We have delved into our archives to bring you a selection of classic Aston Villa images from over the decades. From Doug Ellis in his boardroom to Ian Taylor's celebrations in the rain, we take a deep look into the Aston Villa archives of the Birmingham Mail to give you some stunning images from the past. And of course, a few pictures of THAT recent Europa League Final! Take a trip down memory lane and recapture some of the club's long lost memories and the way things used to be.
A Glorious History in Pictures
Villa return to Birmingham with the cup in 1957. Aston Villa fans greet the tour bus with their heroes on board. It's 20 a ticket as Villa fans pour in, in 1981. Villa fans celebrate after the European Cup Triumph in 1982. Aston Villa v Huddersfield Town FA Cup Final at Stamford Bridge, 24th April 1920. Prince Henry shakes hands with Billy Walker as the Aston Villa players line up to meet royalty before the match. Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg dives out for the ball watched by defender Bill Foulkes during the league match against Aston Villa at Villa Park September 1960. George Edwards Aston Villa FC. Arsenal v Aston Villa, Highbury. The final score was a two nil victory to the Gunners. The scoreline did not stop Aston Villa fans celebrate winning the Division One championship by invading the pitch at the end of the game. May 1981. Arguments between John Sharples and his girlfriend Valerie Walker are rare - and nearly always about football. For Valerie is a Wolves' supporter. It's John's first season as a full time professional footballer at Aston Villa. August 1958. Arsenal v Aston Villa, Highbury. The final score was a two nil victory to the Gunners. The scoreline did not stop the manager and the Aston Villa players celebrate winning the Division One championship. May 1981. FA Cup 1905. Newcastle United vs Aston Villa. This was the scene at Crystal Palace when Newcastle United first played in the F.A. Cup Final. Note the spectators perched on trees and rooftops. Part of the vast crowd of 101,117 that watched United's first FA Cup final in 1905. Arsenal v Aston Villa, Highbury. The final score was a two nil victory to the Gunners. The scoreline did not stop the manager and the Aston Villa players celebrate winning the Division One championship. May 1981. Aston Villa v Sunderland: Division One September 1st 1952. Jack Stelling watches as Johnny Dixon heads the ball. Angry Aston Villa fans jeer Manchester United forward Denis Law as he leaves the pitch after being sent off in the two team's League Division One match at Villa Park. Law was dismissed by referee Jim Carr after an incident with Villa wing half Deakin and the fighting that followed. Law was pelted with paper and apple cores on his walk back to the tunnel as United slumped to a 4-0 defeat. 16th November 1963. A crowd of Aston Villa supporters await the teams arrival with the FA cup outside the Town Hall. May 1957. Prince Philip shakes hands with the Aston Villa team May 1957 before the Aston Villa v Manchester United FA Cup Final 1957 at Wembley. Stoke v. Aston Villa. March 1984. The final score was a one nil victory to Stoke. Cowans and Morley. Doug Ellis when Villa won the League Cup in 1975. Saunders and Barton. Brian Little in mid-air. Doug Ellis meeting members of the Stanley Star Football Club 17th April 1969. Wimbledon 2-3 Aston Villa, league match at Plough Lane, Saturday 3rd October 1992. Dalian Atkinson celebrates goal. Dean Saunders. Doug Ellis promotes the British equivalent of the Super Bowl staged at Villa Park in 1985. Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders and team captain Dennis Mortimer show off the League Championship Trophy from the balcony to supporters in Birmingham City Centre. May 1981. 1991: Paul McGrath. Aston Villa v Tottenham in 2004: Juan Pablo Angel scores for Villa with keeper Kasey Keller groping. Aston Villa footballer Gary Shaw shows off the league Championship trophy to the thousands of supporters who lined the streets of Birmingham to welcome their heroes following their match against Arsenal. Despite losing the match 2-0 Villa were crowned champions. Celebrations for Aston Villa players after learning that they had become champions despite their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury. Gordon Cowans holds the window open for Gary Shaw to acknowledge the Villa fans. 2nd May 1981. Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders enjoys the adoration of the thousands of supporters who lined the streets of Birmingham to welcome their heroes following their match against Arsenal. Despite losing the match 2-0 Villa were crowned champions. Cardiff City 1 v Aston Villa 0. Nigel Sims, the Aston Villa goalkeeper dives to fist away a point-blank shot from Cardiff's inside left Colin Hudson. Cardiff won the fixture 1-0 to clinch promotion to the first division. Cardiff wore their 'lucky' white kit. 16th April 1960. Aston Villa 3-2 Chester, League Cup semi final, 2nd Leg match at Villa Park, 22nd January 1975. Aston Villa celebrating in the dressing room at Villa Park after their two one victory over Manchester United in the second leg of the League Cup. 23rd December 1970. Pat McMahon scoring Aston Villa's second goal against Manchester United during the League Cup second leg semi final match at Villa Park. The final score was a two one victory to Aston Villa. 23rd December 1970. Doug Ellis seen here with members of Aston Villa celebrating in the dressing room at Villa Park after their two one victory over Manchester United in the second leg of the League Cup. 23rd December 1970. 1950s Action FA Cup Football Sport West Brom West Bromwich Albion. FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Aston Villa 0 v Chelsea 1. Dejected Villa footballer Dion Dublin at the end. Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City 1975 League Cup Final. Norwich City FC in London for League Cup final against Aston Villa. Showing of their green suits for their arrival at Wembley. 