The motto around the edge of the FIVE SHILLINGS coin I was given to commemorate the forthcoming coronation.

It is hard now to fully describe all the excitement which permeated the coming six months in advance of the big event in June. But you don’t want to read about all the festivities, you want to read about the Villa. So….

New Year’s Day 1953, a Thursday meant a trip to Sunderland. And Ford finally got his goal against us, early on. It took until approaching half-time before Dixon restored equanimity, by which time we had been reduced to ten men following an injury to Dorsett. But as Frank Moss kept Ford under his thumb Thompson put us in front on the hour. And that is how it should have stayed until in added time they scored the equaliser which meant they went top of the league, albeit from a mis-kick that flummoxed Parsons.2-2 41,839.

Derby County was a must-win which we went on to win far easier than hoped despite Lynn shooting wide from the spot just before the clock had reached three o’clock (2.45 k.o.). Then Thompson put the ball way out of reach of Middleton their Justice of the Peace in goal. A blizzard then threatened to bring a premature end to the proceedings but fortunately it was short-lived and with Gibson and Roberts changing places Dixon was on hand to convert one of their efforts. Followed later by a Roberts tap-in. 21,258 stepped into the darkness keen to get into the warm.

FA Cup time and it seemed appropriate to invite the Shirley Silver Band to add to the usual anticipation. Not least because we were playing in blue shirts bearing the badge of Birmingham City. Rules demanded that in the event of a colour clash both teams should change and with clothing only just off the ration most did not have a change strip. Meanwhile our claret and blue shirts – sans badge – were seen being worn by Blues at Oldham.

Middlesbrough just above us in the table were the visitors. Dorsett was back to keep an eye on Wilf Mannion. Dixon (16) finished off a fine move by Roberts before a bit of Thompson (26) magic doubled our quota. The cup had managed to attract 41,996 from the pubs after their Saturday morning shopping and Gibson had them anticipating the Monday lunchtime fourth round draw. Fitzsimmons (74) did not unduly delay the celebration.

“It’s that man again.” No, not Tommy Handley but Stanley Matthews. We even spent a couple of days in Blackpool beforehand, if only to get used to the cold wind. The home team were minus Mortenson but when Lynn developed a mysterious injury during the match it was left to his fellow defenders to prevent Blackpool adding to their fourth minute start. But so successful were they – Moss was magnificent – that Gibson was able to have the Villa fans looking forward to their fish and chips along the prom with barely two minutes remaining.

Welcome Chelsea. Three enforced changes from those who had survived the Blackpool caper. Their ‘star’ was regular England centre-forward Roy Bentley. Con Martin is back in the middle and charged with looking after him. Fairly successfully as far as the 30,375 were concerned but for a scrappy goal by Armstrong just before the hour. The goal was in keeping with the nature of the play until eventually Villa, masters of the late goal. A header by Thompson meant Chelsea would remain bottom of the pile.

The fourth round saw an old favourite return to Villa Park. At the start of the season Leslie Smith had decided to return to his origins and re-join second division Brentford. He even features in their team photograph taken by Albert Wilkes in the Villa programme. But sadly for Leslie and the 40,627, for whatever reason he had to be content with a seat in the stand. Brentford were unusual in having a player–manager. And what a player. Tommy Lawton.

No goals. But Martin had been back for just the one game. Could Frank Moss, himself a veteran, be relied upon to keep their veteran in check? Yes as it so happened, as did everybody else keep everybody else. 0-0, not a score anyone was expecting. Probably the most entertaining part of the afternoon had been another appearance by the Shirley Silver Band. Why not? They were familiar with the shirts we were wearing.

I recall getting off the bus at Villa Park on the way home from school to learn that the replay at Brentford had gone our way 2-1. Rotherham United next. We are on our way to Wembley. Surely. But first there was the little matter of a trip to Old Trafford. Walsh is back – he scored our consolation which was no consolation after the three they netted past Parsons. You may be wondering where McParland has been all this time. Well, believe it or not, he was to be found languishing in the third team.

Our first visit to second division Rotherham United. What could we expect for our fifth round encounter? Not too much we hoped, as Blues had done the double over them at Christmas. Perhaps we would be inspired by having to appear in Blues shirts again. The snow had melted leaving a soft top to the pitch as we kicked off up the notorious slope in front of a ground bursting at the seams. 19,964. Goffin (20) silenced most of them with the help of a deflection but only for the five minutes it took Shaw to set our nerves on edge.

It was left to Parsons to keep our citadel intact. Then 37 and from a rebound, this time off the post, Walsh was on hand. He was he was there again when, now playing down the hill he had us checking on the half-time scores to see who we might be playing in round six. It would be another second division outfit – Everton.

