Player #4 for Aston Villa, Samuel Richard Law, known as Sammy Law and nicknamed Mutton Chops played as a midfielder for the club.

Sammy made his debut in the 1879-80 FA Cup campaign - Villa’s first entry into the competition.

Sammy was born in Handsworth, just three miles from the current Villa ground, on 2nd January 1850 and made his debut as a 29 year old on the 13th December 1879. At that point Sammy was Villa’s oldest debutant.

Villa had signed Sammy from Aston Unity and he went on to represent the club for three consecutive seasons from 1879-80 to 1881-82.

Sammy’s final game came on 21st January 1882 having made 11 FA Cup appearances and scoring once in the 3-1 2nd Round victory over Stafford Road on 24th January 1880 in what was just his second FA Cup game for the club.

Sammy reached a best of the 4th Round of the Cup on two occasions before retiring from football due to injury.

Sammy played in the era when team selection was made by a Management Committee rather than the latter day more typical Manager role.

Sammy passed away in road traffic accident in Birmingham on 22nd August 1920 aged 70.