30 Nov 2009League founder honoured with Villa Park statue

Football Clubs News | Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

A bronze statue of William McGregor, the man regarded as the father of the Football League, was unveiled at Villa Park on Saturday (November 28th).

McGregor was a club director at Aston Villa who wrote to England's leading clubs suggesting a guaranteed fixture list after becoming frustrated with games being cancelled on a regular basis.

He organised a meeting of these teams in London, which led to 12 clubs joining to contest the first ever Football League season in September 1888.

The 7ft statue, which was officially unveiled before Aston Villa's game against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, was funded by donations to the Aston Villa Supporters' Trust and additional finance from the club.

Chairman of the trust Peter Warrilow explained that several figures had been suggested for the statue, which was first mooted in 2002 as a way to celebrate the club's heritage.

"In the end it was a unanimous decision to nominate McGregor, because he was the man who had the biggest worldwide influence on football," Mr Warrilow said.

Written by Tom Jenkins

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