1963–64 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1963–64 season
ManagerEngland Joe Mercer
StadiumVilla Park
First Division19th
FA CupThird round
League CupThird round
Second City Derby
28--20--23

Aston Villa played the 1963–64 English football season in the Football League First Division. Winning the League Cup in 1961 had been the recent pinnacle for the club. Although Villa finished seventh in 1961–62, the following season saw the beginning of a decline in form that would see them finish in 15th place in 1963 and fourth from the bottom in 1964. Manager Joe Mercer parted company with the club in July 1964 because of these results and his declining health.[1]

John Lennon's In His Own Write received critical acclaim when published in 1964,[2] with favourable reviews in London's The Sunday Times and The Observer.[3] Among the most popular poems in the collection was "Deaf Ted, Danoota, (and me)".[4] with the fifth verse:

Thorg Billy grows and Burnley ten,
And Aston Villa three
We clobber ever gallup
Deaf Ted, Danoota, and me.[5]

In the Second City derby Villa lost the home fixture but held Birmingham to a draw at St Andrews.[6]

There were debuts for Mick Wright (282), Tony Hateley (127), Dave Pountney (113), Graham Parker (21), Bob Wilson (9), and Stan Horne (6).[7]

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
17 Stoke City 42 14 10 18 77 78 0.987 38
18 Blackpool 42 13 9 20 52 73 0.712 35
19 Aston Villa 42 11 12 19 62 71 0.873 34
20 Birmingham City 42 11 7 24 54 92 0.587 29
21 Bolton Wanderers (R) 42 10 8 24 48 80 0.600 28 Relegation to the Second Division
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

See also

References

  1. ^ Ward, Adam, p. 97, "Mercer began to suffer ill health and in 1964 he left the club."
  2. ^ Burns 2009, p. 221.
  3. ^ Savage 2010, p. viii.
  4. ^ Everett 2001, p. 218.
  5. ^ John Lennon, Beatalic Graphospasms, Saturday Evening Post, 1964
  6. ^ "All Aston Villa's Matches". AVFC History.
  7. ^ "Aston Villa's Seasons". AVFC History.

Sources