Derek Pace

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Age*

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Appearances

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Substitute

Unused

Goals

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Played Under

George Martin |
Eric Houghton |

First Squad Appearance

Debut Appearance

First Goal

Saturday, 17 March 1951

Final Appearance

Saturday, 14 December 1957

Manchester City (h), Division One

Final Squad Appearance

Saturday, 14 December 1957

Derek Pace

Player #433 for Aston Villa, Derek John Pace, known as Derek Pace, and nicknamed Doc, played as a centre forward for the club. Derek played for Villa between 1950-51 and 1957-58 making 107 appearances and scoring 42 goals.

Derek was born in Essington, Bloxwich, just 14 miles from Villa Park, on 11 March 1932 and made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 17 March 1951 at the age of 19.

Villa had signed Derek from Bloxwich Scouts in September 1949 as one of the youngest professionals but despite his tender years he proved himself in brilliant form as a goalscoring centre forward in his debut season of 1948-49, scoring over 40 goals in the Third team and Central League side before being called up for National Service during the close season ahead of the 1950-51 season for his compulsory two year national service in the Medical Corps - hence his nickname ‘Doc’.

Owing to his National Service duties Derek had little chance to build on his 1949-50 campaign and but for leading the Army XI in a number of representative matches he saw little footballing action.

Despite his slightly built frame this was no handicap for Derek who scored on his debut against Burnley in March 1951 and never looked out of place in his first team appearances.

During his time with Villa Derek helped the club win a record seventh FA Cup playing 6 times in the campaign and scoring twice however he wouldn’t feature in the Final held at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 99,225 who saw Villa vanquish Manchester United 2-1 - with a brace from Villa great Peter McParland.

Despite the disappointment in missing the final, Derek's greatest contribution to Villa had probably already happened as the club, in 1955-56, languished second from bottom in the league facing relegation three points from safety (in an era of 2 points for a win) but Derek's goals - a hat-trick against third from bottom Sheffield United and the winner against Preston North End - plus a final day victory over West Bromwich Albion fired Villa to unexpected safety.

Derek's reward for his heroics was his strongest season - making 27 appearances, and scoring eight in 1956-57 - however that wasn't enough to win him an FA Cup final place and so after 12 games and 3 goals in the following season.

Derek played his final game for Villa on Saturday, 14 December 1957 aged 25, before moving to Sheffield United for a fee of £12,000 that same month.

Derek had played under Villa managers George Martin and Eric Houghton.

Derek passed away in Birmingham on 17 October 1989 aged just 57.