Aston Villa Women anniversary celebrations
Women
3 hours ago
Aston Villa Women are excited to unveil plans to celebrate the club's anniversary on Sunday, November 15, coinciding with our Second City derby against Birmingham City.
The occasion promises to be a memorable day in our history as players, staff and supporters gather to celebrate 30 years since the team officially took the Aston Villa name in 1996, with a history that goes back much further.
Join us at Villa Park on Sunday, ahead of the 2pm kick-off, and enjoy a pre-match anniversary event in the Sports Illustrated Warehouse as well as a host of special matchday activities.
This year we have embarked on a mission to uncover, recognise and celebrate the key people, teams and moments that have helped make the club what it is.
The anniversary campaign, 'Roots, Rise and Reach', will run throughout the 2026/27 season.
Roots recognises the many teams, individuals and histories that came together to form the club we know today.
Rise follows our journey from 1996 through to the professional side we see gracing the pitch at Villa Park in the Women's Super League.
Reach considers where we want to go next and the future of our beloved club.
These three chapters give every era of our legacy its place as we reflect, celebrate and look forward to our next steps together.
Derby day, a defining moment in our history
While 'Aston Villa Ladies' officially took the club's name in 1996, the earliest record so far found of a side playing under this title is from a 1957 newspaper report, which you can read in the image gallery below.
It documents a match against our Second City neighbours Birmingham City, played during the 50-year Football Association ban on women's football.
Many different teams played under the Aston Villa banner, formally and informally, across those decades, coming together as Solihull FC in the early 1970s and later Villa Aztecs before official recognition 30 years ago.
Our anniversary celebrations are an opportunity to recognise everyone who played, coached, organised and supported on the long road from park pitches to Villa Park.
Join the festivities
We look forward to a memorable afternoon with our supporters on Sunday as we host neighbours Birmingham City in the WSL.
The 30th anniversary activities will be marked by a packed calendar, headlined by a special pre-match event in the Sports Illustrated Warehouse.
Hosted by Dave Wooldridge, supporters will hear from an expert panel of Villa Women legends from throughout our history.
Starting with Carol Wingfield, a current Villa Park tour guide who wore the famous claret and blue of Aston Villa Ladies in the 1970s, as well as playing for Blues.
Then Rachel Pavlou, who played for Villa during the 1990s as the team officially came under the club's umbrella.
And finally, current captain Rachel Daly will speak about how far the club has come in recent years, through to becoming a fully professional side in England's top flight.
Representing our history with pride
Villa players will wear match shirts featuring a commemorative anniversary logo patch on Sunday, while fans can also get their hands on a special celebratory t-shirt.
The logo features the number 96, to honour the year 1996 when the team officially took the Villa name.
The design has a pearlised finish, a quiet nod to the 30th anniversary but not forgetting the history of Aston Villa Women is much longer than 30 years.
Pearls are beautiful and naturally formed in concentric circles, that echo the circles of history. They are also tough and resilient as women's players have had to be over decades of defying challenges and overcoming barriers to play the game.
Both the sleeve patch and anniversary t-shirt, as well as an Aston Villa Women scarf, will be available for supporters to purchase from the Villa Store.
We'll also have former Villa players in attendance from the past five decades, as well anniversary match branding throughout B6 and a souvenir programme.
We can’t wait to enjoy this milestone occasion together with you – celebrating Villa Women's heritage and memories that have shaped the club we see today.
It's an occasion supporters won't want to miss, with the added excitement of a Second City derby to look forward to as Birmingham head across town.
Don't miss out and join us at Villa Park on Sunday.
UTV!
Our celebration marks 30 years since Aston Villa Women took the club’s name, although our full history goes back much further.
This anniversary is our chance to shine a light on the past and celebrate everyone who played their part along the way.
Throughout this season we’ll be looking to bring you a host of engaging content celebrating our history.
Have you got any information to share? Stories of matchdays gone by? Images? Videos? Memorabilia?
If so, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you below.
