The Great Relegation (1899)

Lore & Background

The club began its first decline in the mid-1930s; the 1940s and 1950s were generally a period of mediocrity followed by a steep decline in the 1960s which culminated in a takeover of the club by Doug Ellis in 1968 and Villa's first and only relegation to the third tier in 1969–70.

In Their Own Story

The final whistle blew on a grey Birmingham afternoon, sealing a fate that felt impossible just a season prior. George Ramsay stood on the touchline at Villa Park, his face unreadable as the players trudged off the pitch, their kits heavy with mud and disappointment. The crowd, usually raucous in support of the champions, fell into a stunned silence. There were no flowers or parades this time; only the cold realization that the great Aston Villa dynasty had been forced to step down from its throne.

Reader's Guide

The source does not mention any relegation from the top flight in 1899 or any return from such a relegation. The only relegation discussed is the 1969–70 relegation to the third tier.

Did You Know?

• Aston Villa's only relegation to the third tier of English football happened in 1969–70.
• The club returned to the Premier League in 2019 after three seasons in the EFL Championship.