The 1971–72 English football season was Aston Villa's 73rd season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Third Division. Under manager Vic CroweSaunders chosen as Aston Villa's new manager, 5 June 1974, The Times, Issue: 59107 Aston Villa won promotion to the Second Division 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 were firmly re-established as a First Division club.
In July 1971, Ray Graydon secured a £50,000 move from third division Bristol Rovers, with captain Brian Godfrey moving in the opposite direction. Graydon missed just one of Villa's 46 league games in the 1971–72 season, scoring 14 goals as the club secured the Third Division title with a five-point margin over Brighton & Hove Albion. Debut Appearances included Brian Little (247), Chris Nicholl (210), Ian Ross (175), Jimmy Cumbes (157), Tommy Hughes (16), and Malcolm Beard (6). Willie Anderson's contribution included scoring a career high fifteen goals in all competitions with eight coming from penalties, helping him gain a reputation as a penalty taker specialist.
Third Division
Matches
Source: avfchistory.co.uk
FA Cup
At the First round proper stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions joined the non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. To complete the round, four additional non-league clubs received byes to this stage. Telford United and Hillingdon Borough were the finalists from the previous season's FA Trophy competition, while Skelmersdale United and Dagenham were the finalists from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 20 November 1971. As a third division club Villa were required to compete in the first round joined those non-league clubs having come through the qualifying rounds. Villa were knocked out by Fourth Division Southend.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDateAttendanceNotes22Southend United1–0Aston Villa20 November 197116,929
League Cup
First round Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 2–2 Wrexham 18 August 1971 Replay Home teamScoreAway teamDate Wrexham 1–1aet Aston Villa 23 August 1971
2nd Replay Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 4–3 Wrexham 31 August 1971
Second round Home teamScoreAway teamDate Chesterfield 2–3 Aston Villa 8 September 1971
Third round
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Crystal Palace 2–2 Aston Villa 5 October 1971
Replay Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 2–0 Crystal Palace 13 October 1971
Fourth round
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Blackpool 4–1 Aston Villa 26 October 1971
References