Game #321
Saturday, 16 October 1897
Attendance: 10,000
Won
Division One
2nd
Notts County
LLWDW
Villa Park
Jack Sharp scored a second brace in three games as reigning Champions Villa were now unbeaten in three.
Aston Villa (Champions)
4-2
Notts County
Assists(s) | Not recorded
KEY MAN
Jack Sharp, scored a second brace in three games, Saturday, 16 October 1897.
PREVIOUS MATCH
NEXT MATCH
MATCH TIMELINE
[Exact timings not recorded]
12’ Goal, 1-0, Jack Devey
13’ Goal, 2-0, Jack Sharp
Goal, 3-0, Fred Wheldon
Goal, 3-1, (Notts County)
HT Aston Villa 3-1 Notts County
Goal, 3-2, (Notts County, pen)
Goal, 4-2, Jack Sharp
FT Aston Villa 4-2 Notts County
ON THIS DAY
Reigning Champions Villa were now unbeaten in three with young winger / forward Jack Sharp having plundered 5 goals in 3 games since his debut.
Aston Villa
Notts County
FIXTURE HISTORY
Notts County
Previous 5 vs. Notts County: | 🟥 | 🟩 | 🟩 | 🟩 | 🟩 |
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1897-98 |
Matchday | #9 |
League Match | #9 |
Manager Game | #295 |
Saturday, 16 October 1897
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager | George Ramsay led Management Committee |
Referee | Mr. Gilchrist (Manchester) |
FT Score | 4-2 |
FT Result | Won |
Last 5 Games | LLWDW |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mr. Gilchrist
CARDS
TEAM NEWS
Harry Wilkes replaces Billy George whilst Jimmy Crabtree returns alongside Steve Smith (first appearance of the season) as Bob Chatt and Jack Cowan drop out.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.52 |
Oldest Player |
F Jack Devey | 30.83 |
Youngest Player |
W Jack Sharp | 19.68 |
MANAGER
MANAGER
George Ramsay led Management Committee
Aston Villa
GK Harry Wilkes |
CB Jimmy Cowan |
FB Albert Evans |
RB Bert Sharp |
M Jimmy Crabtree |
M Fred Burton |
W Charlie Athersmith |
W Jack Sharp |
W Steve Smith |
F Jack Devey |
F Fred Wheldon |
Notts County
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 Villa attacked strongly, and after Stewart had almost kicked through his own goal, Sharp scored again for home team, the result consequently being - Aston Villa, four goals; Notts County, two goals."
*The Sporting Life*
Monday, 18 October 1897
ASTON VILLA v. NOTTS COUNTY.
Fully 20,000 spectators put in an appearance at Villa Park, Birmingham, to witness the return League match between these teams. The weather was beautifully fine, with the exception of a rather strong wind, which blew almost straight across field. Villa won the toss, and played with the wind slightly in their favour in the first half. It may mentioned here that Notts, who have not been doing well at all in the competition, made a few changes, rearranging their eleven and substituting Bull for Gibson.
Aston Villa were without Spencer, Whitehouse and John Cowan, but Crabtree made a welcome reappearance.
The home forwards early attacked, then Smith broke away, and in turn Athersmith was very dangerous. The home halves returned, and for a time the champions hung dangerously near the County goal, Toone being called upon repeatedly.
The Notts’ guardsman repelled shot after shot in brilliant style, impartial cheers being sent up from every corner of the ground.
The game was now transferred to the other end, Wilkes handling a shot from Allen in very gingerly fashion, and but for the timely aid of his backs the Villa goal would have certainly fallen at this point. A foul against one of the Notts’ half-backs gave the home men another chance, of which they took full advantage, Devey scoring the first goal twelve minutes from the start.
Scarcely had the spectators ceased cheering when J. Sharp broke away, and running right through the Nottingham back division, he easily beat Toone for a second time, amid tremendous uproar.
Prescott was now very prominent, and Crone put in any amount of honest work. Toone saved several shots, but a lengthy one from Wheldon beat him, and the Villa now stood three up.
Notts now woke up, and for the next ten minutes Wilkes was busy, the home goalkeeper repelling all sorts of hard shots. Keeping at it however, the strangers at length scored by Carter.
At half time the Villa led three to one.
Notts pressed on a restart but just when the lace county men were becoming dangerous Allan shot past. An attack by Devey and Athersmith was repulsed, and Boulter broke away. Just as he was about to shoot Evans seemed to hold him, and on an appeal the referee, after consulting with his linesmen, granted a penalty kick. From this Steward scored, and as the game now stood 3—2 in favour of the Villa the excitement was very high.
The home forwards were playing a struggling game, and with the view improving matters Devey and J Sharp changed ends. The Villa attacked strongly, and after Stewart had almost kicked through his own goal, Sharp scored again for home team, the result consequently being - Aston Villa, four goals; Notts County, two goals.