After the news that City had gone to Aston Villa for Nathan Delfouneso I wondered if we have ever had a good player from the wrong side of Birmingham.
Joe Moult 1907-1909
Villa were one of the leading clubs in the country at the time whilst City were an improving team in the Birmingham and District League when manager Joe Beaman went to Villa to bring in goalkeeper Joe Moult when regular keeper Harry Whitehouse was injured. Moult made his debut against of all teams Aston Villa reserves at home in front of 4,000 fans he conceded twice as City won 4-2. He played for the rest of that season helping City to a 4th place finish our highest ever at the time. He conceded 28 goals in 18 games but he won great praise for his performances. City were then elected to the Southern League but things didn’t start of too brightly as after the 5th game City had conceded 16 goals and Moult was criticised for a 5-2 home defeat again Southend and was dropped. Sol Archer took over for 12 games but after conceding six at Luton Joe was back in. and only conceded 41 goals in 28 games as City ended one from bottom of the division. City then brought in Bob Evans and the six foot plus keeper moved to CrystalPalace reserves before playing well for Walsall.
William Hanson 1908-1910
The left back failed to play for Villa but fitted the bill of City’s boss Harris who was looking for young eager players to help in the first season in the Southern League. Hanson made his debut away to New Brompton and helped to keep City’s first clean sheet in the Southern League at the 21st attempt. Hanson seemed a good buy, we was a hard tackler and had plenty of speed he also had good distribution and rarely made a mistake. His second season was his best playing a key role in the great F.A. Cup run to the Quarter Finals but his form attracted the attention of League Clubs and it was no surprise when he was sold to 2nd Division Bradford Park Avenue but it was not a successful move as he only played once.
Walter J Kimberly 1912-1914
The Aston born left half has already a nomadic career playing for five teams: Tower Unity, Selly Oak St Mary’s, Coldstream Guards and Aston Manor before joining Villa. He played seven times as Villa were runners-up to Manchester United in Division One before he slipped out of favour and spent the next four years in the reserves. He came to City as the team was suffering an injury crisis and made his debut out of position up front but scored the first goal in a 5-2 home victory against Stoke. After a couple more games up front it was noticeable despite being good in the air he was too slow to play regularly up front. He returned later in the season but still not in his favoured wing half position but as a centre half, he didn’t do too badly at the back being a quick tackler and strong kicker of the ball. He played 11 more games the following season before dropping out of favour and joining Walsall. The First World War then stopped any more football and Walter rejoined the Coldstream Guards but in October 1914 became a prisoner of war before being reported killed in action. He was one of six City players that died in action during that war.
Harold (Harry) E Nash 1920-1921
Harry was born in Fishponds which apparently is suburb of Bristol. He played for Brislington United, Mardy no doubt he was not very happy there moving on to Aberdare, Abertillery and Pontypridd before moving back to England on the verge of the 1st World War and to Villa and made quite an impact scoring a hat trick on his debut against Liverpool in April 1915 a month later the season ended and football was suspended for the hostilities. After the war he struggled to find a place in Villa’s first team and Albert Evans brought him to City to help out in our second season as a league club he made his debut in the opening game a 3-2 away win at Rotherham County but City failed to score in the next six league games. Nash finally scored his first goal for City in his 8th game by now he was playing on the left wing and scored against Stoke in a 1-0 home win he only added one more before he was sold to Cardiff were he scored six goals in thirty games helping them to promotion to Division One. He continued his guided tour of Wales by playing for MerthyrTown, Aberbargoed and the almost unpronounceable Ystrad Mynach.
George A Hadley 1920-1922
Hadley had played for Willenhall Swifts and Southampton before joining Villa where the left or right half played four times and was signed by City in a triple swoop. The stocky player made his debut in the 3-2 away win at Rotherham and became a regular playing thirty times that season and scoring twice the first was on his debut. He was almost ever present the following season was then forced to retire after seriously breaking his collar bone at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
James (Jimmy) Lawrence 1920-1925
Jimmy was the third of players Albert Evans got from Villa before the start of the season and made his debut against Rotherham as a left back. He had previously played thirteen times for Villa before City signed him. He was consistence and played well missing the occasional game because of illness rather than injuries. He was first choice left back for almost three seasons until picking up an injury at home to Clapton Orient he never quite recovered and hung up his boots in 1925.
