VILLA CARDS
1920-1924
Season 1919-20 saw Villa finish a modest 9th in the league, but a Cup win, soon followed by another (unsuccessful) final kept them at the top of the national game. There is a perception that the 1920s were a period of decline for Villa, but in truth they remained a major force in English football, albeit without a League title to boast. On the cards front, the post-war years were dominated not by tobacco firms, but by boys' comics and mags.
- FA Cup winners: 1920
- FA Cup runners up: 1924
1921: Nelson Lee Library (newspaper) - Footballers
Extra large cards. The Villa one was given out with issue 341 on 17 December 1921.
1921: D C Thomson ('Adventure' comic) - Famous British Footballers
Villa card issued on 15 October.
Villa card issued on 15 October.
1922: F & J Smith (cigarettes) - Football Club Records
[23] Billy Walker
1922: Chums (boys' paper) - Football Teams
Marking the start of the non-tobacco company issuers.
Marking the start of the non-tobacco company issuers.
[5] Aston Villa
1922: The Boys' Friend (boys' paper) - Footballers
Printed in pairs. The one Villa card was attached to the David Rollo (Blackburn Rovers) card and issued inside the comic on 9 December 1922.
Printed in pairs. The one Villa card was attached to the David Rollo (Blackburn Rovers) card and issued inside the comic on 9 December 1922.
1922: Boys' Magazine (boys' paper) - Famous Football Teams
Given away with the magazine on 25 February 1922, the first edition.
Given away with the magazine on 25 February 1922, the first edition.
Aston Villa
1922: The Magnet Library (boys' sport magazine) - Real Photos of Famous Footballers
Given away with the magazine on 27 May 1922
Given away with the magazine on 27 May 1922
[6] Arthur Dorrell
1922: Boys' Magazine (boys' paper) - Art Photos of Famous Footballers
Given away with the magazine on 12 August 1922. Cards were printed in strips of three - the Villa man shared a long card with players from Huddersfield and Southampton respectively.
Given away with the magazine on 12 August 1922. Cards were printed in strips of three - the Villa man shared a long card with players from Huddersfield and Southampton respectively.
1922: Sport & Adventure (magazine) - Our Gallery of Famous Footballers
[1] Frank Barson
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[43] Dicky York
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1922: Pals (magazine) - Famous Footballers - Fine Art Supplements
1922: Pals (magazine) - Football Series
Aston Villa
1922: D C Thomson ('Adventure' comic) - Signed Real Photos
Villa cards issued on 11 February, 25 March and 22 April respectively.
Villa cards issued on 11 February, 25 March and 22 April respectively.
1922: D C Thomson ('The Rover' comic) - Cricketers and Footballers
Villa cards issued on 11 March, 22 April and 3 June respectively. These cards are very similar to the much more extensive set from Godfrey Phillips (see below).
Villa cards issued on 11 March, 22 April and 3 June respectively. These cards are very similar to the much more extensive set from Godfrey Phillips (see below).
1922: Pluck (magazine) - Famous Football Teams
[5] Aston Villa
1922: D C Thomson ('The Wizard' comic) - British Team of Footballers
Issued 14 October
Issued 14 October
Frank Moss [Snr]
1922: The Boys' Realm (boys' magazine) - Famous Footballers
Issued 2 December
Issued 2 December
[3] W J Kirton
1922: Amalgamated Press (The Champion magazine) - Sporting Champions
Issued 12 August.
Issued 12 August.
[29] Billy Walker
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1923: Boys' Magazine (boys' paper) - Coloured Studies of Famous Internationals
Given away with the magazine on 10 February 1923.
Given away with the magazine on 10 February 1923.
1923: Amalgamated Press (The Champion magazine) - Famous Football Captains
Issued 24 February.
Issued 24 February.
[57] Frank Moss (Snr)
1922-24: Godfrey Phillips (cigarettes) - 'Pinnace' photos
Issued in various sizes, with various backs. There are about two and a half thousand basic cards for the fanatic to collect, with many appearing in more than one edition. We can identify 24 Villa players and at least two large team cards. Card [1] has Charlie's first initial as G rather than C, as had the earlier card from Smiths in 1914 - suggesting some sort of link. Cards come with a variety of different backs - see sample scans.
Issued in various sizes, with various backs. There are about two and a half thousand basic cards for the fanatic to collect, with many appearing in more than one edition. We can identify 24 Villa players and at least two large team cards. Card [1] has Charlie's first initial as G rather than C, as had the earlier card from Smiths in 1914 - suggesting some sort of link. Cards come with a variety of different backs - see sample scans.
[4]
Sam Hardy |
[438]
Billy Walker |
[441]
Jimmy Harrop |
[674]
Tommy Smart |
[676]
Billy Kirton |
[791]
George Stephenson |
[793]
Andy Young |
[1749]
Tommy Mort |
Sample card backs
Team card (undated)
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Team card (1921-1922)
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1923: The Gem Library (magazine) - Autographed Action Series
The one Villa card was issued on 17 March 1923.
The one Villa card was issued on 17 March 1923.
1923: D C Thomson ('The Vanguard' comic) - Vanguard Photo Gallery
Cards were issued in fours, printed double-sided to be folded like a birthday card. The one Villa player shared his card with three players from other clubs. It was issued on 8 December.
Cards were issued in fours, printed double-sided to be folded like a birthday card. The one Villa player shared his card with three players from other clubs. It was issued on 8 December.
1923: British American Tobacco - Famous Footballers (1st series)
[5] Arthur Dorrell
1923: R & J Hill ('Sunripe' cigarettes) - Famous Footballers
1923: J A Pattreiouex ('Casket' cigarettes and 'Trawler' cigarettes) - Footballers
These cards are from three sub-sets, known as Series FA, Series FB and Series FC, with one Villa player featuring in each set, plus match action photos.
These cards are from three sub-sets, known as Series FA, Series FB and Series FC, with one Villa player featuring in each set, plus match action photos.
Series FA [93] Aston Villa
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Series FB [1] Cyril Spiers
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Series FB [44] Frank Moss v Barnes of Man City
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1924: D C Thomson ('The Vanguard' comic) - Footballers
Large-format cards with 'gilt' borders. The Villa card was issued on 4 October.
Large-format cards with 'gilt' borders. The Villa card was issued on 4 October.
c1924: J A Pattreiouex ('Casket' cigarettes and 'Critic' cigarettes) - Footballers
Opinion on the year of issue varies between 1922 and c1925. Ian Dickson departed Villa at the end of 1923, so they are unlikely to be much later.
Opinion on the year of issue varies between 1922 and c1925. Ian Dickson departed Villa at the end of 1923, so they are unlikely to be much later.
[168] Middlesbrough v Aston Villa
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[172] Middlesbrough v Aston Villa
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