1946–47 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1946–47 season
ManagerAlex Massie
StadiumVilla Park
First Division8th
FA CupThird round
Trevor Ford, top scorer 1947–48 1948-49 and 1949-50

The 1938–39 English football season was Aston Villa's 48th season in The Football League, Villa playing in the Football League First Division. The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign.

George Cummings was the Villains club captain from 1945 to his retirement in 1949, and was popular with supporters due to his never-say-die spirit and no-nonsense defending.[1]

Ernie Callaghan (125) previously held the Aston Villa club record for the oldest first team player, being 39 years 86 days old when he played against Grimsby Town in 1946. In his last game in April 1947, he was 39 years and 257 days. On 1 February 2011, American goalkeeper Brad Friedel set a new club record by playing a first-team game away at Manchester United ages 39 years and 259 days.[2]

In September 1946, Dicky Dorsett (257) joined Aston Villa for £3,000. He would be top scorer for the season. In January 1947, following a disagreement over preparations for a cup tie, Trevor Ford (120) left Swansea for first division Aston Villa. He would become the club's top scorer for three consecutive seasons.[3][4] There were also debuts for Johnny Dixon, Tommy Dodds,[5] Derek Ashton, John Graham, Arthur Haynes,[6] Amos Moss, Ron Guttridge [7] and Billy Evans.[8]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
6 Sheffield United 42 21 7 14 89 75 1.187 49
7 Preston North End 42 18 11 13 76 74 1.027 47
8 Aston Villa 42 18 9 15 67 53 1.264 45
9 Sunderland 42 18 8 16 65 66 0.985 44
10 Everton 42 17 9 16 62 67 0.925 43
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Matches

Date Opponent Venue Score Notes Scorers
31 Aug 1946 Middlesbrough Home 0–1 [9]
2 Sep 1946 Everton Home 0–1
7 Sep 1946 Derby County Away 2–1 Johnny Dixon 21'; George Edwards 51'
11 Sep 1946 Wolves Away 2–1 Les Smith 30'; Billy Goffin 43'
14 Sep 1946 Arsenal Home 0–2
16 Sep 1946 Wolves Home 3–0 Les Smith 6'; George Edwards 10', 40'
21 Sep 1946 Blackpool Away 0–1
28 Sep 1946 Brentford Home 5–2 Own Goal 10'; Jackie Martin 19'; Billy Goffin 49', 87'; John Graham 59'
5 Oct 1946 Blackburn Away 1–0 George Edwards 76'
12 Oct 1946 Portsmouth Home 1–1 Les Smith 40'
19 Oct 1946 Charlton Home 4–0 Dicky Dorsett 19'; George Edwards 30'; Johnny Dixon 84', 90'
26 Oct 1946 Preston Away 1–3 Bob Iverson 37'
2 Nov 1946 Manchester United Home 0–0
9 Nov 1946 Stoke Away 0–0
16 Nov 1946 Bolton Home 1–1 Dicky Dorsett 54' (pen)
23 Nov 1946 Chelsea Away 3–1 George Edwards 17'; Jackie Martin 58'; Les Smith 3–1
30 Nov 1946 Sheffield United Home 2–3 George Edwards 10'; Jackie Martin 79'
7 Dec 1946 Grimsby Away 3–0 Jackie Martin 23'; George Edwards 64'; Dicky Dorsett 87'
14 Dec 1946 Leeds United Home 2–1 Dicky Dorsett 10'; Les Smith 28'
21 Dec 1946 Liverpool Away 1–4 Dicky Dorsett 24'
25 Dec 1946 Huddersfield Home 2–2 Harry Parkes 1–0; Jackie Martin 2–0
26 Dec 1946 Huddersfield Away 0–1
28 Dec 1946 Middlesbrough Away 2–1 Les Smith 32'; George Edwards 77'
1 Jan 1947 Everton Away 0–2
4 Jan 1947 Derby County Home 2–0 Jackie Martin 47'; John Graham 80'
18 Jan 1947 Arsenal Away 2–0 Les Smith 3'; Dicky Dorsett 15'
25 Jan 1947 Blackpool Home 1–1 Trevor Ford 80'
1 Feb 1947 Brentford Away 2–0 Trevor Ford 59', 81'
15 Feb 1947 Portsmouth Away 2–3 Jackie Martin 28'; Trevor Ford 42'
22 Feb 1947 Charlton Away 1–1 Own Goal 49'
8 Mar 1947 Manchester United Away 1–2 Dicky Dorsett 36'
22 Mar 1947 Bolton Away 1–2 Jackie Martin 31'
29 Mar 1947 Chelsea Home 2–0 Trevor Ford 9'; Dicky Dorsett 40'
4 Apr 1947 Sunderland Away 1–4 Johnny Dixon 33'
5 Apr 1947 Sheffield United Away 2–1 Dicky Dorsett 33', 70'
8 Apr 1947 Sunderland Home 4–0 Trevor Ford 33', 64'; Bob Iverson 35'; Dicky Dorsett 43'
12 Apr 1947 Grimsby Home 3–3 Trevor Ford 26', 33'; George Edwards 40'
19 Apr 1947 Leeds United Away 1–1 Dicky Dorsett 77'
26 Apr 1947 Liverpool Home 1–2 Billy Evans 6'
10 May 1947 Blackburn Home 2–1 Dicky Dorsett 49'; Johnny Dixon 78'
17 May 1947 Preston Home 4–2 Billy Evans 10', 53'; Bob Iverson 41'; Johnny Dixon 61'
26 May 1947 Stoke Home 0–1

Source: avfchistory.co.uk

FA Cup

References