The following is the second and final part of an article written around 1905 to 1907 by Howard Spencer, who was the Villa captain between 1902 and 1907, in-between John Devey and Joe Bache. Spencer also captained England on a few occasions. He became a director on the Villa board in 1909, where he remained until 1936.

Spencer was widely known as the ‘Prince of Full-backs’ and those who saw him play as a teenager in a youth representative match in 1893 realised that he was destined to become a great player. At the start of his career he found an able partner in Jim Welford, while later his association with Albert Evans  and then Freddie Miles  constitu­ted interesting chapters in the history of Aston Villa.

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All rights reserved: No copying nor distribution without the consent of John Lerwill.

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This is one of a series of summer articles from the archives that I have obtained with the object of writing a book on the Villa. Those articles I’m publishing here will not be included ‘verbatim’ in my book, but I thought it may be worthwhile to publish some of them on Aston Villa Life as an insight into the thinking back then – of 100 years ago and more.

These articles are published ‘as is’ with only a small attempt on my part at being helpful by the insertion of a comment or two.

Doubtless, the reader will find some of the language quite archaic, but I nevertheless hope that you persevere through the article and extract a good idea from it and grasp how evolutionary all the thinking was in those days. And also how much thought was expended on how to improve the game.

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METHODS OF PLAY IN FOOTBALL,

BY HOWARD SPENCER

“Aston Villa did well … because they were a happy and harmonious family.”

“Enthusiasm makes a young player excel and makes an old player young.”

In our hunt for the Cup [in 1905] we hit upon the right kind of game: the kind of game which wins matches. It was, I understand. the game which that great footballer, Archie Hunter (some of my Birmingham friends will have it that he was the greatest of all footballers, but into that, of course, I cannot go). intro­duced to Aston Villa when he came to play on the old Perry Barr meadow. Archie, I understand, used to swing the ball to his brother Andy and Eli Davis, while the three inside men played the close passing game. So that we were, after all, only returning to old and time-honoured Villa methods.

Our tactics in the final tie were a re­velation to our opponents. I think New­castle had an idea that, taking the form we had shown in certain of our previous ties, they were justified in thinking that they could beat us. Well, our display against Everton at Nottingham was not the most satisfactory of shows, although our form early in the game was clever enough. But in the final we were right at the top of our form. I have never seen more accurate passing than our men showed. It was not easy to put the ball out to Brawn and Hall on the wings as the Villa men did, for the Crystal Palace is a big ground. and very often the ball had to cover a great distance before it fell at the feet of the man for whom it was intended.

Rarely did [the ball] go astray and I shall always think that passing out was the cleverest part of our game. I have never seen long passing better done, at any rate, and it was clear from the start that it put our opponents right off their game. Had we gone in for short passing, as they did, it would have been a great struggle between us, for the Villa can play that kind of game pretty well. But the Newcastle halves and backs were kept racing after the ball at top speed; they never had a chance of starting the combination for their own forwards.

I do not recall a’ match in which the backs and halves of the team opposing us had more awkward work to do than that which fell to the lot of the Newcastle defenders. They rarely got a straight kick at the ball. It would come swirling across to them sideways, at a great pace, too, and go to our man, on the touch-line. Some of the critics found fault with Newcastle’s kicking and said that they did not get the ball away cleanly. Well, it was not easy for them to do so. We had a much happier lot, for the ball came to us straight; indeed. we usually merely had to take it off the toes of our opponents, for, generally speaking. they dribbled too closely and within too small a compass. That was just the difference between the rival methods.

But that meant that while we had plenty of work, it was of a more straightforward nature than that which the Newcastle defenders had to under­take. I can quite understand why their play seemed below par; possibly my partner and I would not have come out of the ordeal so well as we did (according to all accounts) if we had had pre­cisely the same kind of work to do. I noticed that as often as not the ball, when sent by an inside forward or a half-back to a Villa wing man, described an arc. Now, that is very artistic from the point of view of the man who kicks it, and if the ball has slackened its pace somewhat It is not difficult for the man for whom it is meant to take, but to the half-back or full-hack who meets it while it is in full flight it presents some difficulties. The hall is as likely as not to fly off your boot at an angle you never intended to impart to it. The slightest flaw means the ball going in an alto­gether unexpected direction.

Still, our men passed beautifully, and we are therefore somewhat responsible for the inability of our adversaries to show that accuracy of volleying for which they are famous. They were highly tried that day: I do not yearn to have a similar experience in a big game.

