I had watched the construction of the long-awaited floodlight pylons every day on the way to and from work. At last “Saturday three o’clock” was to become the norm even for Villa, who had incurred the wrath of most of the rest of the league (our league!) by originally declining to play under lights until we had lights of our own, before the authorities declared that the home club should decide the kick-off time.

A season or two earlier we had attributed our success to the fitness of the players under Bill Moore and his legacy was to be a new gymnasium overseen by Ray Shaw, of whom great things were expected.

The customary pre-season practice match attracted a larger attendance than usual keen to see the new lights, if not to actually see them working. The colours defeated the pale blues 8-3 although oddly Dixon had appeared amongst the reserves in the first half before changing loyalties for the second.

A week later everyone was back in earnest for the opener which again was against Birmingham City. Much to the annoyance of the club accountants who felt that the opening game would have attracted a big attendance whoever so it meant losing a big gate from the autumn. 55,198. Trevor Birch was a surprise selection over Crowe at right-half. Four years on from his first outing.

Blues had the better of the early exchanges and it was no surprise when Murphy headed them ahead (15). Play had continued as bright as the weather before Larkin thought he could do better than Merrick and Lynn duly obliged (52). After which Villa should have won but didn’t.

Two days later, Monday night and the big switch on. Not quite the excitement it should have been because after a heavy rainfall which kept numbers down to 35,172 the game started in daylight. By the time Dixon became the firsr player to score under the lights (53), Crawford (25) had already put the visitors a goal up and Myerscough had already equalised (31).

McParland had the satisfaction of scoring our third goal ((65) before Sims had the unwanted distinction of being credited with an own goal when he allowed a greasy orb to slip through his fingers. 3-2 as we had the unusual experience of heading into the dark to catch the bus home.

Our first away match was at West Ham United, winners of the second division last season and more notably 2-0 winners at home to champions Wolverhampton five days ago. I recall a massive crowd outside the ground and going in early rather than hope for a complimentary ticket just in case the gates got closed, early, as indeed they were. 30,263.

The noise went on unabated as first Musgrove (15 & 18) followed by Lansdowne (30) and Keeble (35) tore us to shreds. There was no respite in the second half either as Keeble (73) and Dick (75) were intent on sending a message to the rest of the division. Perhaps they took their eye of the ball for a short time because Sewell (76) and Smith (88) flattered to deceive only for Dick (89) to show that the Hammers could score whenever they chose. 2-7. It we thought that we had been unlucky in meeting an in-form team keen to show their prowes.s it was, in reality, a warning of what was to come.

Villa Reserves 4 Barnsley Reserves 0. Hazelden – the first floodlight goal for the reserves.

Fratton Park where I arrived just as their president, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein was stepping out of his limousine. My reward, as one of the few Villa supporters amongst the 31,104, was a complimentary ticket. From a player I hasten to add, probably McParland.

But it was scant consolation for what I was compelled to watch. Peter Aldis had a nightmare match. Every time I looked up their right winger Peter Harris was racing past him along the wind then, instead of centring to Weddle as might have been expected, he placed the orb beyond Sims five times. 31, 35, 47, 60 & 75. Home via Waterloo and the midnight from Paddington. Work next day.

There were no wholesale changes as might have been expected for the game against Nottingham Forest because we simply did not have adequate reserves. Saward for the injured (and exhausted) captain – Dugdale and Lee. Forest had ambitions of being considered the best team in the Midlands (wherever that was) and Burkitt (26) Wilson (32 & 51) showed no mercy. Smith (55) and Hitchens (60) made things look more respectable for the 31,014 viewers but there was a feeling we were in free fall.

A fact confirmed on Monday evening when champions Wolverhampton arrived in their quest to retain their title. It did not look too bad when Hitchens (7) stroked us ahead. But once Broadbent (13) had equalised we knew what to expect. Even before the lights were switched on Murray (26) and Booth (28) had made the reality all that bit clearer. 1-3. John Sharples had made his debut against his hometown team and managed to stick around. 43,138.

Weather-wise it was a glorious day when we journeyed to London to face Chelsea and the new wonder kid, Jimmy Greaves. He was the victim when challenged by Saward but Sillett shot wide from the spot. Then lo and behold Hazelden converts a chance set up by McParland (31) and things are looking good.

