Unusual for a cup tie, we were allowed to wear our regular strip whilst Palace played in white shirts emblazon with single hoops of claret and blue. Their star was Roger Byrne, who had been the first fourth division player to be selected for England. If we thought we were going to have it easy when McParland set up Burrows (9) then we were quickly in for a rude awakening.

Byrne dribbled his way into the penalty area before leaving Sims groping at thin air (!6) and whilst 39,011 were recovering from the shock Uphill was left to walk the ball into an untenanted net (17). Cometh the hour cometh the man and in the case of the FA Cup that meant McParland. He took to low-level flying and was barely a foot off the ground when he dived forward to head an equaliser (23).

He would have put us ahead close to four o’clock had he not been offside. Then amazingly Palace went ahead again when Byrne dashed in to send a regular bullet header into the Witton End rigging (50). With the ultimate cup tie shock now a probability the tension was palpable. But perhaps Palace lacked the wherewithal to see it through to a conclusion and probably nerves took over which allowed Dougan to equalise (53).

We were now witness to a proper cup tie. I was cursing the fact that I was going to have to have another day off work to get to the replay when it happened. The dramatic ending the tie deserved. The game only ended when the referee decided it should end. With Palace fans hugging themselves in the excitement and in the ninety-third minute the ball reached Burrows out as near the corner flag as makes no difference.

We will never know whether he actually meant it or not but he sent in a high cross which followed a course of its own. It can only have been an Armada wind but somehow it flew over the groping hands of Rouse and unbelievably we were in round four. One almost felt sorry for the Palace fans – so near at yet so very far.

Next, we welcome Derek Pace back to Villa Park again, hoping that Sleeuwenhoek will manage to keep him in check. He did, but so too unfortunately did the whole of the Sheffield United defence keep us in check and in a case of after the Lord Mayors’ Show 26,350 had to put up with a nil–nil which on a count of missed chances ought to have gone our way.

We now go to Old Trafford on a Monday evening for a make-up game in the expectation that this time they will send out their best eleven. We had to field Tindall, Baker and McMorran so our hopes were not high. Nor were those of the home fans as only 20,807 conquered the dismal night air. It is no consolation that we played better in defeat than we had two days earlier But Quixall (20) and Charlton (26) ensured a bleak journey home with two fierce shots.

Things were no better at West Ham United at the end of the week when 20,284 saw our ineffective forwards again fail to find the net. Sadly for us the Hammers captain Woosnam had already done so with, unusually for him, a diving header (2). It may be cruel to say that the game was all over in the 17th minute when Sims was left floundering in the mud leaving Dick the easiest of tap-ins. But the game was all over in the 17th minute despite our than having by far the better chances.

Stop press: Peter McParland joins Wolverhampton Wanderers.

By joining Wolves McParland misses out on another meeting with goalkeeper Ray Wood and with Pat Saward because our next encounter is with second division Huddersfield Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup. It was almost a case of Crystal Palace revisited. Almost.

McMorran combined with Hale to set us on the way to the predicted success but sadly those two new inside forwards failed to our insipid attack which had just gone three league games without a goal. Huddersfield looked the more likely scorers which they eventually did via McHale (68). But with a replay in mind and me getting more concerned at having to use up another precious day’s leave, Town took on the mantle of a typical second division side and paid heavily for their defensive tactics. With the 38,013 concerned as to what they would be doing next Wednesday – MacEwan to Dougan to Crowe – wham into the Aston End goal.

We have started loaning reserve players to gain more experience. Mostly to Southern League clubs. Meanwhile we have spotted a left winger at Partick Thistle; Tommy Ewing, who immediately makes his debut, Burrows moving inside as Dougan plays against his old mates. Not only that, he gets to score the only goal of the game when he was left clear to pick his spot to the satisfaction of most of the 28,728. There would have been more goals but for various infringements of the offside laws.

FA Youth Cup rnd 4 Nottingham Forest 2 Aston Villa 4.

Ewing was obviously not going to be the new McParland and a training injury (why do so many get injured in training?) meant that 13,039 at the seaside were not going to find out if he was the new Matthews. But then neither was Hill for the team in tangerine. At least the weather stayed fine. Blackpool suffered early on when a facial injury to full-back Martin led to his becoming a makeshift centre-forward.

Perhaps it was his naivety in that position or Sleeuwenhoek’s uncertainty in how to deal with him before he was taken to hospital which led to Parry opening the scoring (29).Ultimately the handicap proved too much for the home side and MacEwan showed no sympathy (60) and neither did McMorran (79). Having changed at Crewe and Preston on a regular service train on the way north we had to change there again on the way back in what were five-hour journeys each way. But all for only 22/6 (£1.13). Meanwhile the reserves are still top of the Central League.

