William McGregor - Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
N 52° 30.527 W 001° 53.174
30U E 575589 N 5818211
William McGregor (13 April 1846 – 20 December 1911) was an association football administrator and chairman in the Victorian era who is regarded as the founder of the Football League, the first organised association football league in the world.
Waymark Code: WMDRHZ
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/19/2012
Views: 6
"After moving from Perthshire to Birmingham to set up business as a draper, McGregor became involved with local football club Aston Villa, which he helped to establish as one of the leading teams in England. He served the club for over 20 years in various capacities, including president, director and chairman. In 1888, frustrated by the regular cancellation of Villa's matches, McGregor organised a meeting of representatives of England's leading clubs, which led to the formation of the Football League, giving member clubs a guaranteed fixture list each season. This was instrumental in the transition of football from an amateur pastime to a professional business.
McGregor served as both chairman and president of the Football League and was also chairman of the Football Association (the FA). He was recognised by the FA for his service to the game shortly before his death in 1911, and was posthumously honoured by the local football authorities and Aston Villa." Wikipedia (
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Cast in bronze, the memorial cost £55,000 was funded entirely by Villa fans and a donation by the club. McGregor was chosen for his services to the football world as a whole, rather than just a figure at the club. The Supporters’ Trust working closely with the Club on this project over a number of years, appointed the sculptor Sam Holland to design and build the statue. The funding came from supporter donations and financial support from the Club. A time capsule was placed in the base of the Statue.
Unveiled inside the grounds of Villa Park by Lord Mawhinney, the statue was finally reveled to the fans in 2009. It depicts him standing with a letter in his hand, proposing his vision for the system of future football competitions. Sam Holland copied McGregor's likeness from a few photographs taken of him and a painting of him at a meeting with other directors that hangs in the McGregor Suite at Villa Park.