That is until Greaves (37) evades first Dugdale and then Sims and 44,023 begin to expect the expected. Right-back Sillett seemed determined to make up for his penalty boob and perhaps it was no surprise when he did so (57) and our run of defeats extended to five.

Wolverhampton knew a thing or two about floodlit football and how to work up a crowd. 41,845 in this instance. John Willis got to make his debut at number nine, and indeed his one and only appearance in the colours, as we continued to persist in playing Hitchens at inside-forward. Murray (36 & 51) and Henderson (22 & 81) demonstrated, as if we did not already realise it, that we had a very brittle defence.

The ever-youthful Stanley Matthews.came next. Maybe if we could slow him down a touch we might have a chance. Still only 43 but perhaps losing his crowd-pulling power as only 28,821 this time around. Charnley (27) and things are again not looking good. Then, Eureka! Myerscough (45) just as the crowd was starting to get restless. 1-1. We managed to keep it that way but were now one of three teams with just six points below another four with eight each.

Blackburn Rovers were another club which had not yet seen the light and we had to hope that the excursion train – 14/9 (74p) – arrived as scheduled at 14.10 after calling at Manchester Victoria. British Railways had recognised that people used the football excursion trains rather to visit relatives instead and so started to include a few secondary stops.

Just for once we who were few who bothered about the football were in good spirits afterwards because we had ended the sequence of defeats. Under pressure from the start Sims was beaten by Johnston after only eleven minutes. But the 28,172 got to admire McParland when he converted good work by the oft-underestimated Myerscough (21).

Having discovered the weakness in the Rovers defence Hitchens did what Hitchens did best (28). Still 2-1 at refreshment time. But almost inevitably it soon became 2-2. Johnston again (50) and but for Sims it might easily have been worse. But with Sharples taking care of Douglas frustration set in amongst the home eleven. Smith (73) rounded Whelan and suddenly the skies cleared. 3-3.

Sad news in that we hear K.O.Roberts (3 for 39) had been advised to hang up his boots.

The dreaded Home International weekend again and we were obliged to find a replacement for McParland, in Belfast for Ireland v England, for the visit of Newcastle United, a task which fell to Ken Barrett. To say he had a disappointing debut is to split hairs because what that means is that he might have had a debut hat-trick but had to be content with two (35 & 53).

The first a header from one so small (5ft 6). The second he strolled in after a pass from Hitchens. Despite a setback when White thrashed home ((66), thanks to Sims 28,801 were beginning to believe that relegation talk would soon be a thing of the past.

The old Alexander Stadium at Perry Barr was ahead of Villa when it came to floodlights and thousands then took to Aston Lane in the hopes of seeing Herb Elliot run a mile in under four minutes. But being October the weather was not quite conducive to such ventures.

Perhaps in the FA Youth Cup round 1 we might even see a glimpse of the future. Villa Youth 7 Port Vale Youth 0. Good use of the floodlights – better than a Saturday morning.

Consecutive victories and we approached Villa Park in the hopes of making it three in a row against a now mid-table Albion side. When expecting a large vociferous attendance the Villa often liked to have a band to calm things down. So 45,778 were treated to no less than the Coldstream Guards.

Barrett kept his place at the expense of Sewell and with Sharples and Lee we looked a bit exposed to the likes of Kevan and Robson. And so too Burnside (34) and Hogg (42). But only after Jackman had failed to hold a shot from Barrett (13) who thus for a few minutes joined the pantheon of instant heroes. But only for a few minutes. The result, 1-4, was our biggest drubbing by the Baggies in decades and a reminder that we still had a long way to go

Looking back I can hardly believe my eyes when I see Gerry Hitchens shown at centre-forward against Derby Count Reserves. Amazing where five goals against the youths of Port Vale can get you. Leading the line at Elland Road was Walter Hazelden. Perhaps he was there for his defensive qualities because for the 21,188 it was as depressing a goalless encounter as it is possible to imagine. It kept us rooted firmly at the foot of the table P14 Pts9. Four teams above us, including Leeds, all with ten points. One win and we would practically be in mid-table.

