1919: Villa goalkeeper Sam Hardy guested for Nottingham Forest when they won the Victory Shield beating Everton 1-0 at the City Ground.

1969: Villa had ended the season escaping relegation to the Third Division by the narrowest of margins. The team then departed on a brief tour of North America and managed a 2-2 draw with Spurs in Atlanta. Although the game was a little more than a exhibition match, it gave Villa hope that, if they could contend with the likes of Spurs, the forthcoming season in the Second Division would hold no fears.

Random Villa Facts

Andy Comyn had a meteoric rise to top flight football in 1989.Having just graduated from Birmingham University with a degree in Physics and having played a season at Alvechurch, Comyn signed for Villa. Five days later, on 23rd August, was in the starting line-up for the league match against Liverpool at Villa Park. The game ended 1-1. Comyn went on to make 21 senior appearances before joining Derby County.