Game #2257
Aston Villa
0-0-1, 0 PTS

Wednesday, 19 August 1953
Last 5: 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟥 🟥
GK Dennis Parsons | 🏴 |
LB Peter Aldis | 🏴 |
FB Harry Parkes | 🏴 |
CB Frank Moss | 🏴 |
M Danny Blanchflower | 🇬🇧 |
M Amos Moss | 🏴 |
W Colin Gibson | 🏴 |
W Herbert Smith | 🏴 |
F Johnny Dixon | 🏴 |
CF Tommy Thompson | 🏴 |
CF Davy Walsh | 🇮🇪 |
Management Committee 1953

Substitutes:
No Substitutions permitted in period
Unused Substitutes:
No Substitutions permitted in period
None
League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆
Last Trophy: 1919–20
Matchday Squad:
Injury | 1 |
W Peter McParland | 🇬🇧 |
Not recorded
In a bizarre turn of events on the eve of the 1953-54 season, George Martin, Villa's manager since December 1950 is relieved of his duties.
Chairman Fred Normansell made the announcement but George Martin releases a statement on 17 August that lays bare concerns of competence behind the scenes.
Martin had been "asked to resign" having been told that his "style did not fit". Martin refused.
In a meeting on 13 August with the board of directors - at Martin's request - elaboration and justification was sort but not forthcoming.
At the same meeting the club's solicitor then handed Martin a letter of dismissal.
Villa had no manager in place to start the season however Eric Houghton, out of contract at Notts County, had informed his club he wished to leave. No appointment was made over the intervening 6 days.
Harry Parkes scores an own goal to hand Tottenham the victory on the opening day of the 1953-54 season.
Winger Herbert Smith makes his final appearance for Villa before moving on to Southend United in June 1954. Smith played for Villa between 1948-49 and 1953-54 making 54 appearances and scoring 9 goals.

Lost
0-1
🟥 19 Aug 1953, Villa 0-1 Spurs, White Hart Lane
Scorer(s) | None
Assist(s) | None
Match Timeline:
🥅 | 36' Goal, 0-1, (Tottenham Hotspur), Harry Parkes og
🕒 | HT Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Aston Villa
🕒 | FT Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Aston Villa
Season | 1953-54 |
Matchday | #1 |
League Match | #1 |
Manager Game | #1 |
Wednesday, 19 August 1953

Manager: Management Committee 1953 (Caretaker)
Referee: Unknown
HT Score: 🟥 0-1
FT Result: 🟥 Lost
FT Score: 🟥 0-1
Last 5: 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟥 🟥
Referee: Unknown
Not recorded
Debut Appearances:
None
Final Appearances:
🔴 W Herbert Smith | 🏴 | 1949-53 🕒 54 | ✅ 54 | 🔁 (-) | ⚽ 9 | 🔥 6 | 🇺 - | #416 |
Management Committee 1953
Villa Career Form:
Referee:
VAR (from 2021)
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Division One
Tottenham Hotspur
1-0-1, 2 PTS

White Hart Lane
Attendance: 50,202
Ditchburn, Withers, Burgess, Clarke, Ramsey, Baily, Marchi, Bennett, Walters, Duquemin, Robb.
Manager: Arthur Rowe.
Arthur Rowe | 🏴 |

Substitutes:
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
Unused Substitutes:
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
None
League Champions: 🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1950-51
Matchday Squad:
Not Recorded
