The 1888âÂÂ89 English football season saw Aston Villa's 1st season in the Football League in the Football League inaugural season. In the late 1880s, Birmingham and the surrounding region boasted many of the country's strongest football teams. Aston Villa were one of the new league's 12 founding members and finished as runners-up behind double winners Preston North End. The 'Invincibles' from Lancashire also ended Villa's bid to win every single home game, with a 2âÂÂ0 win at Wellington Road in Villa's last home fixture.
Villa's cup season ended with an 8âÂÂ1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers that remained a club record until 2012.
Local businessman, George Kynoch was appointed president of the club in 1888.
On 1 October 1888 Archie Goodall signed for Aston Villa. Goodall's move from Preston North End was the first transfer during a season to be approved by the Football League. Goodall, playing at centre â half, made his Aston Villa debut on 13 October 1888, at Wellington Road, the then home of Aston Villa. Aston Villa defeated the visitors, Blackburn Rovers, 6 â 1 and Goodall scored the second of Aston Villaâ six goals. Goodall appeared in 14 of the 18 League matches and scored seven League goals. Goodall played in defence, midfield and the forwardâÂÂline for Aston Villa. Playing as a fullâÂÂback/centreâÂÂhalf (four appearances) he was part of a defence-line that kept the opposition to oneâÂÂLeagueâÂÂgoalâÂÂinâÂÂaâÂÂmatch once. Playing as a wingâÂÂhalf (five appearances) he was part of a midfield that achieved a big (three-League-goals-or-more) win once. As a forward (five appearances) he played in a front-line that scored threeâÂÂLeagueâÂÂgoalsâÂÂorâÂÂmore on three separate occasions. Goodall' seven League goals for Aston Villa including twoâÂÂLeagueâÂÂgoalsâÂÂinâÂÂaâÂÂmatch twice. Goodall scored both Villa goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 2 â 1 win at Wellington Road on 24 November 1888. On 8 December 1888 Goodall scored the second and fourth goals as Villa defeated Notts County 4 â 2 at Trent Bridge, the then home of Notts County.
In May 1889 Goodall signed for Derby County.
There were also debuts for Batty Garvey, Arthur Dixon, Walter Ashmore, Archie Wollaston, Thomas Harrison and Bob Thomas
Aston Villa's score comes first
When Ironbridge F.C. entered the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time, after a surprise win over Burton Swifts, and a walkover ober Derby Midland. they reached the semi-final of the Birmingham cup against Aston Villa at the latter's Wellington Road ground and went down 9âÂÂ1, the Villans going on to win the final. The tie was meant to be played at Wolverhampton, but the Villans offered Ironbridge ã20 and a friendly at Hill Top to switch to Aston, and the difference in the two sides was shown by the Villans including seven of the XI which played in the 1887 FA Cup Final, while the Ironsides' captain, Walter Baguley, was landlord of the All Nations pub in Madeley.