of the 1898–99 football season. When contacted by the secretary-manager George Ramsay, he requested an extension to the end of August so that he could complete his cricket season, but was granted leave only until 20 August. He did not return, and then took part in Worcestershire's match against Surrey Second XI beginning on the 23rd, so Villa's committee suspended him sine die and requested an explanation. He expressed regret for his absence, but told them that he thought playing cricket was an adequate alternative to pre-season football training. The committee suspended him for two weeks dating from 22 August, the first training day after his leave expired, so he missed only one competitive match. He contributed 27 goals over the next two seasons to help Villa win back-to-back league titlesmaking three in four seasonsin 1898–99 and 1899–1900, taking his totals to 68 goals from 123 First Division matches. West Bromwich Albion At the end of that season, Wheldon asked Villa's permission to take a public house, the Railway Tavern at Langley Green. On principle, Aston Villa opposed any involvement by their players in the licensed trade. The club wanted to retain his services, and had offered him another year's contract on the same terms as before, but he was determined to take the pub, so he was made available for transfer, the likely purchaser being another First Division club, West Bromwich Albion. The Sports Argus wrote that the directors were correct to stick to their principles, and that "Wheldon is not the great player he once was, but he is still a useful one, and would do the Albion front line a great deal of good." In mid-June, it was reported that Villa were asking for a £300 fee, while Albion were only willing to pay £100. The deal was done a couple of weeks later, at a fee of £100, and he became the first to play professionally for all three major Birmingham-area clubs. He was appointed captain, but two months into the season, the team were struggling and he himself had not scored, so he gave up the captaincy at his own request. His form improved when the lively James Stevenson came in from Preston North End at centre forward, but apart from a 7–2 win against Bolton Wanderers, neither his nor the team's goalscoring did, and Albion were relegated at the end of the season. He