1899–1900_Aston_Villa_F.C._season
1899–1900 Aston Villa F.C. season
1899–1900 season of Aston Villa
The 1899–1900 English football season was Aston Villa's 12th season in the Football League First Division, the top flight of English football at the time. Villa finished the season as Champions for the fifth time extending their record as the most successful League team.
Sheffield United set the pace this season and built up a six-point lead by the end of December. Villa grew stronger towards the end of the season, losing just one game in their last 13, to leave United in second place by two points. Villa finished their programme first, leaving a mathematical chance for the Blades if they scored plenty of goals in the last two games. Their last game at Burnley was lost, leaving Villa champions by two points.
Billy Garraty, great-great grandfather of footballer Jack Grealish, was League top scorer this season. Garraty was a local man, signed from Aston Shakespeare, and just 21 years of age this season. He was an industrious player able to play in almost any position – one of the first great "utility" players. He was capped once by England. He scored 96 goals in 224 League games during his career at Villa.
There were debuts for Chris Mann (10), Jim Garfield, Michael Noon, Charlie McEleny and Alf Watkins.[1]