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During the 1890s Wellington Road was used to host two [[FA Cup semi-finals]]. In [[1889–90 FA Cup|1889–90]] it hosted the [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]–[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]] match (1–2), and in [[1895–96 FA Cup|1895–96]] hosted the [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]–[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] game (also 1–2). It was also used as a home venue for the [[England national football team|England team]], hosting a [[British Home Championship]] match on [[1892–93 British Home Championship|25 February 1893]], with England beating [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] 6–1. |
During the 1890s Wellington Road was used to host two [[FA Cup semi-finals]]. In [[1889–90 FA Cup|1889–90]] it hosted the [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]–[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]] match (1–2), and in [[1895–96 FA Cup|1895–96]] hosted the [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]–[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] game (also 1–2). It was also used as a home venue for the [[England national football team|England team]], hosting a [[British Home Championship]] match on [[1892–93 British Home Championship|25 February 1893]], with England beating [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] 6–1. |
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However, with growing crowds, it became increasingly apparent that the existing ground was inadequate. Vice-President, [[Charlie Johnstone]]’s invaluable foresight was pivotal in the acquisition of [[Villa Park]].<ref name=SS>{{cite journal |last1=Mangan |first1=J.A. |last2=Hickey |first2=C. |date=December 2008 |title=Early action: founding and furthering clubs |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14660970802181327 |journal=Soccer & Society |volume=9 |issue=5 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |pages=632–653 |doi=10.1080/14660970802181327 |access-date=6 February 2026}}</ref> The land at the Wellington Road ground had initially been sub-let to the club for £5.00 a year but, as Villa became more successful, the rent kept rising and rising and the landlord would not grant a sufficiently long lease to justify the massive expenditure need to improve the facilities to match the club’s ambition. Johnsone acquired an option at the Lower Grounds in Aston long before his other directors were persuaded of its merits.<ref name=SS/> Together with Chairman Fred Rinder they secured the deal to enable the move Villa’s new home ground.<ref name=CJ6>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/charlie-johnstone|title=Charlie Johnstone Aston Villa Midfielder|website=AVFC History}}</ref> |
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However, with an uneven pitch and growing crowds, it became increasingly apparent that a new ground was required. Villa moved to [[Villa Park]] towards the end of the [[1896–97 AVFC season|1896–97 season]], with the last league match played at Wellington Road on 22 March 1897. Villa beat [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] 6–2, with a crowd of 8,000 in attendance.<ref name=UD/> |
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Part of the site was later used for housing, with the remainder becoming a car park, pub and recreation ground.<ref name=UD/> |
Part of the site was later used for housing, with the remainder becoming a car park, pub and recreation ground.<ref name=UD/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 15:20, 8 February 2026
Football ground in Birmingham, England
Wellington Road was a football ground in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham, England. It was the home ground of Aston Villa from 1876 until 1897. The pitch sloped towards one goal;[1] there were initially no spectator facilities, players changed in a nearby blacksmith’s shed, and a hayrick was kept on the pitch, which had to be removed prior to matches.[2] However, the ground was gradually improved, with a grandstand built on the eastern touchline and two pavilions built on the western touchline and behind the southern goal line.[2]
The ground’s record attendance of 26,849 was set for an FA Cup fifth round match against Preston North End on 7 January 1888. Preston won 3–1, and the match was marred by a huge pitch invasion, the first serious incidence of crowd trouble in English football.[2] Later in 1888 Villa were founder members of the Football League, and the first League match was played at Wellington Road on 15 September 1888, with Villa beating Stoke 5–1 in front of 2,000 spectators.[2]
During the 1890s Wellington Road was used to host two FA Cup semi-finals. In 1889–90 it hosted the Bolton Wanderers–The Wednesday match (1–2), and in 1895–96 hosted the Derby County–Wolverhampton Wanderers game (also 1–2). It was also used as a home venue for the England team, hosting a British Home Championship match on 25 February 1893, with England beating Ireland 6–1.
However, with growing crowds, it became increasingly apparent that the existing ground was inadequate. Vice-President, Charlie Johnstone‘s invaluable foresight was pivotal in the acquisition of Villa Park.[3] The land at the Wellington Road ground had initially been sub-let to the club for £5.00 a year but, as Villa became more successful, the rent kept rising and rising and the landlord would not grant a sufficiently long lease to justify the massive expenditure need to improve the facilities to match the club’s ambition. Johnsone acquired an option at the Lower Grounds in Aston long before his other directors were persuaded of its merits.[3] Together with Chairman Fred Rinder they secured the deal to enable the move Villa’s new home ground.[1]
Villa moved to Villa Park towards the end of the 1896–97 season, with the last league match played at Wellington Road on 22 March 1897. Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 6–2, with a crowd of 8,000 in attendance.[2] Part of the site was later used for housing, with the remainder becoming a car park, pub and recreation ground.[2]
