 Bill Dove defeated them and , when they were unable to pay the bet , one of the Villa players who was responsible for washing the team 's kit offered a complete team 's " football kits " to Dove in payment . The Aston Villa player subsequently reported to his club that the kit was " missing . " This , however , is often disputed . The predecessors of Thames Ironworks , Old Castle Swifts FC , played in pale blue shirts , white shorts and claret socks as early as 1892 , around the same time Aston Villa played in said same colours . 
