1956–57 Aston Villa F.C. season

The 1956–57 English football season was Aston Villa's 57th season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League First Division. In the Second City derby Villa won both matches.[1] In October 1956 they beat Birmingham 3–1 at home with goals by Jackie Sewell, Ken Roberts and Stan Lynn.[2] They beat Birmingham 2–1 away, both Villa goals by Roy Chapman.[3]

Aston Villa
1956–57 season
ManagerEric Houghton
StadiumVilla Park
First Division10th
FA CupWinners
Second City derby
25--14--20
Cup scorer Peter McParland in 2013

There were debuts for Billy Myerscough (64), Stan Crowther (50), Dennis Jackson (8) and Arthur Sabin (2).[4]

Football League First Division.

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
8 Leeds United 42 15 14 13 72 63 1.143 44
9 Bolton Wanderers 42 16 12 14 65 65 1.000 44
10 Aston Villa 42 14 15 13 65 55 1.182 43
11 West Bromwich Albion 42 14 14 14 59 61 0.967 42
12 Birmingham City 42 15 9 18 69 69 1.000 39
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

FA Cup

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1957 FA Cup final
 
Event1956–57 FA Cup
Date4 May 1957
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeFrank Coultas (Hull)
Attendance99,225

The 1957 FA Cup final was a football match played on 4 May 1957 at Wembley Stadium between Aston Villa and Manchester United. Villa won 2–1, with both of their goals scored by Peter McParland. Tommy Taylor scored United's goal. It was Villa's first major trophy for 37 years.[5]

A collision after only six minutes between Villa forward Peter McParland and United goalkeeper Ray Wood, which left Wood unconscious with a broken cheekbone. Wood left the pitch and Jackie Blanchflower took over in goal for United. Wood eventually rejoined the game in an outfield position as a virtual passenger before returning to goal for the last seven minutes of the game.

Villa's victory gave them their seventh FA Cup title, a record at the time, but since passed by three clubs including Manchester United. Villa reached the final in 2000, when they lost to Chelsea, and in 2015, when they lost to Arsenal.

Six of the 11 United players who took to the field for United in this game died in the Munich air disaster nine months later. Two others were injured to such an extent that they never played again. The death of Nigel Sims in January 2018 left Peter McParland as the last surviving member of the winning team.

In December 2007, BBC Four's Timeshift series screened a documentary, A Game of Two Eras, which compared the 1957 final with its 2007 counterpart.[6]

Road to Wembley

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Round 3 Luton Town 2–2 Aston Villa
Round 3 Replay Aston Villa 2–0 Luton Town
Round 4 Middlesbrough 2–3 Aston Villa
Round 5 Aston Villa 2–1 Bristol City
Round 6 Burnley 1–1 Aston Villa
Round 6 Replay Aston Villa 2–0 Burnley
Semi-final Aston Villa 2–2 West Bromwich Albion
(at Molineux)
Semi-final Replay West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Aston Villa
(at St Andrew's)

Match details

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Aston Villa2–1Manchester United
McParland   68', 73' Report Taylor   83'
Attendance: 99,225
Referee: F. Coultas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aston Villa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manchester United
GK 1   Nigel Sims
RB 2   Stan Lynn
LB 3   Peter Aldis
RH 4   Stan Crowther
CH 5   Jimmy Dugdale
LH 6   Pat Saward
OR 7   Les Smith
IR 8   Jackie Sewell
CF 9   Bill Myerscough
IL 10   Johnny Dixon (c)
OL 11   Peter McParland
Manager:
  Eric Houghton
GK 1   Ray Wood
RB 2   Bill Foulkes
LB 3   Roger Byrne (c)
RH 4   Eddie Colman
CH 5   Jackie Blanchflower
LH 6   Duncan Edwards
OR 7   Johnny Berry
IR 8   Billy Whelan
CF 9   Tommy Taylor
IL 10   Bobby Charlton
OL 11   David Pegg
Manager:
  Matt Busby

See also

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  1. ^ "All Aston Villa's Matches". AVFC History.
  2. ^ "Aston Villa 3-1 Birmingham City, 1956-57 Division One, 27 Oct 1956". AVFC History.
  3. ^ "Birmingham City 1-2 Aston Villa, 1956-57 Division One, 10 Apr 1957". AVFC History.
  4. ^ "Aston Villa's Seasons". AVFC History.
  5. ^ "Aston Villa Football Club | the official club website".
  6. ^ "BBC Four - Timeshift, Series 7, A Game of Two Eras: 1957 v 2007". BBC.