1968–69 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1968–69 season
Chairman	(1) Norman Smith; (2) Doug Ellis
Manager	(1) Tommy Cummings ; (2) Tommy Docherty
Stadium	Villa Park
Second Division	18th
FA Cup	Fifth round
League Cup	Second round

The 1968–69 English football season was Aston Villa's 70th season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Second Division.

In the pre-season, newspapers reported the arrival of Argentinian International Oscar Arce, formerly of Peñarol and Rosario Central. He was reportedly valued at £100,000 (at the time Martin Chivers was the League record signing at £125,000).^[1]^[2] He made seven appearance for the reserves before the club accepted they had been conned.^[3] Aston Villa had been in decline for several years; the club had an ageing five-man board "who had failed to adapt to the new football reality".^[4] The club had neither developed a scouting network nor an effective coaching structure.^[5]

Events off the pitch came to a head in November 1968. With Villa lying at the bottom of Division Two, the board sacked Tommy Cummings. On 21 November 1968 the problems in the boardroom were highlighted when board member George Robinson resigned. Following his resignation, the board issued a statement: "[The board] would make available, by their resignation, such seats as new financial arrangements might require".^[5] Aston Villa F.C. was up for sale. After much speculation London financier Pat Matthews bought control of the club. He brought in local travel agent Doug Ellis as chair of the new board that was convened on 16 December 1968. Two days later Tommy Docherty was appointed as manager, his third club in six weeks, after his resignation from Rotherham United and a brief spell at Queens Park Rangers.^[5]

There were debuts for Brian Tiler (107), Mike Ferguson (38), Dave Simmons (17), John Griffiths (3), John Chambers (2), and Barry Lynch (2).^[6] After just two years at Blackburn Barrie Hole (47) moved, this time to Aston Villa for £60,000 in September 1968. In a disappointing season, Hole won the Aston Villa Lions Club Terrace Trophy for the best player at Aston Villa as decided by the fans.^[7]

In the Second City derby both teams won their home game.^[8]

Second Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
16	Bristol City	42	11	16	15	46	53	0.868	38
17	Bolton Wanderers	42	12	14	16	55	67	0.821	38
18	Aston Villa	42	12	14	16	37	48	0.771	38
19	Blackburn Rovers	42	13	11	18	52	63	0.825	37
20	Oxford United	42	12	9	21	34	55	0.618	33