But that win did not come when Arsenal made a rare midweek visit to the Hallowed Halls. We try to cheer ourselves up by reminding ourselves that our record against the Gunners is P76 W33 D15 L 28 F129 A113 Pts 81. Against this has now to be recorded 1-2. Apparently Hazelden had got injured at Leeds but Barrett, not Hitchens.

One wonders quite where we would be without Sims. In the meantime we had signed Bill Beaton from Dunfermline, just in case. Arsenal tip-tapped their way around our static defence. Ward (6). 30,563 feared the worst. But McParland got the better of Tommy Docherty who had moved to the bright lights from Preston and 1-1 seven minutes ahead of Bovril time. We had our chances after the break including an offside ‘goal’ by McParland but when you are down you are down. A fact emphasised by Nutt (67).

28,470 kept the faith when a few days later cup holders Bolton Wanderers appeared minus Nat Lofthouse, injured against Russia. Reason enough for optimism, maybe. Hitchens replaced Barrett. Bolton repeated what Arsenal had done – Stevens (6) and already you can sense the shuffling of feet in the Trinity Road stand.

Then a typical McParland (16) strike turned the stamping into clapping. It was nip and tuck for ages but just when we were congratulating ourselves on gaining a point against the league leaders (!) there is Stan Lynn cutting in to score against his hometown team. There was hardly time to restart the game.

2-1. Twentieth – above Leicester and Manchester City.

I had been there when Wolves had inaugurated their floodlights against Moscow Dynamo and lit up the whole of British football. Blues had had Inter Milan. Villa were keen to have noteworthy Continental visitors but we had missed the boat and none showed any enthusiasm for coming to play against the ‘most famous club in the world’

It was the close season in Sweden so eventually GAIS Gothenburg took up the challenge. They were a hard sell and there were large gaps on the terraces and in the stands, not helped by a hint of fog. And, let’s face it, as feared GAIS were not up to much. Harry Burrows was chosen to make his debut and was set up for a goal (70) after McParland (17) and Lee (57) had ensured no contest.

What was more of a contest was a visit to Luton Town, unbeaten at their paddock. We had hopes of it being otherwise when Hitchens (37), with a mis kick fooled Baynham. But Turner (62 & 74) had 18,040 wondering whether the Hatters, now second to Arsenal and given their luck, might, just might, go on to win the league.

There was everything to fear when Dave Hickson came back to Villa Park with Everton after a sojourn at Huddersfield every bit a failure as his tenancy here. Sims expressed what we had thought of him when he brought him down with a hug. A penalty, Jones (10). Thomas intercepted a poor backpass by Sharples and it was already backs to the wall (15). Then Sims pulled a muscle, had to go off and McParland became his nominated successor.

Worse, Myerscough became a passenger rather than an active participant on the wing. Lynn forgot that he had not been delegated to take the green jersey and Jones netted another penalty (42).

Sims returned for the second half. Despite overwhelming odds the lion stirred. Sewell (69) and Hitchens (74) re-invigorated the once famous Villa roar. But it was not to be. A fit Sims would not have conceded their fourth goal. Unusually for a beaten team 27,649 applauded them off the pitch.

On Friday ahead of the game at Leicester we signed Ron Wylie, a Houghton protégé at Notts County. But because the team had already been selected he was obliged to make his debut in the colours at Villa Park – Villa Reserves 2 Preston North End Reserves 1 (the one scored by ‘their’ Wylie).

Meanwhile with Sims injured the ‘just in case’ became a necessity when Beaton was called upon to make his debut at Leicester City. When Sewell put us ahead after just ninety seconds followed by strikes from Hitchens (12 & 36) the home team – bottom to our twenty-first – were in total disarray. Rarely, even at Villa Park has a crowd, 20,864, turned so vehemently on their own side.

How therefore to explain the final score? Only two words suffice, Bill Beaton. Displaying all the nervousness expressed by McParland against Everton he had a touch of the collywobbles which was detected by Hines (37) when he netted a gift. Doubtless also by manager Matt Gillies when he gave Leicester their half-time talk. “Pressurise their goalkeeper” became the order of the day. Hines added three (47, 53 & 78) Walsh (71) and to add insult to injury, Kelly (90). We were in freefall.

