Archie Hunter

Born in Joppa near Ayr, Hunter played for Ayr Thistle and Third Lanark (featuring on the losing side in the 1878 Scottish Cup Final). He signed for Aston Villa in August 1878, four years after their formation. The 1879–80 English football season saw Aston Villa's first ever FA Cup tie and thus their entry into top flight competitive association football. The start of the official record was Saturday 13 December 1879 when Villa faced Stafford Road F.C., of the Stafford Road railway works, Wolverhampton. The match was played before a crowd of 2,000 at Stafford's Half-Way House Ground. In 2024, celebrating the club's 150th anniversary, Aston Villa Legacy Numbers were introduced indexing every first-team player who had represented the club in a competitive fixture. Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1. Archie Hunter #5 played centre-forward in the match. Hunter made his League debut in the inaugural season on 15 September 1888 at Wellington Road, as a forward, against Stoke. Aston Villa won 5–1 and Hunter scored one of the goals. He missed three League games (out of 22) in 1888–89 and scored seven League goals including one brace. In his league career (1888–1890) he played 73 matches scoring 42 goals. Also his 36 goals for Villa in the FA Cup (including 3 in 1888–1889) remains the club record in the competition. Despite being one of the greats of the 19th century game, Hunter never fulfilled his dream of…

In 1998, Hunter was inducted into the English Football League's list of 100 legends. The headstone on his grave reads:

This monument is erected in loving memory of Archie Hunter, the famous captain of Aston Villa, by his football comrades and the club as a lasting tribute to his ability on the field and his sterling worth as a man.