Ideal Premier League

[AV82EC]

Wasn’t it once thought as MacGregor was a draper by trade he knocked up the two materials? The Hearts and Rangers thing can’t be true as they play in Maroon not Claret and Royal Blue not Light Blue.

[cdbearsfan]

Our first strip seems to have been claret and royal blue, so the Rangers link could be true. Hearts is less likely as they didn't play in maroon until 1877 and we had been playing in claret since our founding.

[PeterWithesShin]

We didn't play in proper claret and blue until about the time we invented league football.

[dave.woodhall]

The myth that McGregor brought down the colours of his favourite Scottish teams isn't true as he had no interest in football until he arrived in Birmingham. The one about him having a couple of rolls of cloth he knocked up the shirts from was something I made up on the mailing list years ago and it's good to see it's still doing the rounds, although it's as likely a tale as any.

Ollie Wheatley, a commercial artist by trade, was asked to knock up a design and is thought to have produced the claret arms/blue sleeves combination we've (usually) had ever since but the colours were in use by then. Where they came from isn't known, but Simon Inglis told me a theory. There were a lot of big houses in the area where the Villa were based, they invariably had Minton floor tiling and the most popular colours were dark claret (or chocolate) and blue so we copied them. That's as likely as anything else. 

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Our first strip seems to have been claret and royal blue, so the Rangers link could be true. Hearts is less likely as they didn't play in maroon until 1877 and we had been playing in claret since our founding.

Were Blues the original (part) kit-stealers then?

[Risso]

The myth that McGregor brought down the colours of his favourite Scottish teams isn't true as he had no interest in football until he arrived in Birmingham. The one about him having a couple of rolls of cloth he knocked up the shirts from was something I made up on the mailing list years ago and it's good to see it's still doing the rounds, although it's as likely a tale as any.

Ollie Wheatley, a commercial artist by trade, was asked to knock up a design and is thought to have produced the claret arms/blue sleeves combination we've (usually) had ever since but the colours were in use by then. Where they came from isn't known, but Simon Inglis told me a theory. There were a lot of big houses in the area where the Villa were based, they invariably had Minton floor tiling and the most popular colours were dark claret (or chocolate) and blue so we copied them. That's as likely as anything else. 

Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but my long-deceased nan always reckoned that my great grandad (also called William) knew William McGregor, and that's why my grandad's side of the family are Villa fans.  I've no way of knowing if this is true, but the dates match up.  I've seen census information from that time (late 18th c.) that shows my ancestor was a draper as well, and I know from research that he had shops in Erdington and Witton, after he moved to Birmingham proper from the Black Country. 

[PeterWithesShin]

All time top flight league table

[Lastfootstamper]

Over 900 points off the top? Smith out.

[Sexual Ealing]

But why do we play in claret and blue?

I know it's been said as an influence of Hearts and Rangers but I can't recall there being seeing a definitive answer to it.

Thank fuck that's not true. I don't know how I'd be able to square being associated with the three most horrible clubs in Scotland (if you count former clubs).

[PeterWithesShin]

I doubt it's true but it's the one i;ve seen put forward the most.

Although it should be pointed out that saying it definitely isn't true cannot be correct when no one knows what the actual answer is. It's all just educated guesses.

[dave.woodhall]

I doubt it's true but it's the one i;ve seen put forward the most.

Although it should be pointed out that saying it definitely isn't true cannot be correct when no one knows what the actual answer is. It's all just educated guesses.

It's another of those stories that only came about since the internet was discovered, like Ramsay being manager and that 21st November nonsense. Villa first wore claret & blue in 1887 - years before Hearts or Rangers won anything. There is no reason why we should have adopted anything like a variation of their colours.

[PeterWithesShin]

But you are still guessing no matter how logical a guess it is.

[dave.woodhall]

I'm stating facts. Hearts and Rangers were virtually unknown in England in 1887 and we didn't use their colours in any case. Hearts is maroon and Rangers is royal blue.

[cdbearsfan]

Maybe someone just liked the colours? Or they are linked with some school or other?

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm stating facts. Hearts and Rangers were virtually unknown in England in 1887 and we didn't use their colours in any case. Hearts is maroon and Rangers is royal blue.

It still isn't a fact. It cannot be when no one knows the actual answer.

Let's not forget you even said " it's as likely a tale as any" 2 hours ago. So if no one knows the correct answer, no answer is definitely wrong either.

So I reckon aliens chose the colours.