Since being relegated five seasons earlier Charlton Athletic had settled down to life in the second division and they became our fifth round opponents. In a Barr Beacon wind Charlton choose the usual ploy of having it behind them just in case it moderated in the second half but they failed to make best use of it and left Sims untroubled. Unlike Duff who we tested with our ground hugging passes. But just as 42,057 were beginning to wonder whether anyone would ever score Dougan used his head (53) to relieve the tension.

Supporters of the day will have known to beware the Kinsey report and he duly appeared to head the ball where Sims wasn’t (66) and it looked as though I would be having to take a whole day’s leave to go to The Valley next Wednesday rather than see Tottenham Hotspurs under electric light right from where I was sitting. Thankfully it became the latter when with static defenders expecting an offside whistle from referee Callaghan, Burrows decided my leave arrangements in typical style (88).

49,892 at Villa Park for a league match on a Wednesday evening in February. Albeit Tottenham Hotspur led by Robert Dennis Blanchflower. The visitors were not all-conquering this season being five points behind Burnley who had two games in hand. Perhaps there was added spice in that we had been drawn to visit White Hart Lane in the sixth round where we really thought we might stand a good chance this season.

But the large crowd saw a remarkable nil–nil. Remarkable because it was goalless in name only. It was end to end, goalmouth incidents from start to finish and fully merited the ovation it received both at half time and the end. Our ‘nil’ may be accounted for by an inside trio of McMorran, Thomson (for the injured Dougan) and Hale. The Tottenham ‘nil’ despite White, Smith and Greaves may be accounted for by a defence of Crowe – Sleeuwenhoek – Deakin. Not quite the long awaited victory over Tottenham but it certainly felt like it. But unbeknown to either side the real winners of the night’s excitement were Ipswich Town. Beware the curse that awaits in Russell Road.

A London club for the third successive game and a second in white shirts. Bottom of the table Fulham. Which probably accounts for why half the crowd from Wednesday night stayed at home to watch World of Sport. 24,725. That and the weather. Bitterly cold. Perhaps also the shortage of spectators led to a mediocre match despite faith in an unchanged team. At the age of thirty-seven and twelve years since he left Villa Park Eddie Lowe had youngsters wondering why he was greeted with such affection. He certainly did his best to push back the years and kept us at bay well into the second half before MacEwan, also pushing back the years, revived the saying about old dogs and new tricks. There was nothing wrong with his reflexes. England captain Johnny Haynes did his best to inspire his team but they eventually let him down allowing Burrows to do his usual (80).

Now 7th P30 Pts 31 and the reserves are still top.

After Ella Fitzgerald and Jazz at the Philharmonic at the Odeon New Street it’s off to Hillsborough. After Wilkinson had given them the lead following a free kick the only reason we did not score a hatful of goals in the next half-hour can be put down to goalkeeper Springett and over-eagerness. Whereupon ginger Dobson calmly showed us how to do things properly not once, but twice (44 & 54). A 0-3 reverse before just 21,588 did nothing for our confidence ahead of the big game next week.

It might be thought that ground conditions were in our favour – mud. But we had not seen much in the way of mud in recent weeks. 63,879 arrived anticipating a close, hard=fought encounter despite our poor display last time out. It was the cup after all. And for forty-five minutes we certainly got cut and thrust. But the inference is that manager Bill Nicholson had spotted a flaw in our defence which it took Blanchflower little time to expose from out on the touchline (49). And despite having scored Tottenham were not vulnerable, we were dispirited and there for the taking.

Jones took advantage and only increased our disappointment (51). or some reason British Railways had seen fit to put on eight excursion trains to Euston, Paddington and, oddly, one to St. Pancras. It was also the final of the Rugby Union County Championship at Twickenham, Hampshire v Warwickshire but surely they were not expecting vast numbers from Birmingham going to that. Or Walsall supporters going to Charlton Athletic. This overkill probably accounted for the reduction of football excursion trains – that and Everton and Liverpool supporters now trying to outdo each other in sending old coaches to the breakers yard.

Four days later than originally advertised we get a visit from lowly Albion. The pitch was in perfect order and 34,969 had accepted the eventual consolation of a semi-final at Villa Park, Burnley v Fulham. They also had to accept the consolation of a winning goal from Burrows just as most were resigned to another nil-nil (88). As usual it was our frontline deficiencies when faced with only replacement Wallace to beat which nearly cost us dear.

