Little Book of Aston Villa

A collection of words of wit and wisdom by and about the managers, players and officials of Aston Villa Football Club.

Few clubs can boast a history as rich as Aston Villa Football Club. Founded in 1874, they have played in their home ground of Villa Park in Birmingham since 1897. Aston Villa is not only one of the oldest clubs in England but among some of the most successful. Having won the FA cup seven times and the League Cup five times, Aston Villa ranks 5th in the all-time English top flight table and is the seventh most successful club in English football by competitive honours. Villa is one of only three clubs that were founding members of both the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992. Despite its overall prosperity, Villa has experienced ups and downs, including relegation from the Premier League in 2016. However, after three seasons in the EFL Championship and two ownership changes, the club returned to the Premier League in 2019, and in 2024, qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1982. From Pongo Waring, 'Big Ron' Atkinson and 'Deadly Doug' Ellis to Peter Withe, Gary Shaw, Gareth Southgate, Dwight Yoke and Jack Grealish, hear from the bold voices that have shaped Aston Villa over the years and re-live the highs and lows of this historic club.