Player #443 for Aston Villa, Victor Herbert Crowe, known as Vic Crowe, and nicknamed Spike, played as a midfielder for the club in the wing half position.

Vic played for Villa between 1954-55 and 1963-64 making 351 appearances and scoring 12 goals.

Vic was born in Abercynon, Rhondda, Wales on 31 January 1932 and made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 16 October 1954 aged 22.

Villa had signed Vic from West Bromwich Albion as an amateur in March 1951 and he was signed to professional forms by Villa in June 1952.

Vic served his apprenticeship in Villa’s second and third teams before signing professional forms and although a Welshman by birth had learned most of his football trade in Birmingham. Having been stationed in Scotland during his National Service he caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs north of the border but Villa won his signature and commitment.

Vic had big shoes to follow at Villa as he took over from the departed Danny Blanchflower but where that player was at times overly focused on his own needs, Vic was Villa through and through.

Vic made 25 league appearances in his first season and from his first entrance into the team he was a virtual ever-present over the subsequent 9 seasons bar missing almost the entire campaign in 1956-57 due to injury.

As a result of Vic’s virtual absence in the 1956-57 he didn’t win an FA Cup medal as Villa progressed to the final and vanquished Manchester United 2-1 to win the Cup for a record seventh time.

Not only did Vic miss out he also lost his place to one Stan Crowther and but for the latter’s departure to crisis hit Manchester United after the Munich disaster, Vic may never have regained his berth despite his worth to the club.

That he did underlined the tenacity with which Vic approach his career - not unlike the nature of his tackling - and once back in the side he made the position his own once again.

Vic helped relegated Villa win promotion as Second Division Champions before leading Villa to victory in the inaugural 1960-61 League Cup after the the two legged final victory over Rotherham United.

Vic played his final game for Villa on Wednesday, 8 January 1964 aged 31 after 9 seasons with the club before moving on to Peterborough United however he wasn’t to stay absent from the club for long.

After a spell Stateside Vic returned as assistant coach at Villa Park in August 1969, a position he held until he was appointed as Villa’s 13th manager following the sacking of Tommy Docherty in January 1970.

Vic repeated his playing feat and returned Villa from relegation to promotion however this time Villa had been floundering in free-fall in the Third Division and although he delivered promotion to the second tier, he couldn’t, despite valiant efforts which typified the man, take Villa back into the First Division.

Vic however laid the foundations for the remarkable success that followed for Villa under Ron Saunders following his departure with a Youth Cup winning team providing the talents of John Gidman and Brian Little for Saunders to take to the next level.

Vic also echoed his playing days by leading Villa to another League Cup final however he couldn’t bring the trophy home against top tier Tottenham.

Vic had played under Villa managers Eric Houghton and Joe Mercer.

Vic passed away in Sutton Coldfield on 21 January 2009 aged 76.