Game #281
Aston Villa
Saturday, 3 October 1896
Drew
10th
LDWLD
Division One
Attendance: 12,000
Sheffield United
Bramall Lane
George Ramsay's reigning Champions' troubling start to their title defence as they could only draw in Sheffield to leave them in tenth place, four points - two wins - off the top of the table after 6 games.
Sheffield United
0-0
Aston Villa (Champions)
Assists(s) | Not recorded
KEY MAN
PREVIOUS MATCH
NEXT MATCH
MATCH TIMELINE
Saturday, 3 October 1896
HT Sheffield United 0-0 Aston Villa
FT Sheffield United 0-0 Aston Villa
ON THIS DAY
Reigning Champions Villa's troubling start to their title defence as they could only draw in Sheffield to leave them in tenth place, four points - two wins - off the top of the table after 6 games.
Aston Villa
League Champions: 🏆🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1895-96
Sheffield United
League Champions: ❌
FA Cup Winners: ❌
Last Trophy: ❌
FIXTURE HISTORY
Sheffield United
Previous 5 vs. Sheffield United: | 🟥 | 🟩 | 🟥 | 🟨 | 🟨 |
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1896-97 |
Matchday | #6 |
League Match | #6 |
Manager Game | #255 |
Saturday, 3 October 1896
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager | George Ramsay led Management Committee |
FT Score | 0-0 |
FT Result | Drew |
Last 5 Games | LDWLD |
MANAGERIAL RECORD
George Ramsay led Management Committee
GAMES | WINS | DRAWS | LOSSES | POINTS PER GAME
🕒 255 | 🟩 140 🟨 39 🟥 76 | 1.80
Career Form:
Top 4
George Ramsay led Management Committee
MATCH OFFICIALS
CARDS
Villa
Sheffield United
TEAM NEWS
In one change from the team that lost to Everton last time out, Howard Spencer returns for Jimmy Welford.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.95 |
Oldest Player |
F Jack Devey | 29.79 |
Youngest Player |
FB Howard Spencer | 21.13 |
MANAGER
MANAGER
George Ramsay led Management Committee
J. B. Wostinholm | 🏴 |
Aston Villa
GK Jimmy Whitehouse |
CB Jimmy Cowan |
FB Howard Spencer |
M Fred Burton |
M Jack Reynolds |
M Jimmy Crabtree |
W Jack Cowan |
W Charlie Athersmith |
F Johnny Campbell |
F Fred Wheldon |
F Jack Devey |
Sheffield United
SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions permitted in period
SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions permitted in period
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
UNAVAILABLE
Not recorded
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Positions:
GK : Goalkeeper
CB, D, B : Centre Back, Defender, Back
FB, LB, RB, WH : Full Back, Left Back, Right Back, Wing Back, Wing Half
M, CH, LH, RH : Midfielder, Centre Half, Left Half, Right Half
W, OL, OR : Winger, Outside Left, Outside Right
F, IF, IL, IR : Forward, Inside Forward, Inside Left, Inside Right, Second Striker, False 9
CF : Centre Forward
Match Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
DEBUT APPEARANCES
FINAL APPEARANCES
MATCH STATS
Not recorded
TABLE
PROGRAMME
MATCHDAY QUOTES
"The performance was greeted with tremendous applause which did not cease until after the game ended and Foulkes and his confreres had disappeared inside the pavilion."
*The Sporting Life*
Monday, 5 October 1896
SHEFFIELD UNITED v. ASTON VILLA.
A DRAWN POINTLESS GAME.
It will be remembered that when these teams met for first time this season, at Birmingham, they played a drawn game of two goals each.
As United have been playing of late there was great amount of interest evinced regarding the probable result their second meeting, and despite the fact that a drizzling rain was falling at the time set, 3.15, on Saturday, the attendance Bramall was the largest of five present season, fully 12,000 spectators being present.
Each club played their full strength, and United winning the toss, the Villains kicked off towards Bramall Lane against a slight breeze. Owing to the rainfall the ground was in a rather soft, slippery state. United at once attacked, and Priest shot outside, as also did Spencer at the United end.
Play ruled very fast, and United again forced their way to the Villans’ goal, but Needham’s final shot was wide of the mark. A minute later Whitehouse had great difficulty in retting rid of one from Almond, and again when United pressed Spencer cleared from Needham. Hammond shot wide from a pass from Priest to Hammond, the latter again missed his intended mark. Up to this period United had done all the attacking, but the Villa now had a turn, but Cain and Whittam broke the combination, as did Needham a second assault.
Some fine centre play by Jas Cowan was frustrated Morren, and Reynolds grazed the bar with a fine shot. Again the Villa end was visited, and Whitehouse got rid another one from Almond, who a minute later shot across the Villa goalmouth. The Villans now took up the attack, and Athersmith shot over. From a free-kick Foulkes saved from Athersmith, and then the ball travelled quickly into the Villa territory, Almond shooting wide.
Half-time arrived without any score, but United had had the best of the play.
On resuming the Villa were the aggressors, and a couple of free-kicks proved futile. Reynolds met with injury, and the game was stopped for a few minutes. Then the United left-wing set off for the Villa goal, into which Priest placed the ball, but he was ruled offside.
Play was very fast, and after Foulkes saved from John Cowan. Foulkes rushed out of goal, and Devey shot over. Fouls, from which the inevitable free kick followed, were quite numerous, as also were corners, but no score accrued, the defence on each side being splendid.
From a fine centre by Athersmith to Wheldon, the latter headed over the United goal, and a quick run to the stronghold caused Whitehouse to handle one from Almond. Howell also had a try to reduce the Villa goal, but Whitehouse was quite equal to occasion, and when an Almond shot looked like troubling Whitehouse, Jas. Cowan got in the way and with his head diverted the course of the ball over the bar.
Just before the close the Villa made a hot raid on the United goal, and from Wheldon’s shot Foulkes handled the ball and then juggled it three-fourths of the way towards the Villa goal, such feat never having been seen on a football field at Sheffield.
The performance was greeted with tremendous applause which did not cease until after the game ended and Foulkes and his confreres had disappeared inside the pavilion.
Thus ended one of the best and most exciting games seen at Bramall Lane during the present season. During the first half United certainly had the best play, but in the second the Villa had slightly the advantage, and a pointless draw just about represented the play. Result: Sheffield United, no goals: Aston Villa, no goals.
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved. Source: British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)