Game #316
Aston Villa

Saturday, 18 September 1897
1st
WWWWW
GK Harry Wilkes |
CB Jimmy Cowan |
FB Albert Evans |
FB Howard Spencer |
M Jimmy Crabtree |
W Charlie Athersmith |
W Jack Cowan |
F James Fisher |
F Jack Devey |
F Fred Wheldon |
F Bob Chatt |
George Ramsay | 🏴 | 1886-1926

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
Matchday Squad
Unavailable
Not recorded
Team News
Villa make one change from the team that had secured a 10th consecutive win with Harry Wilkes replacing Jimmy Whitehouse (injury) in goal.
Team Stats
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.66 |
Oldest Player |
F Jack Devey | 30.75 |
Youngest Player |
F James Fisher | 20.75 |
Debut Appearances
Final Appearances
On This Day
Substitutes
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GK Sub
🟩
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⛔
🥅
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Sub 1
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🟨
🟥
🕒
🔁
⚽
🔥
Sub 2
🟩
🟨
🟥
🕒
🔁
⚽
🔥
Sub 3
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🟨
🟥
🕒
🔁
⚽
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Sub 4
🟩
🟨
🟥
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🔁
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Sub 5
🟩
🟨
🟥

Won
3-1
🟩 18 Sep 1897, Villa 3-1 Bury, Villa Park
Scorer(s) | James Fisher | 15’ | James Fisher | Fred Wheldon |
Assist(s) | None
Match Timeline
[Exact timings not recorded]
15’ Goal, 1-0, James Fisher
Goal, 1-1, (Bury), Howard Spencer o.g.
Goal, 2-1, James Fisher
HT Aston Villa 2-1 Bury
Goal, 3-1, Fred Wheldon
FT Aston Villa 3-1 Bury
Season | 1897-98 |
Matchday | #4 |
League Match | #4 |
Manager Game | #290 |
Saturday, 18 September 1897
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: George Ramsay | 🏴 | Glasgow, 1886-1926 led Management Committee
Referee: J. West | 🏴 | Lincoln
FT Score | 3-1 |
FT Result | Won |
Last 5 Games | WWWWW |
Officials
Referee: J. West | 🏴 | Lincoln, 1897-
Match Stats
Not recorded
George Ramsay | 🏴 | 1886-1926
🕒 290 | 🟩 168 🟨 44 🟥 78 | 1.89
Villa Career Form:
Top 4
What they Said
"Although the weather was anything but favourable for the dribbling game another large attendance put in an appearance at the Aston Villa enclosure (which, by the way, has now been renamed Villa Park) to witness the League match between these teams."
ASTON VILLA v. BURY.
Although the weather was anything but favourable for the dribbling game another large attendance put in an appearance at the Aston Villa enclosure (which, by the way, has now been renamed Villa Park) to witness the League match between these teams.
Rain fell heavily just prior to the start, but fortunately it cleared before half-past three, when the rivals took the field. At this point there were 11,000 spectators present. Bury brought their strongest eleven, but the Villa were minus Whitehouse (whose collar bone had been broken match against Derby), Wilkes filling the vacancy.
Bury won the toss, and the Villa had to face a rather stiff end to end breeze which was blowing at the outset.
The strangers early attached, but the home team were the first become really dangerous, and led by Fisher they made a series of attacks on the visitors’ citadel. Athersmith, Devey and Fisher all having pops at goal but the defence was good.
Eventually Athersmith took the ball right up to the corner-flag, and Wheldon meeting the pass, drove at Montgomery. The custodian partially cleared, but Fisher was there and he sent the ball whizzing into the net amid the plaudits of the crowd, exactly fifteen minutes from the start.
Bury were in no way disconcerted and warmed to their work, a long shot from Henderson beat the Aston Villa custodian, Spencer diverting the ball and assisting its progress into the net.
The homesters now attacked with no uncertain force, and the Bury goal suffered a series of remarkable escapes. Fisher received the ball in a good position and he gave the home men the lead amid prolonged cheering.
Bury attacked and gained two corners but at half time the score still stood, Aston Villa, two goals; Bury, one goal.
Both goals were attacked in turn at the outset of the second half. Wheldon and Henderson being very prominent for their respective sides, both trying the goalkeeper’s mettle. Accurate placing by Spencer enabled the Villa forwards to press, and Wheldon beat Montgomery for the third time.
Nothing further being registered the result was: Aston Villa, three goals; Bury, one goal.
Division One
Bury
Villa Park
Attendance: 18,000
Management Committee
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: ❌
FA Cup Winners: ❌
Last Trophy: ❌
Opposition Matchday Squad
Opposition Unavailable
Not Recorded
League Table
1897-98
Playing Squad



