There can be no doubt that the kind of football which pays is that which is calculated to take your opponents off their usual methods. That is where footballers would do well to take heed Headwork is wanted in football as well as footwork. A game which will beat one side may fail to cause discomfort to another. Aston Villa has lost many a game through sticking to their pretty passing (which everyone used to admire) when the ground was soft and holding, and when the adoption of such tactics simply meant playing into the bands of their less skilful but more energetic and enterprising opponents. But Aston Villa is not alone in that fault: I sim­ply cite their case because I know more of them than any other team. There is ample room in football for the use of the brains with which all footballers are presumably endowed. We all make mistakes: we know afterwards what we ought to have done, but we didn’t do it at the right time. We are all liable to err, but at the same time, we all have it in our power to play with our heads as well as our toes.

Aston Villa did well, too, because they were a happy and harmonious family. We enjoyed our preparation for the Cup games, and we always entered into those games with enthusiasm. And that tells, For those who are not strictly colts en­thusiasm is the greatest tonic known to trainer and directors. Enthusiasm makes a young player excel and makes an old player young.

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John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.

Comments 43

  1. Trinity

    Thanks for the intersting article, JL.
    “Enthusiasm makes a young player excel and makes an old player young.”
    I think this is true for any profession, especially if enthusiasim is a similie for motivation. I like it.
    I couldn’t help notice that Howard Spencer taled about the importance of being able to adapt the game plan and tactics to whoever the opposition was. That was a weakness for SB in his first season at VP.
    “There can be no doubt that the kind of football which pays is that which is calculated to take your opponents off their usual methods.”
    This is where Villa must improve. The team needs to learn to put the opposition off their game. The opposition often do it to us.

  6. Heroes-and-Villans

    haha yes pinch of salt required. Id take him but to be honest goals against wasn’t the problem. we just needed to score more and turn draws into wins.

    Need more pace in the team.

    Whealan would be a very good signing imo. take the pressure of jedi.

  7. IanG

    The latest rumour mill has plugged Joe Ledley again who would be on a free & 3 years younger [as backup for the jedi?]

  8. DarrenO

    Betting suspended on JT to Villa, to be honest and putting is off-field life to one side, there’s a reason why he’s retiring from Chelsea and that’s because he doesn’t have the legs anymore, if he’s looking for a last payday he can go somewhere else, we don’t need to feather the nest of a multi-millionaire who wouldn’t contribute any more than 20 games (given the championship is full on). Better off blooding a young lad with Villa in his heart.

    Heard a rumour over here that Small Heath are sniffing around Robbie Keane.

  10. Heroes-and-Villans

    I don’t like terry as a man but id love to have him. He is a winner and takes no crap. what a statement it would be too. would be a crazy signing.

    The last pay day thing is why we wouldn’t get him…surly he will go amaercia or china. we wouldn’t be able to pay him big money.

    he would still be 100 times better than baker or elphick.

  12. James Gill

    one simple difference in bruce and a decent manager stockdale, a good keeper for this level not a utd young lad learning his trade at our exspense

  14. James Gill

    the johnson from first part of loan, second part of loan or final part he was very poor ,very good and then bang average
    have read bruce strengths are man mangement have yet to see it at villa

  17. James Gill

    be nice to a board like soton,a cup final loss down to a dodgy ref [sounds familiar ]8 place finish not good enough ,yet the doc wants stability after finishing 13 th in championship

  18. Paul Pears

    Have enjoyed a good break and a break from Aston Villa for a while.

    Hopefully, Bruce has now got a proper plan ready for the new season, and will build a successful team worthy of the Aston Villa name.

    Excellent articles from John Clark and John Lerwill, keeping the site alive. and the occasional high from the prospects of new and exciting signings which may, or may not , materialise.

    Unfortunately, many other awful things are happening in reality around us, but in a small way have a reflection on our position here, where the ordinary people get together, and support each other.

  19. John Lerwill

    Paul: “awful things are happening in reality around us, but in a small way have a reflection on our position here, where the ordinary people get together, and support each other.”

    True. However, these events are slowly increasing and will gather apace. I believe all this will raise empathy to such an extent that it will change the way we live. Fast forward another 20 years or less and things will be very different, but not until the disasters have subsided – perhaps over the next 5 or 6 years.

  20. DarrenO

    Hi JL

    I’ve seen similar comments from you before about a predicted future that requires much turmoil before reaching some sort of world nirvana or similar. What is the source of this thinking. Why are you expecting it in what is the near future.

    To my thinking, every region of the world has been in turmoil at some point throughout history whether it is neighbour country rivalry over a disputed border, religious rivalry in all its forms, external influences on countries such as colonialism or Americans looking to remove communist leaning dictators to replace them with their own puppet dictators. Any form of injustice due to gender, skin colour, sexuality, race.

