Completely unconnected to their near-namesakes from the West Midlands, this
Villa come from the South Yorkshire spa town of
Askern. And of course, they don't play in the claret and blue either, electing to keep the much more agreeable black and white stripes that they adopted when they were formed as Askern Welfare back in 1924.
Indeed, the Villa suffix is only a very recent addition to their name, coming as recently as 2008. That year they became champions of the
Central Midland League Supreme Division, gaining promotion to the big time of the
Northern Counties East League Division One - the tenth level of English football. With such a major leap in rank they decided to celebrate with a name more in keeping, and chose to change it to their current puntastic appelation. Whether it was done in all seriousnes or with their tongues slightly in their cheeks is unknown - but it's kind of cute whichever way you look at it.
Retaining at least one link with their past, they play their home games at the town's Welfare Ground - which is considered to be one of the best facilities in the whole Doncaster area... although I'm quite sure they've considered changing it's name to something more apt to their new name - like Welfare Park, perhaps.
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