By Brian Sears  11 March 2016 The Premier League is in its 24th season since the 1992-93 breakaway in English football. Forty-seven different clubs have played in it since then. That’s more than half of the 92 clubs in the four professional divisions. It’s become a majority experience. Mobility continues to be a feature of England’s […]

By Brian Sears 3 April 2015 Manchester United play at home against Aston Villa this Easter weekend seeking a resurrection of their Champions League participation from next season. United could arguably not wish for better opponents when all-time Premier League records are considered. United have won more Premier League points against Villa – or 104 in […]

By Brian Sears 20 February 2015 Aston Villa are enduring another horrible season, one from which new manager Tim Sherwood is expected to salvage Premier League survival. Villa remain for now one of just seven ‘ever present’ Premier League clubs, constant members of England’s top division since it revamped and rebranded from the 1992-1993 season. […]

By Brian Sears 27 September 2013 Aston Villa did not manage a single clean sheet between 8th December last year, when they ‘enjoyed’  a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke, and last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Norwich. In between those two momentous days for their defence, Villa played out 26 Premier League games in which they conceded […]

By Nick Harris SJA Internet Sports Writer of the Year 26 February 2013 It was 125 years ago on Saturday, or 2 March 1888, that William McGregor, then the president of Aston Villa, wrote a letter to a small group of other football clubs, floating the idea that they should organise a league. In doing […]

By Brian Sears 17 February 2012  A blank Premier League weekend leaves a statistician with no top-flight matches to get statistically steamed up about. No goals will be scored, and none conceded as England’s top level takes a break for the FA Cup. Don’t get me wrong, I know all too well that football exists outside of […]

By Brian Sears and Nick Harris SJA Internet Sports Writer of the Year 9 September 2011 Everton’s meeting with Aston Villa on Saturday comes at a time of financial crisis for the Goodison Park club. They’ve sought but cannot find any new investment. (See now notorious transcript of fans’ meeting with Bill Kenwright). They needed […]

By Brian Sears 20 June 2011 The 2011-12 Premier League season kicks off on 13 August and in the seven rounds of games up to the first international break, Aston Villa have the easiest start, followed by Chelsea and Manchester City, according to the combined strength (or lack of strength) of their opponents. By ‘strength’, […]

By Brian Sears 26 March 2011 An average of only 13 players each season have managed to appear for their clubs in every Premier League game. In the first season, in 1992-93, when there were 42 games in a season, 20 players* were ever present. In 1997-98, as few as six players were ‘ever presents’. Last season […]

By Brian Sears 12 November 2010 Aston Villa’s lunchtime match on Saturday pits them against Manchester United, the team against whom they have found it hardest to win points during the Premier League era. In their previous 36 meetings since summer 1992, Villa have won a mere 18 points, from three wins, nine draws and […]