William (Billy) J Kirton 1928-1930
Geordie Billy started of at Pandon Temperance but soon moved to LeedsCity when they promised a drink. He had only played once at City when the club was wound up and Billy along with his team mates was auctioned off, he went to Villa for 500 quid. This was a great move for the inside right for at the end of his first season played in the F.A. Cup Final at StamfordBridge against Huddersfield and scored the only goal in extra time as Villa won the cup. Just over a year later he made his one and only appearance for England scoring in a 1-1 draw away to Ireland. He played up to 1925 for Villa clocking over 200 games and scoring an impressive 50 goals before dropping out of favour and joining City in Division Three South for a hefty fee of £1,700. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Exeter but didn’t live up to his fee playing only 17 times for City before being release he ended his career playing for Leamington Town.
Charles (Charlie) Wilson 1934-1935
The forward already had a nomadic career before he joined City he had played for Sheffield Hallam, was on trial at Chesterfield and Sheffield United were he was found guilty moved to a very good West Brom team before becoming a squad player in Sheffield Wednesday’s title winning side of the late 1920’s before playing for Grimsby Town in the top flight after relegation he joined Villa but failed to play for them. Harry Storer persuaded him to come to City to try his look in Division Three South where he was brought in as cover for the “Old Five” forward line. He made his debut and scored in a 3-1 defeat at Palace and play sporadically in the next two seasons at City before he was released and spent the rest of his career in non-league football.
Leslie (Les) Latham 1946
Coventry kid Les was on Villa’s books before the 2nd World War but failed to play a game he came to City as cover for the centre backs and played his only game in a 1-1 draw away to West Brom. He later moved into non-league football and managed Leamington and Bedworth.
James (Jim) C Harrison 1951-1953
The fullback made his debut for Leicester after the war playing three seasons in Division Two before Villa snapped him up but it was not a dream move as injuries and the higher standards of Division One kept his games down to eight before Harry Storer brought him in half way through the 1951-1952 season in Division Two to try to help City avoid relegation. It started well with the team winning the first three games he was involved in making his debut in a 4-1 win at Q.P.R. Unfortunately injuries meant he missed the last months of the season and City were relegated. He was tried up front next season but he could establish himself and moved off to CorbyTown.
Raymond (Ray) J Graydon 1977-1978
The winger started at Bristol Rovers where his form attracted the attention of Third Division Aston Villa, happy days. He played just under 200 games for them helping back into the topflight before manager Gordon Milne thought the 30-year-old would be the perfect left winger to play in the 4-2-4 formation in the Seventies. He made his debut in a 3-1 home win against Derby; Grayson was fast very tricky and supplied many crosses for Mick Ferguson and Ian Wallace up front giving the team perfect balance with Tommy Hutchison on the other wing. He scored three league goals in his only season two of them against Middlesbrough. City ended 7th just missed out on Europe and were 2nd highest scorers in Division One. At the end of the season it was a surprise that he was allowed to leave to join Washington Diplomats in the States before ending his career at Oxford.
Robert (Bobby) W McDonald 1976-1981
Booby was a Villa apprentice and won the League Cup whilst there but couldn’t command a regular place so the man with a middle name of “Wood” joined City and made his debut in a 3-1 away defeat against Liverpool the left back went on to play 178 connective games for City and was the main left back for the next four seasons. He was a strong tackler and was able to make attacking runs into the opposing penalty area he sounded every inch a modern full back. Bobby left under a cloud accusing the club of lacking ambition before ending up at ManchesterCity, he also played for Oxford, Leeds and Wolves before ending up at V.S. Rugby he is probably the most successful player we have ever signed from Villa.
Kevin Richardson 1995-1997
Richardson started off at Everton where he won the League before moving on to Watford and then Arsenal winning another League title a brief stay in Spain with Real Sociadad before moving to Villa where he stayed for four years until his former manager Ron Atkinson thought he had the experience at 32 to run City’s midfield he was ”Big Ron’s” first signing and made a successful debut in a 2-0 home win against West Ham. He gave consistence service for the next two seasons before dropping out of favour and moving to Southampton. He also played for Barnsley and Blackpool.
