Claret & Blue Rollercoaster

From their inception in the gaslight era to the floodlit modern day, Villa’s journey has been a rollercoaster ride, complete with the ups, downs, and loop-the-loops that’d make even Alton Towers jealous.

The Whistle Blows: Villa’s Golden Years (1874-1920’s)

Founded in 1874 by a bunch of cricket players (because, why not?), Aston Villa became the football equivalent of that one friend who’s good at everything they try. By joining the Football League in 1888, they helped kick-start professional football, and by the end of the 19th century, they’d bagged six league titles and six FA Cups under the stewardship of George Ramsay, becoming the footballing equivalent of a Victorian superpower. The prolific striking duo of Joe Bache and Harry Hampton scored 382 goals between them in the famous claret and blue.

A Bumpy Pitch (1920s-1950s)

Then came a bit of a wobble. Post-WWI, Villa were more rollercoaster than runaway train. They still flashed their brilliance with an FA Cup victory in 1920 but let’s just say the trophy cabinet wasn’t exactly bursting at the hinges during this time. However, sharp shooter Billy ‘The Kid’ Walker scored a record 244 goals in 531 appearances making Villa Park still the place to be on a Saturday afternoon to watch attacking football.

In 1936, after 48 years in the top flight, The Villans tasted their first drop of despair with their first ever relegation. The free flowing goals had dried up and the defence was as leaky as a teabag. Just like a bad penny, The Lions of Birmingham returned to top flight football after just two seasons away in the wilderness before World War II curtailed Jimmy Hogan’s progress.

Villa Rises Again (1950s-1980s)

The early 50’s saw mediocracy for Villa with mid-table finishes but the 37 year trophy drought had finally came to an end in 1957. Peter McParland scored a brace against the Manchester United’s Busby Babes in the FA Cup final to win the famous old cup for the seventh time in their history. By 1959, Villa had returned to the second division but like a rubber ball, Aston Villa returned the following season under the stewardship of Joe Mercer. The 60’s saw a period of deep malaise for the Holte End faithful as the club struggled on all fronts, which included another relegation to the second tier in 1967. Newly appointed chairmen ‘Deadly’ Doug Ellis and managers Tommy Docherty and Vic Crowe couldn’t stop Villa falling further into the depths of the third tier of English football by the end of 1970.

Skip ahead to the 1970s and 1980s, and it’s like someone hit the ‘revive’ button on Aston Villa. With Ron Saunders at the helm, two League Cups in the bag, and, oh yes, the seventh first division title in 1980-81. But wait, there’s more courtesy of Tony Barton! 1982 brought European glory with a European Cup win that had fans pinching themselves followed up with a European Super Cup for dessert. What a time to be alive for a Villa fan!

Within half a decade the club was riddled with financial woes and back in the second division. Step forward Graham Taylor, the former Watford gaffer returned top flight football at first attempt and then went on to challenge for the first division title the season after which eventually caught the attention of the FA and Taylor was off to become England supremo. Villa fans did not like that.

The Modern Game (1990s-Present)

The Premier League era has been a bit like a game of snakes and ladders for Villa. Two more League Cup triumphs being the high’s, whilst relegation worries and financial fretting being the lows. But, true to form, Villa keeps bouncing back, fuelled by a fan base as loyal as a Labrador.

The Claret and Blue Rollercoaster of Aston Villa’s history is like a footballing soap opera, full of drama, heartache, triumph, and the odd plot twist. It’s a story of a club that’s as much a part of Birmingham as the Bullring. Through thick and thin, Villa has remained a beloved, if occasionally frustrating, icon of English football.