But Villa were determined to make as much money as they could to pay for the new floodlights by inviting top sides for a kickabout. The problem with Heart of Midlothian was that although they were Scottish League champions they were not from Glasgow. Wylie made his debut but it remains debatable whether he would actually have signed had he known what was to happen, reportedly, at half-time. With the score 2-2 Eric Houghton was sacked. 23,000. Just enough to cover expenses. It finished 3-3.

Be that as it may Wylie made his debut proper when Preston proper arrived but with only one Tom. Our ex, Thompson. Aldis returned and was appointed captain. Even though Dixon also returned in what turned out to be one of the most inspirational positional changes ever made by a committee. Because, with no manager as yet, nobody can say who made it.

Dixon, right-half. How does that work? Amazingly well as it turned out. Preston, third, only one point behind Arsenal at the top never got a look in once Sims, back in goal, fit or not, after the Leicester debacle, denied Hatsell with a flying save. Wylie was sent flying just as he seemed about to start with a debut goal.

Lynn was absent for the first time, Smith obliged (25) Applauding spectators in the stands had only just sat down when McParland had them on their feet cheering again. 28.080 went home happier than usual to cogitate on who the next manager might be.

Despite our new illuminated address there was disappointment that the Home International England v Wales was scheduled for a Wednesday afternoon 2pm kick-off. Tempered by the fact that one Villa player would be playing. Crowe for Wales. Only 41,581 when we might reasonably have expected a full house. Those, unlike me, who chose to stay at their desks did not miss much. At 2-2 it is best described as a typical purposeless Home International.

I was amongst the few who came back next evening for a significant use of the floodlights. FA Youth Cup round 2: Aston Villa Youth 2 Birmingham City Youth 2.

Burnley away. Nothing needs to be said except just 14,923 witnessed the predictable. Connolly (57) McIlroy (61 pen) Hitchens (64) Pointer (87) and, minus Wylie we were fortunate it was only three.

FA Youth Cup round 2 replay Birmingham City Youth 1 Villa Youth 2.

Manchester City (20th) was a more than must-win game. But Trautmann has rarely had an easier game although the same can be said to a lesser extent about Sims. It was almost a surprise that anybody scored at all. Kirkman (70) had the 21,484 wondering who had sufficient ego to want to take on managing this lot. A persistent Myerscough (78) rescued us from total embarrassment.

Top v Bottom at Highbury. Traditions die hard and we still get to hear the Metropolitan Police Band. We field what is probably our best team and our best team achieves the shock result of the season. 31,970 and listeners to Sports Report simply could not believe their ears. All the more so because Henderson had given the Gunners the lead (39) after a myopic linesman had failed to hoist his flag.

But again playing like a man on a mission Myerscough (39) saw that justice was done and McParland (52) helped us light up Soho.in the evening.

Could we follow in the stud marks of the youth team when it came to visiting St Andrews? Blues 18th and two points better off. In the heavy rain we ought to have been at home in the mud and when Hazelden, a late substitute for the injured Wylie, put us ahead (26) and we dreamt of back to back away wins.

That is until Larkin was tripped, or did he fall? Astall (62 pen) let his feeling be known and in doing seemed visibly to dispel any confidence we may have had. Jackson (67 & 76) plus Neal (85) completed a thoroughly humiliating afternoon in Bordesley Green as witnessed by 31,857.

STOP PRESS. Joe Mercer then manager of second division Sheffield United fancies his chances of reviving a bigger sleeping giant.

Seasonal games at Manchester United should more than test this ambition. As should playing in front of 63,098 on Boxing Day test the nerve of the eleven who had won at Highbury. Quixall (20) finally emphasised what had gone earlier when he put an unstoppable shot beyond Sims. Myerscough, determined to make up for the injured Hitchens, calmly lifted the ball over Gregg (36).

We might just have achieved an Arsenal reprise until eventually Dixon got stuck in the mud when trying unsuccessfully to clear from Viollet (73) and all we could do was hope for better things tomorrow.

56,450 was a reminder of the good old days. But minus the good. Jackson for Lynn, Hitchens for Sewell. At least the weather was fine but nevertheless there remained sufficient to show to the new manager the magnitude of his monumental task. Understandably both sides soon tired but sheer enthusiasm saw United home. Violett (70) Pearson (83).

Positon 22nd P25 W6 D4 L15 F36 A63 Pts 16