club's colours to be claret and sky blue.If it helps, the headline in the 'other' Birmingham Saturday sports paper (the light blue one) after the 57 final read something like 'A Claret and Sky Blue Souvenir'. I had a copy of it which I kept for years.
I understood that Claret and Blue were the colours of William MacGregors family tartan. As he founded Aston Villa (and the FL) he chose those colours.
Quote from: Steve Rose on June 24, 2012, 10:47:31 PMI grew up believing the club's colours to be claret and sky blue.If it helps, the headline in the 'other' Birmingham Saturday sports paper (the light blue one) after the 57 final read something like 'A Claret and Sky Blue Souvenir'. I had a copy of it which I kept for years.Wasn't the "'other' Birmingham Saturday sports paper (the light blue one)" just a cup winners special Argus?
Quote from: nigel on June 25, 2012, 08:44:11 AMQuote from: Steve Rose on June 24, 2012, 10:47:31 PMI grew up believing the club's colours to be claret and sky blue.If it helps, the headline in the 'other' Birmingham Saturday sports paper (the light blue one) after the 57 final read something like 'A Claret and Sky Blue Souvenir'. I had a copy of it which I kept for years.Wasn't the "'other' Birmingham Saturday sports paper (the light blue one)" just a cup winners special Argus?It could well be the case. I don't remember the match (I was 6), and I don't remember ever seeing a Saturday sports paper in the newsagents other than the Argus.My dad had saved the two newspapers for me - there was, of course, an Argus edition with the match report.The Mail and Despatch were separate newspapers at the time, I assumed each had their own Saturday sports papers.
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Topic: Claret & blue: the history? (Read 30656 times)