    Given that historical turmoil and given we have today: A North Korean despot who won’t give up power to democracy or be bullied by the US, Russian advances towards Ukraine and the likelihood that will extend to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The House of Saud influence in Arabia and elsewhere, the Jewish influence in the world when they can’t bring themselves to treat their Palestinian citizens with any respect. Terrorism in the name of Islam or any other terrorism. All these deep-rooted issues will take longer to resolve than 5/6 years

    Even the fragile peace in Norn Iron is under threat by the Tory’s desire to retain power. It won’t break but there are still two factions that would be prepared to fight to retain UK status or obtain a United Ireland, the peace process has been in existence for quite some time and many of the factors that led to the Troubles have been resolved but if this deep-rooted problem still exists, I don’t see any of the other unresolved conflicts being resolved in 5/6 years.

    Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, while there is still an ability in someone’s psyche to want to rule over another person without a semblance of benevolence then the idea of a serene, peace loving world is far away. Any race/person who feels they’ve been put upon has the right to restitution until that point no one will feel equal with the race/person that had mis-used power over them.

    Interested to hear you thoughts.

  21. IanG

    DOR
    On Nirvana, in the relative it’s to a degree perceptional, one man’s meat is another man’s poison etc.
    With the tragic fire in London I see people becoming more human mostly, & once it’s out of the bag you can’t put it back the same.
    Those non people friendly vampires who control are not having a good time currently, & long may it continue.
    Uncertainty as a norm will need more humanity, & the villains will have to be bigger & more persuasive to get their dastardly way.
    It’s down to all of us.
    Nothing stays the same in the phenomenal world.

    With the Villa a bit of humanity/humility is what will help ground them, join them with us the fans & lead to being more successful hopefully.
    It might lessen the BS as well, which would be a plus.

  22. DarrenO

    May did miss an opportunity to show her own humanity and empathy towards the people who live in or around Grenfell tower. She’s getting hammered for it and rightly so.

    I don’t doubt she is human and has feelings but having more concern with jumping into bed with the DUP and retaining power, her time as a PM or party leader is more finite than previous.

    Colchester away in the Caribou Cup – roll on August 7, I think we can manage a draw away from home and get them back to VP 🙂

  23. Paul Pears

    The recent terror attacks, coupled with the Grenfell Tower disaster, has moved the people very much closer to demonstrations on a national scale, which may easily escalate into riots.

    I was listening to a guy called Ishmail today, who was saying that the growth on social media is far greater than people realise, and this is where change will stem from. It is impossible to stop the spread of change when everyone is connected to the internet. The biggest danger is the spreading of fake news. I am sure that the events of this month will become life-changing in many ways.
    I remember talking to some friends weeks ago, and commenting do not be surprised if Theresa May loses her job, with Jeremy Corbyn taking power and also that Brexit will not happen. Everyone disagreed with me, but I could see the failing of May, her policies, and her endless statement that she was the best to lead us. Now she is close to the end of her premiership and Germany and France are quite happy to let us change our mind and remain in Europe.

    It may not be the “Rivers of blood” that Enoch Powell predicted years ago, but this country is now closer to revolution, than anyone could have predicted six months ago.

  25. John Lerwill

    DOR: “What is the source of this thinking. Why are you expecting it in what is the near future.”

    I can’t tell you the sources, Darren, and thereby you may well say that I lose credibility. But I can only say what I believe to be the case, and if you want to find out for yourself then there are ways of finding, but it’s a lot to do with the realisation of who we really are. Are we material animals or are we made of finer stuff? That’s the question to resolve, and resolve for one-self. “Seek and ye shall find” There are no immediate answers to questions of this kind without a lot of searching.

    To my thinking, every region of the world has been in turmoil at some point throughout history

    True … but have you not noted that all these are escalating in number? I did a check on earthquakes the other day and found that just in California there had been 3 earthquakes in different locations in one day. Richter 2.8-3.0, admittedly, so not huge ones, but the activity is increasing.

    And it’s not just the number but the scale on which the world has moved into conflict since 2001. All heightened by the communications revolution.

    There’s a lot of karma that’s developed – a huge amount – and unless we make efforts towards peace then there has to be an outlet to it all.

  27. IanG

    PP
    Absolutely, & I’m glad to see that people are coming together until they get too attached to their anger & forget what the point was.
    I hope you’re right about Brexit, & that the same weakening happens to the euro political professionals, otherwise they will want their pound of flesh.
    It’s curious that this happened in the middle of Ramadan which probably saved a lot of lives, & also allowed the moslem community to come together with everyone else as human beings first, & their focus was transformative.
    It has put a sock in it for a lot of people whose main concern is themselves & who they are scapegoating, which alleviates the need for paranoiac reactionary crap to a degree.
    But now the violence…
    Someone in the 19th century predicted that the 21st century’s main problem will be dogma, which has certainly proved true so far.
    Lets hope actions will speak louder than words & the main point doesn’t get lost.
    Westminster & Chelsea Town Hall, a riot if it has to happen, couldn’t happen to a better place

  28. IanG

    Westminster council has always had an ambition to be a gated community, lets hope that’s buggered that, as Notting Hill was a seedy place full of whores, rachman type landlords & of course the counterculture when I first went there in the 60’s.
    Now it’s full of rich people.
    I picked up one of the locals yesterday saying that they had built an academy in such a place near the tower, that blocked off the rest of the area & made their community into a ghetto.
    Then they were all forced to send their children there instead of being able to choose other nearby schools in places like Holland Park.
    There is a lot of pent up anger, which is not being helped by the council breaking up what’s left of their community & sending a large proportion of the survivors outside the area in the name of saving money.
    Also good to see some lawyers offering their services for free if & when is needed, & very different to Robespierre’s time.

