Villa open the season with a win over Chelsea as goalkeeper Sam Hardy, 29, centre back Jim Harrop, 27, midfielder Andy Ducat, 26 and foward Harold Halse, 26 made their debuts after going from Liverpool, Liverpool, Woolwich Arsenal and Manchester United for fees of £600, £600, £1,000, and £1,200 in June and July 1912. Making their final appearance however was centre back Chris Buckley, 25, who moved on to Woolwich Arsenal in January 1913. Buckley made 144 appearances for Villa over seven seasons and scored three goals as well as winning the 1909-10 League title and would return to Villa once his playing career was over to sit on the board and help guide Villa for decades to come.