Season #2 | 1880-81 | Games #3 - #6
AVFC History
Season #72
| 1960-61 |
Games #2628 - #2684 |
1960-61 Club Summary
Chairman | Christopher Buckley |
Secretary | Fred Archer |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
1960-61 Season Summary
Manager | Joe Mercer |
Games | #2628 - #2684 |
Captain(s) | #443 Vic Crowe |
Top Scorer | 42 | #464 Gerry Hitchens | 29 League | 2 FA Cup | 11 League Cup | Goals |
Most Appearances | 56 | #464 Gerry Hitchens | 41 League | 5 FA Cup | 10 League Cup | Appearances |
Final League Position | 9th Football League Division One |
FA Cup Progress | 5th Round |
League Cup Progress | Winners |
Biggest Win | 6-2 vs. Birmingham City (h) |
Highest Home Attendance | 69,672 vs. Tottenham Hotspur |
1960-61 Division One Table
| 7 | Manchester United | P42 | W18 | D9 | L15 | F88 | A76 | GR 1.16 | Pts 45 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | P42 | W15 | D13 | L14 | F77 | A76 | GR 1.01 | Pts 43 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | P42 | W17 | D9 | L16 | F78 | A77 | GR 1.01 | Pts 43 |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | P42 | W18 | D15 | L19 | F67 | A71 | GR 0.94 | Pts 41 |
| 11 | Arsenal | P42 | W15 | D11 | L16 | F77 | A85 | GR 0.91 | Pts 41 |
1960-61 Results
| 1 | 20 Aug | h | Chelsea | W | 3-2 |
| 2 | 22 Aug | a | West Ham United | L | 2-5 |
| 3 | 27 Aug | a | Blackpool | L | 3-5 |
| 4 | 29 Aug | h | West Ham United | W | 2-1 |
| 5 | 3 Sep | h | Everton | W | 3-2 |
| 6 | 7 Sep | a | Cardiff City | D | 1-1 |
| 7 | 10 Sep | a | Blackburn Rovers | L | 1-4 |
| 8 | 12 Sep | h | Cardiff City | W | 2-1 |
| 9 | 17 Sep | h | Manchester United | W | 3-1 |
| 10 | 24 Sep | a | Tottenham Hotspur | L | 2-6 |
| 11 | 1 Oct | h | Leicester City | L | 1-3 |
| 12 | 8 Oct | h | Newcastle United | W | 2-0 |
| 13 | 12 Oct | h | Huddersfield Town (LC R2) | W | 4-1 |
| 14 | 15 Oct | a | Arsenal | L | 1-2 |
| 15 | 22 Oct | h | Birmingham City | W | 6-2 |
| 16 | 29 Oct | a | West Bromwich Albion | W | 2-0 |
| 17 | 5 Nov | h | Burnley | W | 2-0 |
| 18 | 12 Nov | a | Preston North End | D | 1-1 |
| 19 | 15 Nov | a | Preston North End (LC R3) | D | 3-3 |
| 20 | 19 Nov | h | Fulham | W | 2-1 |
| 21 | 23 Nov | h | Preston North End (LC R3 Replay) | W | 3-1 |
| 22 | 26 Nov | a | Sheffield Wednesday | W | 2-1 |
| 23 | 3 Dec | h | Manchester City | W | 5-1 |
| 24 | 10 Dec | a | Nottingham Forest | L | 0-2 |
| 25 | 13 Dec | h | Plymouth Argyle (LC R4) | D | 3-3 |
| 26 | 17 Dec | a | Chelsea | W | 4-2 |
| 27 | 19 Dec | a | Plymouth Argyle (LC R4 Replay) | D | 0-0 |
| 28 | 24 Dec | h | Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 0-2 |
| 29 | 26 Dec | a | Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 2-3 |
| 30 | 31 Dec | h | Blackpool | D | 2-2 |
| 31 | 7 Jan | a | Bristol Rovers (FAC R3) | D | 1-1 |
| 32 | 9 Jan | h | Bristol Rovers (FAC R3 Replay) | W | 4-0 |
| 33 | 21 Jan | h | Blackburn Rovers | D | 2-2 |
| 34 | 28 Jan | a | Peterborough United (FAC R4) | D | 1-1 |
| 35 | 1 Feb | h | Peterborough United (FAC R4 Replay) | W | 2-1 |
| 36 | 4 Feb | a | Manchester United | D | 1-1 |
| 37 | 6 Feb | a | Plymouth Argyle (LC R4 2nd Replay) | W | 5-3 |
| 38 | 11 Feb | h | Tottenham Hotspur | L | 1-2 |
| 39 | 18 Feb | h | Tottenham Hotspur (FAC R5) | L | 0-2 |
| 40 | 22 Feb | h | Wrexham (LC R5) | W | 3-0 |
| 41 | 25 Feb | a | Newcastle United | L | 1-2 |
| 42 | 4 Mar | h | Arsenal | D | 2-2 |
| 43 | 11 Mar | a | Birmingham City | D | 1-1 |
| 44 | 22 Mar | a | Everton | W | 2-1 |
| 45 | 25 Mar | a | Burnley | D | 1-1 |
| 46 | 28 Mar | h | West Bromwich Albion | L | 0-1 |
| 47 | 1 Apr | h | Nottingham Forest | L | 1-2 |