  31. IanG

    MK
    Nah you’re too old.
    Seriously I think it’s worse.
    In 1967 I worked for Bryants on Castle Vale, & the whole work force knew that 2 of the 16 storey tower blocks were off vertical, one by 7 degrees & the other by more than that.
    To our surprise it was passed by the quality control man [can’t remember his title], & no way would this have happened if the process was kosher.
    But it was common practice to bung everybody at that time, so we assumed that that was what happened as it wasn’t repaired.
    I’m surprised that they are still standing, but they are less solid these days.
    These days it’s another step or two past the 80’s, but who’s going to trust the party again that has dismantled so many legal rights to counter such stuff.
    Sh*t happens, but having no right to legally challenge anything unless you have serious money is shocking, & you can easily see how it’s been taken advantage of.
    Problem is that in this case it has cost 100 + lives & more injured, as well as hundreds losing everything they own.

  32. Mark King

    ianG- I work in the building industry its all about ticking boxes for saving energy and dodging Injury/damage insurance claims. You want to talk responsibility when you go on a building site you basically have to sign a piece of paper that you understand all the rules and if you die its your own fault, thats what the rules are for protecting the money at the top.

    I meant the general angry feel around the uk when I said the 70’s/80’s ian, who knows we might get some good music again 😉

  34. John Lerwill

    PP: “Now [May] is close to the end of her premiership and Germany and France are quite happy to let us change our mind and remain in Europe.”

    One of the matters that I think is a big stumbling block on Brexit is the probable exit fee that has been talked of, with a figure of up to £100bn talked of.

    Though I doubt that the final figure will be anything like that (yes, I think we will have to pay summat), if it’s £20-30 bn even, can we really afford that with all the risk of exit involved? And who would feel the brunt of it? Yes … you’ve guessed it.

    I’m sure there would be many who will say that we have other things to spend such sums on … like the NHS and safety issues…

  36. Mark King

    I would say Theresa May must feel shell shocked at the moment, what next millions of claims for cancer gotten from spraying everything with fire retardant? our furniture and carpets are full of it, planes are regularly sprayed, cars, trains, the average body has 100’s of chemicals that should not be in it.

    Does anyone know why the fire started yet? I have seen hundreds of flats and houses built they all use the same materials usually, most flats have metal walls with celotex for insulation and plaster board for the outer whether they are going for millions in Henley on Thames or affordable housing. I have seen some very nice affordable housing too and some cheap and tacky ones go for millions they all look nice when they are finished. I haver not seen one yet with a sprinkler system.

  38. Mark King

    JL- safety issues? like 10 or more sharing a house and cheap labour brought in to get the job done cheaply and trust me a lot of these people have different standards to us plus the language barrier.
    I would also say that inspectors definitely turn a blind eye to some sites as not to appear racist or money passes hands. The British builders are the majority of ones that adhere to the rules and produce quality work, the polish, asian, russian etc do not on the whole have the same skill level or give a crap, I sincerely do not know how they get away with it.

    Brexit was never about now for a lot of people it was about a better future for their Kids, it was always going to be hard but looks like people have not got the stomach for a little suffering.

  39. John Lerwill

    Mark: “looks like people have not got the stomach for a little suffering.”

    Suffering at the bottom end of the economic scale is not the same suffering as if you were 50% up that scale … or more.

  42. Trinity

    Why does Britain have to do anything that Europe, or anyone else tells her to do? What happened to Rule Britannia…and all that? It looks like the English are scared, but I don’t live there, so excuse me for seeming a bit insensitive.
    On a lighter (don’t intend to sound racist) note, congratulations to Scotland for beating the Wallabies in Sydney and the B&I Lions for their win.

  43. Mark King

    JL- A lot of these suffering people seem to spend a lot on tele’s fags booze and rubbish, not all but a lot do. If having sky is a necessity now then god help us. I find the Huff post to be feminist, for the life of me I don’t know why a paper had to take sides in anything.

    Iana- I have no idea we have lost our bottle, we have always had the upper class etc whereas the French binned them, I think the Great bit is great at doing what we are told 😉

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