Game #310
Saturday, 17 April 1897
Attendance: 10,000
Won
Division One
1st
Blackburn Rovers
WWWWW
Villa Park
Johnny Campbell scored the first ever goal at Villa Park as Double winners Villa played their first ever game at their nee home. Unbeaten in 16 matches, the Champions now had a lead at the top of the table of 7 points.
Blackburn Rovers
3-0
Aston Villa (Champions)
Assists(s) | Not recorded
KEY MAN
Johnny Campbell, scored the first ever goal at Villa Park, Saturday, 17 April 1897
RELATED MATCHES
MATCH TIMELINE
[Exact timings not recorded]
10’ Goal, 1-0, Johnny Campbell
Goal, 2-0, Fred Wheldon
HT Aston Villa 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
Goal, 3-0, Own Goal, Killean
FT Aston Villa 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
ON THIS DAY
Double winners Villa played their first ever game at Villa Park with Johnny Campbell scored the first ever goal at the famous ground. Unbeaten in 16 matches, the Champions now had a lead at the top of the table of 7 points.
Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers
FIXTURE HISTORY
Previous 5 vs. Blackburn: | 🟩 | 🟩 | 🟨 | 🟩 | 🟩 |
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1896-97 |
Matchday | #35 |
League Match | #28 |
Manager Game | #284 |
Saturday, 17 April 1897
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager | George Ramsay led Management Committee |
FT Score | 3-0 |
FT Result | Won |
Last 5 Games | WWWWW |
MATCH OFFICIALS
CARDS
Villa
Blackburn Rovers
TEAM NEWS
Villa name an unchanged lined up from the team that won the FA Cup last time out.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.96 |
Oldest Player |
F Jack Devey | 30.33 |
Youngest Player |
FB Howard Spencer | 21.67 |
MANAGER
George Ramsay led Management Committee
MANAGER
Aston Villa
GK Jimmy Whitehouse |
CB Jimmy Cowan |
FB Howard Spencer |
FB Albert Evans |
M Jack Reynolds |
M Fred Burton |
W Jack Cowan |
W Charlie Athersmith |
F Fred Wheldon |
F Johnny Campbell |
F Jack Devey |
Blackburn Rovers
SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions permitted in period
SUBSTITUTES
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions permitted in period
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
UNAVAILABLE
Not recorded
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Abbreviations:
GK : Goalkeeper
LB, RB, FB : Left Back, Right Back, Full Back
CB, D : Centre Back, Defender
M, W : Midfielder. Winger
F, CF : Forward, Centre Forward
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
DEBUT APPEARANCES
FINAL APPEARANCES
MATCH STATS
Not recorded
TABLE
PROGRAMME
MATCHDAY QUOTES
"The new ground of the Aston Villa team at Birmingham, which is big enough to accommodate some 70,000 or spectators was opened on Saturday with a match against the Blackburn Rovers."
*The Morning Post*
Monday, 19 April 1897
Aston Villa v. Blackburn Rovers.
About 12,000 people put in an appearance at Aston Villa's new ground, Birmingham, and in spite of the bad weather the company took an enthusiastic interest in the play.
The Villa began excellently, and a goal by Campbell gave them the lead in about a quarter of an hour.
Aston Villa continued to play the better football, and another goal was added by Wheldon.
When ends were changed the Rovers tried very hard to save the match, but without success, for the Villa scored again, and the result was a win for Aston Villa by three to none.
---
*The Sheffield Independent*
Monday 19 April 1897
ASTON VILLA V. BLACKBURN ROVERS.
The new ground of the Aston Villa team at Birmingham, which is big enough to accommodate some 70,000 or spectators was opened on Saturday with a match against the Blackburn Rovers, and although the weather was wretched the contest attracted some 15,000 people.
The Villa began in good form, and Campbell obtained a grand goal ten minutes from the start, and though the Rovers afterwards played up well, the Villa always had the advantage.
Before the interval arrived Wheldon scored a second point, and the Villa change of ends holding the substantial lead of two goals none.
Again in the second half the Villa started well, and soon after the resumption Killean, in trying to clear a shot from Campbell, put the ball through his own goal, thus giving the home side farther point.
The Villa continued pressing, and saved many fine shots, and subsequently the Rovers made several spirited efforts, but always found the Villa defence too strong for them.
As matters turned out nothing further was scored, and the Villa gained a creditable victory. Result: ASTON VILLA goals. BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 goal.