Club

Aston Villa are one of the oldest football clubs in England and have a grand story dating back to 1874. The Birmingham outfit are even a past European champion, having won what is now the Champions League. While manager Unai Emery oversaw their return to Europe in 2023.

Aston Villa club name

The founding fathers behind Aston Villa Football Club opted to adopt the name as the team’s moniker from their formation. Those behind the club’s creation elected to name the team as Aston Villa in reflection of its origins from Wesleyan Chapel’s earlier Aston Villa Cricket Club.

At first, Aston Villa denoted the area of Lozells where Villa Road, Lozells Road and Heathfield Road connected. The area was known as Aston Villa due to a large Georgian house based on the corner of Lozells Road and Heathfield Road using the name before becoming Villa Cross.

Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel would come into existence close to the house in 1850 and more substantial buildings in the 1860s. Aston Villa Cricket Club then came into existence later on in 1872 from the Chapel. While Aston Villa Football Club’s roots then also came from cricket.

Founded as: Aston Villa Football Club (1874-present)

Nickname: The Villans

Aston Villa founding year

Jack Hughes, Frederick Matthews, Walter Price and William Scattergood from Aston Villa Cricket Club sought to form a football club to keep fit over the winter months. They would create Aston Villa Football Club in November 1874, two years after founding the cricket club.

Aston Villa stadium

Aston Villa have called Villa Park their home stadium since April 1897 after leaving Perry Barr for the site. It was a long-sought move for the club having begun exploring a relocation from Wellington Road back in 1894. While Aston Villa celebrated 125 years at Villa Park in 2022.

First stadium: Aston Park (1875-1876)

Previous stadium: Wellington Road (1876-1897)

Current stadium: Villa Park (1897-present)

Aston Villa training ground

Bodymoor Heath has been Aston Villa’s training ground since the early 1970s. Doug Ellis, as the Villans’ chairman, purchased the land in the North Warwickshire area of Warwickshire to create the purpose-built site from a farmer. It houses the Aston Villa first-team and academy.

Previous training ground: Trinity Road

Current training ground: Bodymoor Heath

Address: Bodymoor Heath Road, Tamworth, England, B78 2BB

Current league

Aston Villa are a current member of the Premier League following their promotion back into the English top-flight in 2019. Dean Smith led the Birmingham team from the Championship via the play-offs. The 2018/19 campaign marked the Villans’ third term outside of the top tier.

Previous league: English Football League, Championship (2016-2018)

Current league: Premier League (2019-present)

Current manager

Aston Villa appointed Unai Emery as their latest manager in October 2022 to replace Steven Gerrard in charge. He officially took over at Villa Park that November on an initial four-and-a-half-year contract. The Villans triggered a £5.25m release clause in his terms with Villarreal.

Previous manager: Steven Gerrard (2021-2022)

Current manager: Unai Emery (2022-2027 expected)

Aston Villa contact details

Website: www.avfc.co.uk

General enquiries, phone: 0121 327 2299

Tickets, phone: 0333 323 1874

Other contact details: Full list here

Address: Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham, England, B6 6HE

Aston Villa tickets

Fans wanting to buy Aston Villa tickets can do so via the club’s website. The Birmingham side sells tickets for their home and away games online and in person at the club’s ticket office on a staggered release basis. But fans need an active Fan ID to buy Aston Villa tickets.

Website: tickets.avfc.co.uk