Harry Simmonds (June 1858 – 3 Aug 1939)[1] was an English footballer notable for playing in Aston Villa’s first ever FA Cup tie.[2]
The 1879–80 English football season saw Aston Villa‘s entry into top flight competitive association football with their first tie in the Football Association Cup.[3] 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.[3] 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.[4] Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1.[5] Defender Simmonds received Legacy Number #12,[1] Andy Hunter #4 [6] officially became Villa’s first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw.[3]
The 23-year-old Simmonds played his final game on 21 January 1882 in Villa’s 4th Round away defeat to Wednesbury Old Athletic [7] He subsequently retired from the game due to an ankle injury.[1]
References
- ^ a b c https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/harry-simmonds
- ^ 🟩 30 Oct 1880, Villa 5-3 Wednesbury Strollers, Wellington Road, James Constant, avfchistory.co.uk.
- ^ a b c 🟨 13 Dec 1879, Villa 1-1 Stafford Road, Half-Way House Ground
- ^ https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/15/legacy-numbers–all-997-aston-villa-players/
- ^ John Ball (2)
- ^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/andy-hunter
- ^ 🟥 21 Jan 1882, Villa 2-4 W.O.A.C, The Oval