26th February 1975. Doug Ellis, Chairman Aston Villa Football Club, photocall with new manager Graham Taylor, June 1987. Aston Villa footballer Ron Wylie playing football with his son Nigel in the garden of their home. 15th June 1968. Derek Dougan trots out for his Aston Villa debut at Everton's Goodison Park in August 1961 sporting a gawky grin and a newly-shaven head, both of which signalled his individualistic nature. Chris Nicholl, the Aston Villa captain, shows off the League Cup, won after the marathon slog against Everton in the spring of 1977. Policemen, photographers, journalists and club directors were among the few to be allowed to witness Villa's first match in defence of the European Cup they had won in the spring of 1982. Crowd trouble in Brussels during the semi-final between Anderlecht and Villa had led UEFA to ban spectators from Villa's next home match in Europe, which proved to be an encounter with the champions of Turkey. European Cup Final at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. Aston Villa 1 v Bayern Munich 0. Villa players celebrate with the trophy. 26th May 1982. English League Division One match at Villa Park. Aston Villa 4 v Tottenham Hotspur 0. Happy Gordon Cowans at the end of the match. 30th October 1982. Andy Gray Aston Villa Football player August 1978. Division One Football 1980/81 Season Aston Villa v Middlesbrough, Villa Park. The final score was a three nil victory for Aston Villa. Ron Saunders. Aston Villa F.C. Manager. January 1975. Liverpool Ireland goalkeeper Elisha Scott seen in action against Aston Villa. September 1933. Dalian Atkinson, born Shrewsbury, aged 46, striker, played for Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad, Villa (1991-95: 114 appearances, 46 goals), Fenerbache, Metz, Manchester City, Al-Ittihad, Daejeon Citizen, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Now operates as a football agent and works in the financial services industry. Manchester United 1 v Aston Villa 1. Duncan Edwards of United is blocked by Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Sims. 9th March 1957. 1977 League Cup Final Second Replay at Old Trafford. Aston Villa 3 v Everton 2 aet. Brian Little in action during the match. Ian Taylor salutes the crowd. European Cup Final at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. Aston Villa 1 v Bayern Munich 0. Villa's Peter Withe celebrates after he scored the game's only goal. 26th May 1982. 1999: Aston Villa Chairman Doug Ellis in his offices at Villa Park. Aston Villa 1 v. Manchester City 0. Division One Football. January 1981. League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Aston Villa 1 v Norwich City 0. Ian Ross and Chico Hamilton of Villa parading with the cup. Footballer Gerry Hitchens signs on for Aston Villa FC. Doug Ellis and Big Ron Atkinson. Johnny Dixon the Aston Villa Captain is chaired by team-mates after he has received the F.A. Cup from H.M. Queen at Wembley Stadium. The final score was a two one victory over Manchester United. May 1957. English League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium Tottenham Hotspur 2 v Aston Villa 0 Captains Brian Godfrey of Villa and Alan Mullery of Spurs with the referee and linesman at the toss up before kick off February 1971. Peter Withe and Nigel Spink kiss the European Cup....Aston Villa. 1982. Aston Villa win League Champions Cup - May 1981 Crowds celebrate in stands. FA Cup 4th Round match at Anfield February 1967: Liverpool v Aston Villa Villa's Deakin makes his way onto the pitch from the tunnel. Aston Villa fan and violinist Nigel Kennedy. V – Venglos – Jozef Venglos. A foreign manager? In England? It will never work! Sadly, it didn't for Villa as the Czech pioneer struggled at Villa where some of his methods were a bit too ahead of his time. He couldn't get why the players wanted to drink beer after matches. The Birmingham Mail headline 'For God's sake go, Jo' summed up a season that was doomed to fail, although Venglos did mastermind a thrilling 2-0 victory over Inter Milan at Villa Park. European Cup Final at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. Aston Villa 1 v Bayern Munich 0. Villa players celebrate with the trophy after the match. 26th May 1982. Doug Ellis and Graham Taylor. Doug Ellis visiting Birmingham Mail Library to view old photos of himself. Vic Crowe - Aston Villa football manager, with Native American Indian mask, presented to him during Villa's tour of USA, pictured February 1971. Aston Villa fans in 1975. Villa fans protest with 'Ellis Out' signs in 2003. Villa fans show their pride for their victorious team in 1983. Villa fans letting off hundreds of balloons at Derby's baseball ground in 1975. Aston Villa v Manchester United in 1970. Villa fans on the terraces in 1977. Villa fans on the terraces in 1970. Villa fans on the terraces in 1975. Aston Villa v Norwich City, league match at Villa Park April 1990. Fans on the terraces watching the Villa v Notts Forest game in 1978.
The Modern Era and Europa League Triumph
Claret & Blue's Mat Kendrick and heir to the throne Mat Kendrick celebrates Aston Villa's Europa League final triumph in Istanbul. Aston Villa Manager Unai Emery. Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, celebrates with Nassef Sawiris. Detailed view of the Europa League winner's medal. Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa scores. Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, kisses the UEFA Europa League trophy. Aston Villa players celebrate during the Europa League winners parade in Birmingham. Aston Villa fans lined the streets of Birmingham city centre for the trophy parade. Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, celebrates on the shoulders of Emiliano Martinez. John McGinn wearing his winners' medal salutes the travelling Villa fans. Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa celebrates scoring. Aston Villa in Istanbul, 2026. The Aston Villa fans in Istanbul at the game. Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa prepares inside the tunnel. Aston Villa fans before the UEFA Europa League final at Besiktas Park, Istanbul. An Aston Villa supporter holding a scarf saying 'I Believe. ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MAY 20: A detailed view of the match pennant with the details 'SC Freiburg v Aston Villa, Europa League Final 2026, Besiktas Park, 20 May 2026' embroidered, seen displayed beside the match shirt of John McGinn inside the Aston Villa dressing room prior to the UEFA Europa League Final 2026 match between SC Freiburg and Aston Villa FC at Besiktas Park on May 20, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.
