Frederick Rinder

Frederick W. Rinder (Born 1858? Died 25 December 1938) a Liverpool-born surveyor, who became an Aston Villa commitee member in 1881 and later chairman. Known as the 'Grand Old Man of Aston Villa'; he is widely regarded as one of the greatest football administrators.

Rinder became the club's financial secretary in 1892, and immediately set about installing turnstiles at Villa's Perry Barr ground. He introduced many other good business practices to the club. It was his idea to make Aston Villa a limited company. Rinder was also the instigator of the infamous Barwick Street meeting, at which he swept away the men who were running Villa into the ground. Rinder later planned the expansion of Villa Park to a capacity of 120,000 plus, but the Great War interrupted the plan.

He became chairman in 1898 and remained in the post until his resignation in 1925.