| 48 | 3 Apr | a | Bolton Wanderers | L | 0-3 |
| 49 | 4 Apr | h | Bolton Wanderers | W | 4-0 |
| 50 | 8 Apr | a | Fulham | D | 1-1 |
| 51 | 10 Apr | a | Burnley (LC SF L1) | D | 1-1 |
| 52 | 15 Apr | h | Preston North End | W | 1-0 |
| 53 | 19 Apr | a | Leicester City | L | 1-3 |
| 54 | 22 Apr | a | Manchester City | L | 1-4 |
| 55 | 26 Apr | h | Burnley (LC SF L2) | D | 2-2 |
| 56 | 29 Apr | h | Sheffield Wednesday | W | 4-1 |
| 57 | 2 May | n | Burnley (LC SF Replay) | W | 2-1 |
1960-61 Season Review
There may have been some heavy defeats but there was no shortage of goals and excitement - 31 in the first 5 games alone.
Villa went on to blitz the 100 goals in a season barrier for the 8th time. Villa scored a total of 112 league and cup goals.
That placed 3rd in Villa's 8 100+ seasons in 1930-31 (131) 1928-29 (115) 1960-61 (112) 1912-13 (106) 1931-32 (105) 1929-30 (105) 1891-92 (102) & 1893-94 (100).
Villa's longest season to date - 57 games - largely due to the introduction of the League Cup as well as multiple FA Cup replays - would have been even longer had the League Cup final been played as was scheduled. It wasn't however and the two legged final was held over to the 1961-62 season although the trophy would be in the records as having been 'won' this season.
Joe Mercer's second full season as Villa manager and first back in the top flight saw a respectable 9th place finish, an FA Cup 5th Round and that 'victory' in the inaugural League Cup.
Joe Mercer's reshaping of the Villa squad also continued with the average age of the squad reduced to 24.7 years old compared to the 26.7 he had inherited.
1960-61 Season Statistics
Games | 57 |
Won | 24 | 42% |
Drew | 16 | 28% |
Lost | 17 | 30% |
Unbeaten | 40 | 70% |
Goals Scored | 112 | 1.96 Goals per game |
Goals Conceded | 97 | 1.70 Goals per game |
Clean Sheets | 8 | 14% |
Average Home Attendance | 33,058 |
Longest winning run | 4 Games |
League winning run | 3 Games |
Longest unbeaten run | 9 Games |
Longest losing run | 3 Game |
Games without a win | 5 Games |
1960-61 Transfers
1 July 1960 - 30 June 1961
Incoming | 7 |
#484 Alan O’Neill | Sunderland | £9,000 | Aug 60 | 22 |
#481 Norman Ashe | Brierley Hill Schoolboys | Free | Nov 60 | 17 |
#496 Kenny Fencott | Staffordshire & Birmingham County FA | Free | Jan 61 | 17 |
#494 Ralph Brown | Derby County Juniors | Free | Feb 61 | 16 |
#486 Geoff Sidebottom | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £15,000 | Feb 61 | 24 |
#489 John Sleeuwenhoek | Wardsbridge Schools | Free | Mar 61 | 17 |
#487 Mike Kenning | Shrewsbury Town | £2,000 | May 61 | 20 |
Outgoing | 10 |
#430 Peter Aldis | Hinckley Athletic | Free | Jul 60 | 33 |
#463 Wally Hazelden | Wigan Athletic | Free | Jul 60 | 19 |
#482 Brian Handley | Torquay United | Free | Sep 60 | 24 |
#446 Trevor Birch | Stockport County | Free | Nov 60 | 27 |
#451 Pat Saward | Huddersfield Town | Free | Mar 61 | 33 |
#483 Kevin Keelan | Stockport County | Free | Apr 61 | 20 |
#473 Terry Morrall | Shrewsbury Town | Free | Apr 61 | 22 |
#401 Johnny Dixon | Retired | Released | May 61 | 37 |
#472 Doug Winton | Rochdale | Free | Jun 61 | 32 |
#464 Gerry Hitchens | Inter Milan | £60,000 | 20 Jun 61 | 27 |
1960-61 Squad Changes
Debut Appearances | 9 |
#484 Alan O’Neill | Saturday, 22 October 1960 | Birmingham City | Division One | 22 |
#485 Fred Potter | Monday, 19 December 1960 | Plymouth Argyle | League Cup | 20 |
#486 Geoff Sidebottom | Saturday, 18 February 1961 | Tottenham Hotspur | FA Cup 5th Round | 24 |
#487 Mike Kenning | Tuesday, 28 March 1961 | West Bromwich Albion | Division One | 20 |
#488 Jimmy McMorran | Monday, 3 April 1961 | Bolton Wanderers | Division One | 18 |
