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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

2021-22 Matchweek 38.jpg

PROGRAMME

Quotation Marks.png

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.