Archie Hunter
Encyclopedia
Archibald "Archie" Hunter (23 September 1859, Joppa
, nr. Ayr
, Scotland
– 29 November 1894, Aston
, Birmingham
, England
), was the first captain of Aston Villa
to lift the FA Cup
, in 1887. He was one of Victorian football's first household names.
Hunter played at Third Lanark, Ayr Thistle, and Aston Villa (August 1878). His Aston Villa career began 10 years before the commencement of the first Football League
season. In his league career (1888–1891) he played 73 matches scoring 42 goals.
Despite being one of the greats of the 19th century game, Hunter never fulfilled his dream of playing for Scotland
against England
. This is because at the time the Scottish Football Association
had a policy of not picking 'Anglo-Scots' (i.e. Scots who played in the English League).
Legend has it that Hunter originally came to Birmingham planning to sign for Calthorpe FC, but after failing to locate them was persuaded to sign for Villa instead by George Ramsay.
He became the first player to score in every round of the FA Cup in Villa's victorious 1887 campaign.
During a Football League match against Everton
in 1890 Hunter suffered a heart attack and collapsed. He never played again, and died at the age of 35. It is said that, on his death-bed, he asked to be lifted up one last time to see the crowd going to Perry Barr
(then Villa's home).
His brother Andy
also played for Villa, and scored their first ever FA Cup goal.
In 1998, Archie Hunter was inducted into the English
Football League's list of 100 legends
.
The headstone on his grave reads:
Joppa, Ayrshire
Joppa is in South Ayrshire on the outskirts of the town of Ayr. Archie Hunter was born here in 1859.Lochend Loch lies above Joppa near to Lochend Farm and Gallowhill....
, nr. Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
– 29 November 1894, Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), was the first captain of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
to lift the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, in 1887. He was one of Victorian football's first household names.
Hunter played at Third Lanark, Ayr Thistle, and Aston Villa (August 1878). His Aston Villa career began 10 years before the commencement of the first Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
season. In his league career (1888–1891) he played 73 matches scoring 42 goals.
Despite being one of the greats of the 19th century game, Hunter never fulfilled his dream of playing for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. This is because at the time the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
had a policy of not picking 'Anglo-Scots' (i.e. Scots who played in the English League).
Legend has it that Hunter originally came to Birmingham planning to sign for Calthorpe FC, but after failing to locate them was persuaded to sign for Villa instead by George Ramsay.
He became the first player to score in every round of the FA Cup in Villa's victorious 1887 campaign.
During a Football League match against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1890 Hunter suffered a heart attack and collapsed. He never played again, and died at the age of 35. It is said that, on his death-bed, he asked to be lifted up one last time to see the crowd going to Perry Barr
Perry Barr
Perry Barr is an inner-city area in north Birmingham, England. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Perry Barr ward and the wards of Handsworth Wood, Lozells and East Handsworth, and Oscott, which elect three councillors to...
(then Villa's home).
His brother Andy
Andy Hunter (footballer)
Andrew "Andy" Hunter was a Scottish former footballer known for scoring Aston Villa's first goal in the FA Cup....
also played for Villa, and scored their first ever FA Cup goal.
In 1998, Archie Hunter was inducted into the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Football League's list of 100 legends
Football League 100 Legends
The Football League 100 Legends is a list of 100 great association football players who played part or all of their professional career in English Premier season of League football...
.
The headstone on his grave reads: