The 1883–84 English football season was Aston Villa's 5th season in Football Association Cup, the top-level football competition at the time. This season, after victories over Walsall Swifts, Stafford Road and Wednesbury Old Athletic (7–4), Villa were given their first FA Cup game that would mean having to travel outside the Midlands. They travelled to Glasgow to play Queen's Park. At the time, Scottish clubs regularly entered the 'English' FA Cup. After another large defeat 6–1, the Villa committee decided to change the playing style. At this time, before managers or coaches, committees picked the team. For the first time, Villa would now use two backs rather than one.
There were debuts for Archibald Vale,https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/archibald-vale Tom Riddellhttps://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/tom-riddell and Robert Price.https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/robert-price
Wednesbury Town reached the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1883–84, losing 5–3 to Aston Villa at the Aston Lower Grounds.
FA Cup details
Birmingham Charity Cup
Aston Villa beat Albion 4–1 in the semi-final of the Birmingham Charity Cup. This was the first time that Albion had participated in this competition.Matthews (1987) p. 209.
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultWBA GoalscorerAttendanceSF5 April 1884Aston VillaA1–4Riddell (o.g.)6,000
Source for match details: Birmingham Senior Cup
References