The 1888–89 English football season saw Aston Villa's 1st season in the Football League in the Football League inaugural season. In the late 1880s, Birmingham and the surrounding region boasted many of the country's strongest football teams. Aston Villa were one of the new league's 12 founding members and finished as runners-up behind double winners Preston North End.
Local businessman, George Kynoch was appointed president of the club in 1888.
As late as 1901, in the warm weather months, Villa would forgo their heavier woollen club colours in favour of thin cotton red shirts .Aston Villa, Sports Argus, 14 September 1901
League
Matches
WinDrawLoss
FA Cup
Villa's cup season ended with an 8–1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers that remained a club record until 2012. RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR12 February 1889 WittonH3–21,500Allen, Hunter, Greenhttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/61R216 February 1889 Derby CountyH5–32,000Hunter (2), Hodgetts (2), Brownhttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/63R32 March 1889 Blackburn RoversA1–812,000Hodgettshttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/64
Birmingham Cup When Ironbridge F.C. entered the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time, after a surprise win over Burton Swifts, and a walkover over Derby Midland. they reached the semi-final of the Birmingham cup against Aston Villa at the latter's Wellington Road ground and went down 9–1, the Villans going on to win the final. The tie was meant to be played at Wolverhampton, but the Villans offered Ironbridge £20 and a friendly at Hill Top to switch to Aston, and the difference in the two sides was shown by the Villans including seven of the XI which played in the 1887 FA Cup Final, while the Ironsides' captain, Walter Baguley, was landlord of the All Nations pub in Madeley.
Players On 1 October 1888 Archie Goodall signed for Aston Villa. (registration & fee required) Goodall's move from Preston North End was the first transfer during a season to be approved by the Football League. Goodall, playing at centre – half, made his Aston Villa debut on 13 October 1888, at Wellington Road, the then home of Aston Villa. Aston Villa defeated the visitors, Blackburn Rovers, 6 – 1 and Goodall scored the second of Aston Villa’ six goals. Goodall appeared in 14 of the 18 League matches and scored seven League goals. Goodall played in defence, midfield and the forward–line for Aston Villa. Playing as a full–back/centre–half (four appearances) he was part of a defence-line that kept the opposition to one–League–goal–in–a–match once. Playing as a wing–half (five appearances) he was part of a midfield that achieved a big (three-League-goals-or-more) win once. As a forward (five appearances) he played in a front-line that scored three–League–goals–or–more on three occasions. Goodall's seven League goals for Aston Villa included two–League–goals–in–a–match twice. Goodall scored both Villa goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 2 – 1 win at Wellington Road on 24 November 1888. On 8 December 1888 Goodall scored the second and fourth goals as Villa defeated Notts County 4 – 2 at Trent Bridge, the then home of Notts County.
In May 1889 Goodall signed for Derby County. (registration & fee required) There were also debuts for Batty Garvey, Arthur Dixon, Walter Ashmore, Archie Wollaston, Thomas Harrison and Bob Thomas.https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/bob-thomas
Appearances Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFW Albert Allen2118312419GK Walter Ashmore100010FW Arthur Brown22731258HB John Burton16030190FB Frank Coulton19020210FB Gershom Cox22030250HB Frankie Dawson300030HB Harry Devey21030240HB Arthur Dixon310031FW Batty Garvey200020FW Archie Goodall14700147FW Tommy Green2215312516FW Thomas Harrison100010FW Dennis Hodgetts177332010FW Archie Hunter19633229GK Jimmy Warner21030240HB Arthur Wollaston401050HB Harry Yates13020150
Notes
References
External links avfchistory.co.uk The Matches