Nii O Lampty 1995-1996
Born in Ghana Nii first played for Anderlecth before playing for P.S.V. and then Villa where he only played ten times but his old boss Ron Atkinson brought him to City on a free. Lampty was an exciting and skilful forward and made his debut in a League Cup tie at home to Hull City and scored he scored an even better goal in the return leg but these were the only goals he scored for the City he is one of only three players to fail to score a league goal but score more than one in the cups the others are of more recent vintage in Kevin Kilbane and Callum Ball. Lampty was describe by Atkinson as “one of the midgets” when he played alongside Ndlovu at Liverpool. He left at the end of the season to start a nomadic life playing for Venezia, Union Santa Fe, Ankaragűcű (Turkish team), Uniao Leiria (Portugese team), Greuther Fűrth, Shandong Luneng (Chinese team), Al-Nsr Dubai and Jomo Comos (South African team). Recently some City fans launched a podcast called “The Nii Lampty show” in honour of the former globe trotting player.
Julian Joachim 2001-2004
When Joachim signed after relegation he was part of the “dream-ticket” along with Lee Hughes that would fire City back into the Premier League but injuries put an end to that. Julian started off at Leicester scoring a goal every four games before Villa snapped him up were he stayed six years scoring 39 goals before dropping out of favour so it seemed a good buy when Gordon Strachan swapped Hadji for him Joachim was injured pre-season and made his debut in league game five but he didn’t make the headlines as City fans protested about the money wasted by Bryan Richardson and Geoffrey Robinson City lost 2-0 to Grimsby and Strachan was sacked. The next game the forward was hacked down by Simon Tracey the Sheffield United keeper and was forced off with an injury he scored his only goal in a 4-0 demolition of Bradford at Highfield Road. It was only in his third and final season Joachim stayed fit enough for a run in the first team where he managed 11 goals in 30 games before leaving on a free at the end of the season. He went on to play for Leeds, Walsall, Boston United and Darlington.
Steve Staunton 2003-2005
Nicknamed “Stan” the Irish fullback started off at Dundalk before having a loan spell at Bradford and then on to Liverpool he then spent seven years at Villa clocking up over 200 games and scored 16 goals but his most famous, amongst City fans anyway is when he diverted the ball past Marc Bosnich in the Villa goal to score for City in a 2-1 defeat at Ville Park. He had a couple of seasons back at Liverpool before returning again to Villa for another spell and with a loan at Palace in-between. The 34-year-old joined City before the 2003-2004 campaign looking to add experience to a young side assembled by manager Gary McAllister. Stan made his debut in the opening game of the season a scoreless draw at home to Walsall. He played regularly that season he scored three goals that season none better than a last minute left foot volley from the edge of the area to secure a point at Watford. He was a regular again in the last season at Highfield Road and played a pivotal role in the fight against relegation as during a crunch relegation game at home to Brighton the scores were level with minutes to go when the defender ran the length of the field exchanged two passes and scored from the edge of the area to win the game. He moved on and ended his career at Walsall before becoming a very unsuccessful manager of his national team.
Gary Gardner 2011
With City deep in a relegation fight manager Andy Thorn brought in. He only played a handful of games for Villa before making his debut for City at Brighton and after City conceded early Carl Baker crossed in the 9th minute and Gardner rose to head the equaliser, City lost Gary played three more times before returning to Villa.
Stephen E O’Halloran 2010-2011
The Irish fullback failed to break into Villa’s first team and spent most of his time on loan to other clubs including Wycombe, Southampton and Swansea before turning up at City on a free. He made his debut from the bench in a 2-0 home defeat against Q.P.R he went on to play ten more times but didn’t impress and was kept out of the first team by Chris Hussey. He moved on to Carlisle at the end of the season before dropping into non-league football spending a season at Nuneaton.
So the previous 18 players we signed from Villa maybe only two, McDonald and Staunton can be claimed to be of any success so Delfouneso has his work cut out to be an success but may Pressley can make his stay here successful after he pulled off the rare treat of making a former Rangers player, Fleck a success so there is hope for the forward.