A make-up game as a consequence of the trip to Millmoor and a scoreline one seldom expects to see. Being a Wednesday afternoon, albeit early closing day, only 15,181 passed though the Villa Park turnstiles. Stephen kindly sent us on our way almost from the start when he kindly put the ball out of the reach of Uprichard. Despite our domination fans had to wait over half an hour for the second goal, Walsh – a great shot. Then quite unexpectedly an experienced half back line, Scholar-Flewis–Dickenson forgot what they were there to do. Dixon (48) Thompson (68) Goffin (71) Walsh (83). Villa 6 Portsmouth 0 There is talk of winning the cup.

This belies the mystery of how we could go from scoring six goals against Portsmouth to 0-0 at Bolton. Their nil is easy to explain. Blanchflower and Frank Moss kept Lofthouse tethered while Parsons saved everything which came his way. Our nil may be accounted for by a ninth-minute penalty miss by Thompson. No Stan Lynn available. And a sluggish front line with one eye, or possibly both, on next week. 34,466. Quite a lot for Bolton. But then they are also in round six and only have to go to Gateshead.

It is impossible to overstate the excitement being felt in Aston ahead of the cup tie with Everton. Aged thirteen I had been brought up on tales of past achievements not least winning the FA Cup on six occasions. I knew of people who had been there last time we won it in 1920 and indeed some who had seen Charlie Athersmith in action. Thousands still embraced the heady days of the early thirties. I was as certain as I could be that I was in the presence of history.

The team went off to Letchworth again to prepare for the big match. The official attendance is given as 60,658 But probably about 20,000 of these were Everton supporters. There was so much blue in evidence that it was as if we were being outnumbered by visitors in our own stadium. Just when we needed a band to calm things down we did not even bother to invite the Shirley Silver Band.

I think it was probably the first and only time I have ever cried on leaving the ground when it was all over. Frustrated dozens of times, and the cat hiding in fear of its life but crying? Never. What had caused this outburst of negativity was a goal, after 75 minutes, by Hickson. After which we seemed totally powerless to bring about a replay. I never forgave HIckson for that goal even when he eventually came to sign for us. The fates of football ensured that his stay was brief. I have never warmed to Everton either. Always tacitly favouring Liverpool whenever they enjoined in their petty local squabble.

As it was we might have met Bolton in the semi-final at Hillsborough. To emphasise the disappointment the other semi-final would be held at Villa Park.

We had to go to Middlesbrough to make up for the game we should have played on sixth round day. Jones had apparently injured a thumb v Everton so Parsons is back. He distinguished himself when he saved a penalty from Mannion. Or rather he caused the international to shoot wide. When Boro’ were awarded a second penalty this was entrusted to Walker who did not fail. Twice. (65). It was quite common for penalties to have to be taken twice as players rushed into the area in case of a rebound. Only 13,176 on a Wednesday evening.

Liverpool came to see whether they could do what their neighbours had achieved. Only for Walsh to score one of the quickest goals ever seen at Villa Park. Fifteen seconds! We were so much on top that full-backs Aldis and Parkes were often to be seen in the Liverpool half. A shot from way out by Dorsett duly met the target. (18). Dixon (57) and Thompson (71) completed the rout.

Neither Manchester ground could be considered a happy hunting ground and Maine Road continued to live up to its ‘bogey’ status. Made worse by the fact that it was a four-pointer and the 1-4 deficit ensured that we remained in the relegation scrapl That they had won eight consecutive home games but still remained in the bottom two emphasises how close things were at the bottom. Spurdle put them ahead (16).

Then that seemed about it as we struggled vainly for an equaliser. That is until the 84th when we gifted a second goal to Spurdle. Sensing there were more to be had he completed a hat-trick two minutes later. Thompson scored one for Villa (88) only for Anders to get their fourth. Quite a busy last few minutes for those of the 32,552 who stayed to the end.

Meanwhile at Villa Park I was to witness a remarkable ending to the semi-final between Blackpool and Tottenham Hotspur. 68,221 – a personal record! Blackpool Perry (17) then Tottenham Duquemin (50) but the reason this game lives in the memory of everyone who stayed to the end was the weak backpass by Alf Ramsey in the final seconds with notable referee Arthur Ellis about to call time. It is not so much the weak kick, nor the subsequent scorer, Mudie, but who was at fault.

While Alf Ramsey was writing his name into football folklore for the first time, unusual happenings at Burnley from where I have a very rare programme. Rare because it shows the name of Blanchflower at right-half for the Villa reserves. It is inconceivable that RDB would be chosen for anybody’s reserves. There is no evidence that he had been injured or was in need of game time. But the team must have been given by the Villa to the home club. Except that he did not actually play in the 0-1 reverse. Just to add to the curiosity the Villa News shows the game as having taken place on March 31st whereas it actually happened on March 21st.

Things were to get even worse for Villa at the Valley in a make-up game from Christmas. Only 10,382, mainly retirees, thought it worth the effort even though Charlton were within touching distance of the top. They set out to prove this with the unbridled enthusiasm borne of success. They chased everything and their 5-1 win was no more than they merited.

