The 1972–73 English football season was Aston Villa's 74th season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Second Division. Under manager Vic CroweSaunders chosen as Aston Villa's new manager, 5 June 1974, The Times, Issue: 59107 Aston Villa won promotion in the previous season as champions with a record 70 points, and thus ended their two-year spell in the Third Division. By the end of the decade they would be firmly re-established as a First Division club.
The 1972 FA Charity Shield was contested between Manchester City and Aston Villa with City winning 1–0, following a penalty from striker Francis Lee. Normally, the Charity Shield would have been contested by the First Division champions and FA Cup holders, who were Derby County and Leeds United respectively, but both declined the chance to play in the Charity Shield. Instead, Manchester City, who had finished in fourth place in the First Division; and Aston Villa, who finished as Third Division champions accepted the invitation to play. The match was played at Villa Park.
There were debut appearances for John Gidman (197), John Robson (144) Alun Evans (60), Keith Leonard (38), and Bobby McDonald (39).
Second Division
Matches
Source: avfchistory.co.uk
FA Cup
The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at the Third round. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 13 January 1973, with the exception of the Reading–Doncaster Rovers game, which was played on the following Wednesday. Eleven matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay.
The first attempted replay between Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion was abandoned in the 81st minute with the score at 1–1 due to fog at the City Ground. It was successfully re-staged six days later but was drawn 0–0, necessitating a second replay at Filbert Street.
Barnet, Chelmsford City and Margate were the last non-league sides left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate10Everton3–2Aston Villa13 January 1973
League Cup
First round
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 4–1 Hereford United 16 August 1972 Second round Home teamScoreAway teamDate Nottingham Forest 0–1 Aston Villa 5 September 1972
Third round
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 1–1 Leeds United 4 October 1972
Replay Home teamScoreAway teamDate Leeds United 2–0 Aston Villa 11 October 1972
FA Charity Shield
References