#489 John Sleeuwenhoek | Tuesday, 4 April 1961 | Bolton Wanderers | Division One | 17 |
#490 Alan Baker | Saturday, 8 April 1961 | Fulham | Division One | 16 |
#491 Alfie Hale | Wednesday, 19 April 1961 | Leicester City | Division One | 21 |
#492 Charlie Aitken | Saturday, 29 April 1961 | Sheffield Wednesday | Division One | 19 |
Final Appearances | 9 |
#483 Kevin Keelan | Saturday, 1 October 1960 | Leicester City | Division One | 19 |
#473 Terry Morrall | Saturday, 15 October 1960 | Arsenal | Division One | 21 |
#451 Pat Saward | Saturday, 22 October 1960 | Birmingham City | Division One | 32 |
#485 Fred Potter | Wednesday, 1 February 1961 | Peterborough United | FA Cup 4th Round Replay | 20 |
#474 Jimmy Adam | Saturday, 4 February 1961 | Manchester United | Division One | 29 |
#472 Doug Winton | Saturday, 4 March 1961 | Arsenal | Division One | 31 |
#487 Mike Kenning | Monday, 3 April 1961 | Bolton Wanderers | Division One | 20 |
#401 Johnny Dixon | Saturday, 29 April 1961 | Sheffield Wednesday | Division One | 37 |
#464 Gerry Hitchens | Tuesday, 2 May 1961 | Burnley | League Cup Semi Final Replay | 26 |
1960-61 Squad Statistics
Squad Size | 28 | +5 |
Average Age | 24.7 | -0.8 |
Youngest Player(s) | 16 |
#490 Alan Baker | 22-Jun-1944
Oldest Player(s) | 37 |
#401 Johnny Dixon | 10-Dec-1923
1960-61 Scorers
Goals Scored | 112 | League Goals | 78 | FA Cup Goals | 8 | League Cup Goals | 26 |
| 42 |
#464 Gerry Hitchens | Goals | 42 | League | 29 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 11 |
| 18 |
#477 Bobby Thomson | Goals | 18 | League | 12 | FA Cup | 3 | League Cup | 3 |
| 14 |
#435 Peter McParland | Goals | 14 | League | 10 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 2 |
| 10 |
#475 Jimmy MacEwan | Goals | 10 | League | 8 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 2 |
| 7 |
#471 Ron Wylie | Goals | 7 | League | 4 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 3 |
#484 Alan O’Neill | Goals | 7 | League | 5 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 2 |
| 4 |
#479 Harry Burrows | Goals | 4 | League | 2 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 2 |
| 3 |
#443 Vic Crowe | Goals | 3 | League | 3 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
| 2 |
#426 Stan Lynn | Goals | 2 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 1 |
Own Goal | Goals | 2 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 1 | League Cup | 0 |
| 1 |
#478 Alan Deakin | Goals | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
#491 Alfie Hale | Goals | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
#401 Johnny Dixon | Goals | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
1960-61 Appearances
| 56 |
#464 Gerry Hitchens | Appearances | 56 | League | 41 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 10 | . Player Profile
| 53 |
#443 Vic Crowe | Appearances | 53 | League | 39 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 9 | . Player Profile
#477 Bobby Thomson | Appearances | 53 | League | 39 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 9 | . Player Profile
| 51 |
#475 Jimmy MacEwan | Appearances | 51 | League | 37 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 9 | . Player Profile
| 50 |
#456 Jimmy Dugdale | Appearances | 50 | League | 36 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 9 | . Player Profile
| 48 |
#471 Ron Wylie | Appearances | 48 | League | 34 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 9 | . Player Profile
| 47 |
#476 John Neal | Appearances | 47 | League | 36 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 6 | . Player Profile
| 43 |
