Player #15 for Aston Villa, Oliver Howard Vaughton, known as Howard Vaughton played as a forward for the club.

Howard made his debut in the 1880-81 FA Cup campaign and continued to represent Villa through to the 1886-87 season.

Howard was born in Aston, less than a mile from the current Villa ground, on 2nd January 1861 and made his debut as a 19 year old on the 30th October 1880.

Villa had signed Howard from Wednesbury Strollers and he went on to represent the club over 7 seasons.

The Villa News and Record of 1st September 1906 paid tribute to Howard:

“The peoples’ favourite, and one of Archie Hunter’s pet pupils. An adept at every form of indoor and outdoor sport, he dribbled like an angel, and shot like a demon. Not nearly so deadly as his comrade, Whateley, however he scored his share of goals. Whatever he did he did well, and was neatness personified. He could scarcely be played in the wrong position, and was saturated through and through with the Aston Villa spirit. Vaughton scored the only goal in the famous cup tie against Queen Park in Glasgow, in 1884 and made a famous wing in company with Eli Davis. A keen judge of most games, a thorough sportsman, he has enriched sport in many directions.”

Howard’s final game for Villa came on 2nd April 1887 at the age of 26 - fittingly his last appearance was in the winning final of the 1886-87 FA Cup vs. West Bromwich Albion, Villa’s first ever major trophy.

Howard played in the era when team selection was made by a Management Committee rather than the latter day more typical Manager role which from the 1884-85 season was led by George Ramsey.

Howard retired with a thigh injury but continued to represent Villa off the field becoming Vice President in 1923 and serving as President from June 1924 to September 1924.

Howard then became a Director on Villa from September 1924 to December 1932 and was made a life member of Aston Villa in February 1933.

Howard passed away on 6th January 1937 in Birmingham aged 76.