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Notes	Scorers
10 Aug 1968	Sheffield United	A	1–3	—	Willie Anderson (79' pen) ^[9]
17 Aug 1968	Fulham	H	1–1	—	John Woodward (84')
19 Aug 1968	Millwall	H	1–1	—	Willie Anderson (26' pen)
24 Aug 1968	Blackburn Rovers	A	0–2	—	—
26 Aug 1968	Bristol City	H	1–0	—	John Woodward (73')
31 Aug 1968	Blackpool	H	0–1	—	—
7 Sep 1968	Derby County	A	1–3	—	Mike Ferguson (86')
14 Sep 1968	Hull City	H	1–1	—	Willie Anderson (46')
18 Sep 1968	Bolton Wanderers	A	1–4	—	Brian Godfrey (64')
21 Sep 1968	Birmingham City	A	0–4	—	—
28 Sep 1968	Oxford United	H	2–0	—	Barrie Hole (42'), Brian Godfrey (83')
5 Oct 1968	Cardiff City	A	1–1	—	Brian Godfrey (72')
8 Oct 1968	Bristol City	A	0–1	—	—
12 Oct 1968	Crystal Palace	H	1–1	—	Willie Anderson (78' pen)
19 Oct 1968	Norwich City	A	1–1	—	Lew Chatterley (3')
26 Oct 1968	Carlisle United	H	0–0	—	— ^[10]
2 Nov 1968	Huddersfield Town	A	1–3	—	Mike Ferguson (3') ^[11]
9 Nov 1968	Preston North End	H	0–1	—	— ^[12]
16 Nov 1968	Portsmouth	A	0–2	—	— ^[13]
23 Nov 1968	Middlesbrough	H	1–0	—	Own Goal (73') ^[14]
30 Nov 1968	Bury	A	2–3	—	John Woodward (50'), Willie Anderson (59') ^[15]
7 Dec 1968	Charlton Athletic	H	0–0	—	— ^[16]
14 Dec 1968	Crystal Palace	A	2–4	—	Lionel Martin (75'), Dick Edwards (88') ^[17]
21 Dec 1968	Norwich City	H	2–1	On 18 December Tommy Docherty had become the manager.	Dick Edwards (4'), Barrie Hole (82') ^[18]
26 Dec 1968	Cardiff City	H	2–0	—	Barrie Hole (31'), Brian Tiler (70') ^[19]
28 Dec 1968	Carlisle United	A	1–0	—	Willie Anderson (65') ^[20]
11 Jan 1969	Huddersfield Town	H	1–0	—	Barrie Hole (8')
18 Jan 1969	Preston North End	A	0–1	—	—
1 Feb 1969	Portsmouth	H	2–0	—	Dave Rudge (53'), Brian Godfrey (78')
15 Feb 1969	Bury	H	1–0	—	Dave Rudge (73')
22 Feb 1969	Charlton Athletic	A	1–1	—	Dave Simmons (4')
1 Mar 1969	Sheffield United	H	3–1	—	Barrie Hole (4'), Dave Simmons (58', 69')
4 Mar 1969	Middlesbrough	A	0–0	—	—
8 Mar 1969	Fulham	A	1–1	—	Own Goal (15')
15 Mar 1969	Blackburn Rovers	H	1–1	—	Dave Simmons (39')
22 Mar 1969	Blackpool	A	1–1	—	Brian Godfrey (2')
29 Mar 1969	Derby County	H	0–1	—	—
4 Apr 1969	Millwall	A	1–0	—	Lionel Martin (83')
5 Apr 1969	Oxford United	A	0–1	—	—
8 Apr 1969	Bolton Wanderers	H	1–1	—	Own Goal (14')
12 Apr 1969	Birmingham City	H	1–0	—	Dave Simmons (55')
19 Apr 1969	Hull City	A	0–1^[9]	—	—

Source: avfchistory.co.uk

FA Cup

League Cup

References

^ "Villa planning to sign an Argentinian". The Birmingham Post. 24 June 1968. p. 13.
^ "Football...South American style". The Birmingham Post. 24 June 1968. p. 13.
^ p26, The Aston Villa Miscellany, David Woodhall, 2007. ISBN 1-905326-17-3
^ Ward, Adam, p. 98
^ ^a ^b ^c Ward, Adam, p. 100
^ "Aston Villa's Seasons". AVFC History.
^ "Special feature: The former Aston Villa and Notts County star showing plenty of pluck". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ "All Aston Villa's Matches". AVFC History. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/aston-villa/matches/league/1968-69
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3000
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3001
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3002
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3003
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3004
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3005
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3006
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3007
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3008
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3009
^ https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3010

External links

AVFC History: 1968-69 season

[1] "Villa planning to sign an Argentinian". The Birmingham Post. 24 June 1968. p. 13.

[2] "Football...South American style". The Birmingham Post. 24 June 1968. p. 13.

[VM-3] 26, The Aston Villa Miscellany, David Woodhall, 2007. ISBN 1-905326-17-3

[4] Ward, Adam, p. 98

[Ward100-5] Ward, Adam, p. 100

[6] "Aston Villa's Seasons". AVFC History.

[7] "Special feature: The former Aston Villa and Notts County star showing plenty of pluck". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 19 August 2021.

[8] "All Aston Villa's Matches". AVFC History. Retrieved 6 August 2023.

[avfc6869-9] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/aston-villa/matches/league/1968-69

[10] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3000

[11] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3001

[12] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3002

[13] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3003

[14] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3004

[15] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3005

[16] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3006

[17] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3007

[18] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3008

[19] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3009

[20] ttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3010

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Aston Villa F.C. seasons
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