George Burrell Ramsay (b.Glasgow, Scotland, March 1 1855 d. Llandrinod Wells , October 1935)

Secretary/Manager of Aston Villa Football Club in the most successful period of their history.

George Ramsay is quite simply, the most important figure in the history of Aston Villa Football Club. Had the rough Scotsman not come across a practice football match (in 1876) between a bunch of ill-organised, inexperienced cricketers, it is unlikely that the name Aston Villa would be a household name today. In fact, the infant club would probably have spluttered out of existence within the year. Such was the impact George Ramsay had on the club's early years.

Ramsay later described their approach to the game as 'a dash at the man and a big kick at the ball'. Ramsay was a gifted footballer, and amazed the players with his dribbling and control that day, so much so that he was persuaded to join them and was quickly made captain of the team. One of the first things Ramsay did was establish Villa its first ground at Perry Barr, which meant Villa were able to charge admission for the first time. He also took charge of training which saw dramatic improvement that showed in the results.

Villa slowly improved under his guidance which culminated in Villa winning their first trophy in 1880 with Ramsay as captain. Ramsay retired from playing in 1882, but remained at the club as secretary/manager from 1884-1926! In which time Villa had won the Football League and FA Cup 6 times each, establishing themselves as the premier football club in England. Within a year of Ramsay's death the Midlands giants were relegated, an unthinkable notion in the Ramsay era.

In all Ramsay's association with the football club lasted 59 years, a time which will always be known as Aston Villa's 'Golden Age'.

George Ramsay 9th earl of Dalhousie (1770-1838).