#435 Peter McParland | Appearances | 43 | League | 32 | FA Cup | 5 | League Cup | 6 | . Player Profile
| 40 |
#457 Nigel Sims | Appearances | 40 | League | 30 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 8 | . Player Profile
| 32 |
#478 Alan Deakin | Appearances | 32 | League | 23 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 7 | . Player Profile
| 31 |
#472 Doug Winton | Appearances | 31 | League | 22 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 7 | . Player Profile
| 23 |
#484 Alan O’Neill | Appearances | 23 | League | 15 | FA Cup | 3 | League Cup | 5 | . Player Profile
| 21 |
#426 Stan Lynn | Appearances | 21 | League | 14 | FA Cup | 3 | League Cup | 4 | . Player Profile
| 16 |
#479 Harry Burrows | Appearances | 16 | League | 11 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 5 | . Player Profile
| 14 |
#466 Gordon Lee | Appearances | 14 | League | 11 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 3 | . Player Profile
| 12 |
#451 Pat Saward | Appearances | 12 | League | 11 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 1 | . Player Profile
| 9 |
#486 Geoff Sidebottom | Appearances | 9 | League | 7 | FA Cup | 1 | League Cup | 1 | . Player Profile
| 6 |
#473 Terry Morrall | Appearances | 6 | League | 5 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 1 | . Player Profile
#485 Fred Potter | Appearances | 6 | League | 3 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 1 | . Player Profile
| 3 |
#474 Jimmy Adam | Appearances | 3 | League | 3 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#487 Mike Kenning | Appearances | 3 | League | 3 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
| 2 |
#483 Kevin Keelan | Appearances | 2 | League | 2 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#488 Jimmy McMorran | Appearances | 2 | League | 2 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#491 Alfie Hale | Appearances | 2 | League | 2 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
| 1 |
#401 Johnny Dixon | Appearances | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#489 John Sleeuwenhoek | Appearances | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#490 Alan Baker | Appearances | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#492 Charlie Aitken | Appearances | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
| 0 |
#480 Mike Tindall | Appearances | 0 | League | 0 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
#481 Norman Ashe | Appearances | 0 | League | 0 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 | . Player Profile
1960-61 'Keepers
#483 Kevin Keelan | Appearances | 2 | Conceded | 8 | Ratio | 4.00 |
#485 Fred Potter | Appearances | 6 | Conceded | 9 | Ratio | 1.50 |
#486 Geoff Sidebottom | Appearances | 9 | Conceded | 12 | Ratio | 1.33 |
#457 Nigel Sims | Appearances | 40 | Conceded | 68 | Ratio | 1.70 |
1960-61 Managerial Record
Joe Mercer's second full season as Villa manager saw a top 10 finish and another trophy - the 1961 league cup - to follow the previous season's Division Two Championship.
Mercer’s Villa had now achieved a win rate of 48%, losing 30% of their 132 League and FA Cup matches under his leadership.
As a result Mercer had returned 1.65 points per game* across his 132 games in charge of Villa. Mercer was behind only George Ramsay’s performance of 1.69 across his 1,332 games. Joe Mercer however was ahead of Villa’s first professional manager Jimmy McMullan (1.24 in 99). as well as his predecessors Eric Houghton (1.31 in 250), George Martin (1.42 in 119), Alex Massie (1.56 in 227) Jimmy Hogan (1.59 in 124) as well as and Billy Smith’s 1.62 across 364 games.
