Wellington Road (Perry Barr)

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Wellington Road
Wellington Road (Perry Barr)
Interactive map of Wellington Road
Location Perry Barr, Birmingham
Coordinates 52°30′54″N1°54′14″W / 52.5149°N 1.9039°W / 52.5149; -1.9039
Record attendance26,849
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1876
Closed1897
Tenants
Aston Villa

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.

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.

History

Wellington Road was opened in 1876 when Aston Villa moved to the ground. 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. [1] The pitch also had a slope towards one goal. [2]

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. [1]

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. [1] 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. [1]

Frederick Rinder had become the club's financial secretary in 1892 and set about installing turnstiles. Gate receipts immediately increased from £75 to £250. However, with an uneven pitch and growing crowds, it became increasingly apparent that the ground was inadequate. In addition, the land at the Wellington Road ground had initially been sub-let to the club for an annual rent of £5, 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 expenditure needed to improve the facilities to match the club's ambition. Vice-President Charlie Johnstone acquired an option at the Lower Grounds in Aston, [3] and together with Chairman Fred Rinder they secured the deal to enable the club to move to a new home ground. [2] The club moved to what became Villa Park towards the end of the 1896–97 season. The last league match played at Wellington Road on 22 March 1897, with Villa beating Bolton Wanderers 6–2 in front of 8,000 spectators. [1] Part of the site was later used for the housing Leslie and Willmore Roads, [4] with the remainder becoming a car park, the new Crown & Cushion pub and recreation ground. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005, Yore Publications, p143, ISBN   0954783042
  2. 1 2 "Charlie Johnstone Aston Villa Midfielder". AVFC History.
  3. ↑ Mangan, J.A.; Hickey, C. (December 2008). "Early action: founding and furthering clubs". Soccer & Society. 9 (5). Taylor & Francis: 632–653. doi:10.1080/14660970802181327 . Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  4. ↑ https://birchfieldbiglocal.org/heritage-trail/#1657550007252-4cb77e34-efab
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