Game #2641
Aston Villa
17-9-16, 43 PTS

Saturday, 29 April 1961
9th (-)
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ
GK Nigel Sims | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
FB John Neal | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Charlie Aitken | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ข |
CB Jimmy Dugdale | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alan Deakin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Vic Crowe | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
W Jimmy MacEwan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
W Harry Burrows | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ |
CF Gerry Hitchens | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ | โฝ |
F Johnny Dixon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ | โฝ | ๐ | ๐ด |
CF Bobby Thomson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | โฝ |
Joe Mercer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1958-1964

Substitutes
No Substitutions permitted in period
Unused Substitutes
No Substitutions permitted in period
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Trophy Record
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
Last Trophy: 1956-57
Matchday Squad
Goalkeepers
GK Nigel Sims | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Jimmy Dugdale | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Full Backs
FB John Neal | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Charlie Aitken | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Alan Deakin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Vic Crowe | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
Wingers
W Jimmy MacEwan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
W Harry Burrows | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Forwards
CF Gerry Hitchens | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Johnny Dixon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Bobby Thomson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Unavailable
Injury | 1 |
F Peter McParland | ๐ฌ๐ง |
Team News
Legendary Villa captain Johnny Dixon is poignantly handed his first start of the season for his final appearance as another future Villa great, Charlie Aitken, makes his debut.
John Neal also returns to the line up as Gordon Lee, Stan Lynn and Ron Wylie drop out.
Team Stats
Starting XI Average Age
| 26.93 |
Oldest Player |
F Johnny Dixon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 37.41 |
Youngest Player |
LB Charlie Aitken | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | 19.01 |
Debut Appearances
๐ข LB Charlie Aitken | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #488 | Youth team promotion
Final Appearances
๐ด F Johnny Dixon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1946-61 ๐ 430 | โ 430 | ๐ (-) | โฝ 144 | ๐ฅ 64 | ๐บ - | #396 |

Won
4-1
๐ฉ 29 Apr 1961, Villa 4-1 Wednesday, Villa Park
Scorer(s) | Gerry Hitchens | 5' | 68' | Bobby Thomson | 27' | Johnny Dixon | 70' |
Assist(s) | Johnny Dixon | 5' | Harry Burrows | 27' |
Match Timeline
๐ข | 1' Debut, Charlie Aitken
โฝ | 5' Goal, 1-0, Gerry Hitchens, Assist by Johnny Dixon
โฝ | 27' Goal, 2-0, Bobby Thomson, Assist by Harry Burrows
๐ฅ
| 42' Goal, 2-1, (Sheffield Wednesday), Billy Griffin
๐ | HT Aston Villa 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
โฝ | 68' Goal, 3-1, Gerry Hitchens
โฝ | 70' Goal, 4-1, Johnny Dixon
๐ฅ | 70' Pitch invasion celebrating Johnny Dixon's goal interrupts play
๐ | 70' Player retires from field of play with injury, Johnny Dixon
๐ | 72' Player returns to field of play, Johnny Dixon
๐ | FT Aston Villa 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Season | 1960-61 |
Matchday | #56 |
League Match | #42 |
Manager Game | #131 |
Saturday, 29 April 1961
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: Joe Mercer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Ellesmere Port, 1958-1964
Referee: J. S. McLoughlin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Manchester, 1955-1961
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: ๐ฉ 2-1
FT Result: ๐ฉ Won
FT Score: ๐ฉ 4-1
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ
Officials
Referee: J. S. McLoughlin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Manchester, 1955-1961
Linesmen: A. R. Walker; T. Smailes
Match Stats
Not recorded
Joe Mercer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1958-1964
๐ 128 | ๐ฉ | 61 ๐จ 30 ๐ฅ 37 | 1.66
Villa Career Form:
Top 6

Division One
Sheffield Wednesday
23-12-7, 58 PTS
Villa Park
Attendance: 26,034
GK Ron Springett | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Don Megson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Peter Swan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB Peter Johnson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Tom McAnearney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
M Tony Kay | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
W Alan Finney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Billy Griffin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ |
F Johnny Fantham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Bobby Craig | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
CF Keith Ellis | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Harry Catterick | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Substitutes
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
Unused Substitutes
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Opposition Trophy Record
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1934โ35
Opposition Matchday Squad
Goalkeepers
GK Ron Springett | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Peter Swan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Full Backs
LB Don Megson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB Peter Johnson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Tom McAnearney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
M Tony Kay | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Wingers
W Alan Finney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Forwards
F Billy Griffin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Johnny Fantham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Bobby Craig | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
CF Keith Ellis | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Opposition Unavailable
Not Recorded


Starting XI
Match Media
On This Day
Incredible scenes at Villa Park as Joe Mercer names Villa great in Johnny Dixon who proceeds to create a goal in 5 minutes, score himself and cause a mass pitch invasion in celebration. Villa could have lost 0-10 and it would still be one of the greatest occasions in the club's illistrious history. Villa end the League season 9th with just one more scheduled game left to play - the League Cup semi final replay in three days time.
Joe Mercer's Villa's play their twelfth game in thirty six days to make it seventeen wins, nine draws and sixteen defeats in forty two games following their return to the top flight. Villaโs first season back in division one after a season away was an unqualified success and a typical Mercer campaign with a series of excellent runs occasionally punctured by losing form. The season still promised more as further games remained as Villa were still competing in the inaugural League Cup whose addition to the calendar had caused significant fixture congestion that Mercerโs men admirably dealt with. A ninth placed finish on their return to the top flight was no mean feat but it also signalled the end of one of the greatest ever Villa players. Legendary Villa captain, Johnny Dixon, made his only appearance of the season and final appearance for Villa aged 37. Dixon had distinguished himself thought his playing career with Villa that spanned from 1945-46 to 1960-61 during which time he made 437 appearances whilst scoring 144 goals, and winning the 1957 FA Cup. As one legend departed the field however another entered as left back Charlie Aitken made his Villa debut aged 19 after moving from Edinburgh Thistle in August 1959.
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