Looking back Liverpool was now something of a daydream when Stoke came to play on a Wednesday afternoon. 3pm – no thoughts of a twilight encounter. Another four pointer. Whenever rugby was cancelled for logistical reasons we were given the afternoon off. So no need to feign illness. Again the game was preceded by a minute silence, Abide with Me, the National Anthem and black armbands. Queen Mary had died. Despite the spring sunshine the game was in keeping with the preliminaries. Roberts (14) walked round Herod.

Stoke woke up from their lethargy when, nearly too late, they recognised that there was a chance to improve their plight. Thomson (82) their number five, had only 10,802 still fearing the worst. 1-1.

A visit to league leaders Preston North End was next on the list. The chosen team showed as astonishing eight changes, half of them positional, as we sought to extract ourselves from the mire. But, amazingly, what had been a stone blind certain home banker turned out to be the surprise result of the season. Charley Wayman or no, the league’s leading scorer, we had an imperious Frank Moss and the new combination of Pace and Walsh to convert those half-chances. 3-1 and who of the 21,385 would have believed that? Who indeed, because that defeat effectively cost Preston the title as they went onto finish runners-up to Arseanl on goal average.

Preston, as always, followed by Burnley at home. Now this really was a home banker. Never change a winning side. Just one, Goffin for Lochhart. Amos Moss – he did not score many (5 for 105) sent us on our way, and Larry Canning (3 for 41) delighted the 32,404.

Albion were another team still with hopes of the title when we crossed the city boundary on Easter Monday but despite this only 32,580 made the effort. It must have been the rain. Those who stayed at home missed another classic local derby. Nearly half an hour gone and Blanchflower with a header. He also does not score many least of all with his head. Only for Allen score a goal from a backheel – rare that, too – after another four minutes had past by.

Then Vinall deflected a shot by Griffiths out of the reach of Parsons and things were looking bad. Made worse when Blanchflower and Roberts suffered injuries. Vinall tripped Griffin and Allen duly netted (84) before Walsh, captain for the day against his former club, as was customary, made the score better reflect the balance of play.

Easter Tuesday, with most of the nation back at work saw a more encouraging 46,821 in Aston for the return. Sadly with a few changes on both sides it was fast and furious but not quite the thriller they may have hoped. The scorers on both sides were predictable. Allen, a header (34), Walsh (50) after a bit of clever footwork.

Still only two points clear of relegation a trip to White Hart Lane remained a must-win fixture. Helped by the fact that Thompson was back. Blanchflower used his head again from a well placed free kick by Amos Moss (34). The Villa defence then held firm against everything Spurs could throw at them in the second half – and it was quite a lot – apart from when Duquemin evaded Frank Moss, just the one time. 39,217. 1-1 but it was a very important point.

Sheffield Wednesday had only Chelsea and Derby County below them as the relegation battle continued. Defeat and we would be back down there too. 26,564 were biting their nails, none more so than after the fourth minute when Frank Moss did a Ramsey with the same result. And only another four minutes later Jackie Sewell, the costliest footballer in Britain at the time, turned the relegation struggle on its head. Blanchflower, now at inside-right had taken a liking to having a pot at goal (30). McIntosh could only parry his shot to Dixon and suddenly we were back in the game.

But just as there was movement on the terraces ahead of half-time Marriot thrashed the ball beyond Parsons. Villa came out determined to put the world to rights and Dixon duly converted (57) before Gibson started the foot stamping (75). Both teams now went all out for the winner before the opportunity fell to Thompson and he did not miss.(80). 4-3. Safe for another season.

Then came our first visit to Cardiff City since the days of Billy Walker (1929 actually). 29,917 were happy that they would see us back again next season. We could afford the luxury of an unchanged team. Cardiff took the lead, Grant (17) from a flying header Dixon (32). Amos Moss (again!) ensured a happy Saturday evening train journey home via the line through Stratford on Avon. Fare only 13/- (65p).

Then it was Cardiff again for the make-up game from Christmas. Nothing at stake so only 18,876 for a Wednesday evening. But Blanchflower had clearly taken to his forward role and enjoyed scoring the odd goal. Walsh enjoyed scoring any time. 2-0.

Even less reason for fans to go to watch Newcastle United for a rare Friday evening. Only 16,809. The cup final was now to be televised so clubs thought it prudent to avoid a fixture clash. We lost 0-1. But who cares? Final position 11th P42 W14 D13 L15 F63 A61 Pts41. An unbelievable position considering how close we had been to relegation for most of the season.

With the Coronation festivities in mind most clubs had been encouraged to arrange local fixtures. So once again we invited the Blues to Villa Park where 25,000 saw 1-1 before we went off to…. Ireland again. Waterford 1 Villa 8 and Shamrock Rovers 1 Villa 1.

Stanley Matthews got his cup-winners medal, the Queen’s horse nearly won the Derby only to be beaten by Gordon Richards (I Tulyar so!) and lots of us got to see the illuminated bus circumnavigate the outer circle bus route. Nobody around our way had a street party.

Oh! And I got given a souvenir pen knife at school. So we could no longer offer the excuse, “Sorry sir, my pencil has broken”.