William McGregor Founder of Football League

Biography of William McGregor

Early Life

William McGregor Founder of football League was born on 13^th April 1846 in Braco, Perthshire, Scotland. He was a very religious person. He was committed to Christianity and known for integrity and honesty he possessed. In Wheeler Street, Aston, there was a church. The Congregational church, he worshipped there for forty years of his life. He completed his education on religious grounds in that church.

Interest in Football

His interest in football started when he watched a local match and his visit at Ardoch. In Perth, he worked as an internee draper. In 1870, he migrated to Birmingham following his brother Peter, for opening his own business of drapery in Aston. Aston is a small locality just outside the big city of Birmingham. He was also involved in a local football club with the name, Calthrope, when he arrived in the English Midlands. He was associated with that club because it was found by his country fellow, a Scot, named Campbell Orr.

He was very much attached to the game and his enthusiasm was giving him boost to do something for the game. He arranged shops closely to the grounds, so that he could be able to watch every game. After sometime he started selling football kits at his shop and his shop became a junction for all the football lovers. People came there and share their views on game there.

Aston Villa Football Club

He became a member of committee of Aston Villa football club in 1877. That club was founded three years earlier than his association. He also remained the umpire for that club. As he wanted to start his carrier in football, that club provided him the assistance. He was interested in that club because of the influence of Scottish people on higher ranks in Aston Villa. He became the club administrator within short span of time, by helping them financially. Some of the assets and possessions were blocked by the law officers then he allowed that club to use his own shop as its possession. Aston Villa won the Birmingham Senior Club trophy for the first time under his leadership in 1880. Because of this achievement he became the president of Aston Villa.

In 1881, he was included in the board of directors of club. In 1887, the club won FA Cup. He became the vice-chairman in 1895 and then chairman in 1897. He was known for his skills in organizational perspective and purpose. He made the flag of Aston Villa club.

Founder of Football League 

At that time there was no much professionalism in football games and only some dominated clubs were practicing this game. Other clubs fromrural sides were not given chance to participate. So, he wrote letters to different clubs across rural areas, inviting them to be the part of a league. In that league there would be fixtures of matches for all the member clubs. According to history, some say that the idea of league came into his mind from baseball league and some also say that he was in sighted by cricket county leagues. After some meetings, on 17^th April of 1888, everything was setup for that league, and “The Football League” was founded by him.

Death

He felt ill in 1910, and was limited to nursing home. By 1911 his condition was worsened and on December 19^th he went through an operation. Some improvement was there in his health but suddenly he died on the next day. His body is rested in graveyard of Church of England, St. Mary’s Handsworth, and Birmingham district.