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Aston Villa Football Club was founded in March 1874 by four members of the local Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.

In it's early years, the club had strong connections to Birmingham's large Scottish community. One Scot in particular, William McGregor, played a significant role in the early development of the club and was instrumental in the formation of the Football League in 1888.

The Powerhouse of English Football

By the end of the century Villa had established itself as the powerhouse of English football, winning five League Championships and three FA Cups.

In 1896/97 they also become the second side to do the League and Cup double.

They continued to be a major force in the early part of the twentieth century, winning the League in 1910 the FA Cup in 1905, 1913 and 1920.

By the 1930s, however, the club had entered a period of relative decline, culminating in relegation in 1935 and a brief spell in the Second Division.

During the Fifties the club settled into mid-table obscurity although they did win FA Cup for a seventh time in 1957.

Villa in Division Three

In 1959 they were relegated again but bounced straight back as Division Two Champions.

In 1961 they were winners of the inaugural League Cup, but the darkest period in the history of Aston Villa Football Club saw them decline to the third division by 1970.

The late Seventies, under Ron Saunders, brought a return to Division One, and two League Cup triumphs (1975 and 1977).

Champions of Europe

Then, in 1981, Villa won the League for the first time in 70 years. The following year, despite Saunders quitting halfway through the season, the club achieved one of their greatest triumphs by lifting the European Cup. This marked a pinnacle from which they declined throughout the eighties, culminating in relegation in 1987.

Premier League and the coming of Randy Lerner

Villa were founding members of the Premier League and finished as runners-up in the inaugural season. They also won League Cups in 1994 and 1996, and were F.A. Cup runners-up in 2000. On the whole though, their form over the past decade has been inconsistent.

American entrepreneur Randy Lerner bought the club in 2006, and appointed Martin O'Neill soon after. O'Neill established Villa as a Top 6 club while failing to serious challenge the Big 4.

He did however take Villa to the League Cup final in 2010, where they lost to Manchester United.

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