*Rankings based on 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw in all competitions
1960-61 Kits
1960-61 Season Results
Game #2628
Matchday #1
League Matchweek #1
Manager Game #76
Saturday, 20 August 1960
Football League | Division One | Home | Chelsea | Villa Park | 43,776 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 3-2 |
Last 5 Games | LWWLW |
Scorers | Peter McParland | 1 | Gerry Hitchens | 1 | Bobby Thomson | 1 |
Line Up |
GK Nigel Sims |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson | GOAL |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
F Gerry Hitchens | GOAL |
F Peter McParland | GOAL |
IF Ron Wylie |
Game #2629
Matchday #2
League Matchweek #2
Manager Game #77
Monday, 22 August 1960
Football League | Division One | Away | West Ham United | Upton Park | 28,959 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 2-5 |
Last 5 Games | WWLWL |
Scorers | Gerry Hitchens | 1 | Bobby Thomson | 1 |
Line Up |
GK Nigel Sims |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson | GOAL |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
F Gerry Hitchens | GOAL |
F Peter McParland |
IF Ron Wylie |
Game #2630
Matchday #3
League Matchweek #3
Manager Game #78
Saturday, 27 August 1960
Football League | Division One | Away | Blackpool | Bloomfield Road | 16,821 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 3-5 |
Last 5 Games | WLWLL |
Scorers | Peter McParland | 1 | Gerry Hitchens | 2 |
Line Up |
GK Kevin Keelan |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson |
OL Harry Burrows |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
F Gerry Hitchens | GOAL | GOAL |
F Peter McParland | GOAL |
Game #2631
Matchday #4
League Matchweek #4
Manager Game #79
Monday, 29 August 1960
Football League | Division One | Home | West Ham United | Villa Park | 30,000 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 2-1 |
Last 5 Games | LWLLW |
Scorers | Gerry Hitchens | 1 | Bobby Thomson | 1 |
Line Up |
GK Nigel Sims |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson | GOAL |
IF Ron Wylie |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
F Gerry Hitchens | GOAL |
F Peter McParland |
Game #2632
Matchday #5
League Matchweek #5
Manager Game #80
Saturday, 3 September 1960
Football League | Division One | Home | Everton | Villa Park | 32,864 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 3-2 |
Last 5 Games | WLLWW |
Scorers | Gerry Hitchens | 2 | Bobby Thomson | 1 |
Line Up |
GK Nigel Sims |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson | GOAL |
IF Ron Wylie |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
F Gerry Hitchens | GOAL | GOAL |
F Peter McParland |
Game #2633
Matchday #6
League Matchweek #6
Manager Game #81
Wednesday, 7 September 1960
Football League | Division One | Away | Cardiff City | Ninian Park | 35,000 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Drew |
FT Score | 1-1 |
Last 5 Games | LLWWD |
Scorers | Vic Crowe | 1 |
Line Up |
GK Nigel Sims |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe | GOAL |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson |
IF Ron Wylie |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
OL Jimmy Adam |
F Gerry Hitchens |
Game #2634
Matchday #7
League Matchweek #7
Manager Game #82
Saturday, 10 September 1960
Football League | Division One | Away | Blackburn Rovers | Ewood Park | 22,300 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 1-4 |
Last 5 Games | LWWDL |
Scorers | Gerry Hitchens | 1 |
Line Up |
GK Nigel Sims |
FB Stan Lynn |
FB John Neal |
CH Jimmy Dugdale |
WH Vic Crowe |
WH Pat Saward |
IF Bobby Thomson |
IF Ron Wylie |
OR Jimmy MacEwan |
OL Harry Burrows |
F Gerry Hitchens | GOAL |
Game #2635
Matchday #8
League Matchweek #8
Manager Game #83
Monday, 12 September 1960
Football League | Division One | Home | Cardiff City | Villa Park | 32,958 |
Manager | Joe Mercer |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 2-1 |
Last 5 Games | WWDLW |
Scorers | Harry Burrows | 1 | Bobby Thomson | 1 |