A Perthshire man branded as one of the greatest men in the history of football but largely unknown in Scotland will be remembered this month, on the centenary of his death.
Prominent figures from football and beyond will come together on December 20 to remember William McGregor, who founded the English Football League and, as a result, was the father of all football leagues.
Born in Braco, near Auchterarder, in 1846, McGregor is in the football hall of fame alongside Ebenezer Cobb Morley, who gave the world ‘soccer’, and Charles Alcock, who created the FA Cup and launched international football.
Unlike Morley and Alcock, who were accomplished players, McGregor had never seen a game of association football until he left Scotland aged 24, in 1870, to find work in Birmingham.
He joined Aston Villa as there were so many Scots at the club and suggested that the Lion Rampant be adopted as the club’s emblem, which it remains today.
When he became chairman of Aston Villa in 1886 he took Villa north to play the recently formed St Johnstone to help the Perth club find its feet.
In celebration of the centenary, the Premier League side are commissioning the restoration of Mr McGregor’s grave at St Mary’s, Handsworth, Birmingham, and planning a service with high-profile guests.
Spearheading the project is Peter Lupson, author of the bestseller Thank God For Football, which charts the emergence of Premiership clubs from churches, and biography The Inspirational William McGregor.
Lupson has undertaken similar projects with Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Liverpool, Swindon Town and Tottenham Hotspur in restoring the graves of their founders.
He said: ”It has always saddened me that so many of the pioneers of football have largely been forgotten. In the course of my research for Thank God For Football I found it distressing to come across their neglected and often derelict graves.”
He added: ”I alerted the clubs concerned and was heartened that they immediately set up restoration projects. I applaud Aston Villa for commissioning the restoration of the grave of William McGregor, founder of the Football League and former chairman of the club, and for honouring him in a special service of commemoration on December 20, the centenary of his death.”
Officials of the 12 founding clubs of the Football League, including former league chairman and current Everton president Sir Philip Carter, will be among the guests at an open service of commemoration. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham and other VIP guests will also be in attendance.
A high-profile team of clergy will conduct the service.
They include the Rev Dr Kirsty Thorpe, leader of the United Reformed Church in the UK (McGregor was a devout member of the Congregational Church, now part of the URC), the Rev Leo Osborn, leader of the Methodist Church in the UK (in recognition of Aston Villa’s Methodist origin) and the Rt Rev Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston.
Also taking part will be the Rev Professor Stuart Picken, minister of Ardoch Parish Church in Braco.
Lord Brian Mawhinney, president of the Football League, will pay tribute to his organisation’s founder and the principal address will be given by Mr Lupson.
At the end of the service Mr Watson will lead the congregation to McGregor’s graveside for prayers, after which Aston Villa will host a reception at Villa Park.