Game #322
Saturday, 23 October 1897
Attendance: 20,000
Drew
Division One
2nd
Sunderland
LWDWD
Newcastle Road
George Ramsay's reigning Champions fail to score but are now unbeaten in four games.
Sunderland
0-0
Aston Villa (Champions)
Assists(s) | Not recorded
KEY MAN
RELATED MATCHES
MATCH TIMELINE
HT Sunderland 0-0 Aston Villa
FT Sunderland 0-0 Aston Villa
ON THIS DAY
Reigning Champions Villa fail to score but are now unbeaten in four games.
Aston Villa
Sunderland
FIXTURE HISTORY
Previous 5 vs. Sunderland: | 🟩 | 🟩 | 🟥.| 🟥.| 🟩 |
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1897-98 |
Matchday | #10 |
League Match | #10 |
Manager Game | #296 |
Saturday, 23 October 1897
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager | George Ramsay led Management Committee |
FT Score | 0-0 |
FT Result | Drew |
Last 5 Games | LWDWD |
MATCH OFFICIALS
CARDS
Villa
Sunderland
TEAM NEWS
In one change from the team that beat Notts County last time out, Billy George returns in goal in place of Harry Wilkes for this second appearance for Villa.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.53 |
Oldest Player |
F Jack Devey | 30.85 |
Youngest Player |
W Jack Sharp | 19.70 |
MANAGER
George Ramsay led Management Committee
MANAGER
Aston Villa
GK Billy George |
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 |
Sunderland
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
"George, the new goal-keeper, was never at fault."
*The Sporting Life*
Monday, 25 October 1897
SUNDERLAND v. ASTON VILLA.
On Saturday a vast amount of interest was centred in the meeting between these clubs at Sunderland, the capital form recently shown by the home side making it seem probable that the Aston Villa men would have all their work cut out. The attendance was estimated close upon 20,030.
Having the wind at their backs in the first half, Aston set up strong pressure. Smith, Wheldon, and Devey all showing to conspicuous advantage, but the Sunderland defence was equal to the occasion, Doig keeping goal in brilliant style.
A brief stoppage took place, owing to the crowd breaking in upon the field of play, and then the Sunderland representatives several times looked dangerous.
However, George, the new goal-keeper, was never at fault, and at the change ends arrived without a point having been scored on either side.
On the resumption the struggle was still very keen and exciting, both elevens making desperate efforts to gain the upper hand.
The advantage was first with one side and then the other, but some admirable defence was shown, and try as they would neither side could get through. Therefore a finely-contested match had to be left drawn, without a point having been scored.