Saturday, March 17 – 1900
There seem to be anything but harmony in the Aston Villa camp at the present time. As a consequence of the indiscreetness of some of the players he directors felt it necessary to find out how certain members of the team occupied their leisure, and accordingly they instituted a system of espionage, and engaged a man to act as a private detective, whose duty it was to watch the men and report upon their conduct. There can be no question that this caused considerable discontent among the Villa players, who contend that even if the directors had in isolated cases cause for complaint the employment of a detective was not the proper way to deal with them.
(Sunderland Daily Echo, 17-03-1900)
Keeping an eye on the Villa players.
"Play Up, Liverpool" 