Birmingham City now had a six-point cushion against relegation so we are hopeful that they will not put up too much of a fight at St. Andrews and so it proved. To that extent the 43,489 cannot have been all that surprised. Nevertheless a much-changed side, six in all, due to injuries and exhaustion had to withstand a lengthy opening salvo before Blues forgot about defence and Burrows was around to remind them (13). Then a cohesive movement ended in Wylie netting from close by the penalty spot (35). The second half degenerated into all that is half=expected on these local occasions and referee Luty had his work cut out. It proved to be the last game for Dugdale. Not one he would wish to be remembered by.

FA Youth Cup rnd 5 Aston Villa Youth 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Youth 4

League leaders Burnley arrived at Villa Park needing to defy history if they were to go on to win the title. And as a reconnaissance for their forthcoming semi-final. Sufficient to attract 36,952. They made surprisingly easy work of it as if we were happy for another team in claret and blue to garner the big prize. Connelly soon showed their intent with a great shot (9). Then unaccountably Burnley supporters had to wait for Harris to dribble his way through right at the end (86)

While 60,000 were at Villa Park for Burnley 1 Fulham 1 some of us were at Highbury for something rather more sensational. We had left Snow Hill on the excursion train at 8.35 with far more aboard going to the Ideal Homes Exhibition at Olympia than Villa supporters going to Highbury. Indeed the attendance at Highbury, 20,107 was their lowest Saturday turnout for many a long day. I will confine myself to simply recording the sequence of goals in this epic as games like this defy description.

13 min 1-0 Thomson
16 min 1-1 Skirton
28 min 1-2 Strong
48 min 1-3 Strong
56 min 2-3 Thomson
57 min 2-4 Skirton
60 min 3-4 Dougan
62 min 4-4 Crowe
88 min 5-4 Ewing

For our 25/6 £1.26 there were now no restrictions against coming back on the 7.10 from Paddington.

But the following week only 23,571 could be bothered to board the buses to go to see a Bolton Wanderers now lacking any personalities of note. Late arrivals would have missed seeing Ewing latch on to a pass from Dougan (who had had an ‘assist’ in all the goals at Highbury for those – of whom there were none – who kept a count of such things) (3). A thunderbolt from Thomson made it two (56) and we trotted to an easy victory after Dougan (76) made us wonder Hitchens, who?

Now sixth but the reserves have slipped to fourth behind Burnley Reserves who threaten to achieve a remarkable double.

After eight goals in two games we headed to Maine Road hopeful of gaining merit money by finishing in the top six. Forgetting that Manchester City had Bert Trautmann. They also had Young, who beat our offside trap to score the only goal of the game (58), More steadiness in front of goal and we might have carried home the spoils. But only might. 18,564. Where is everybody?

Easter Saturday and we face another top-notch custodian, Gordon Banks But 24,569 are rewarded with something totally unexpected. Visitors scoring three goals at Villa Park can generally expect to go home celebrating. Visitors conceding eight might think they had gone to Madrid by mistake. The scoring went 7 min 1-0 Thomson 14 min 1-1 Walsh 18 min 2-1 Dougan 20 min 3-1 OG 27 min 3-2 Riley pen 31 min 4-2 Thomson 56 min 5-2 Dougan 60 min 6-2 Baker 62 min 7-2 Burrows 72 min 7-3 Walsh 89 min 8-3 Thomson.

It might be thought that after eight goals on Saturday queues would be forming outside Villa Park on Easter Monday long before the gates were opened at one o’clock. But perhaps Weston super Mare was still the preferred holiday destination and with nothing at stake 422 fewer, only 24,147 came to see anonymous Nottingham Forest. How can you follow five goals at Highbury and eight against Leicester City? The answer, astonishingly enough is five.

Tardy arrivals would have missed seeing Dougan set up Ewing’s fierce shot (3) followed quickly by an own goal when McKinlay deflected a shot by Dougan (5). Everyone was now expecting another glut of goals but the next one came from Forest. Adison gave Sims no chance (13). Sensing there were goals to be had Thomson (22) and Burrows 37 pen had thoughts of our beating the eight as we went in for the oranges. To say the second half was disappointing is an understatement. Perhaps with a game in mind tomorrow we declared at five, the last one Ewing (78).

The return on Easter Tuesday had been set for three o’clock but realising it was a normal working day in the east the kick=off was belatedly retimed for 7.30. This lead to an odd occurrence. Aston Villa Reserves 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves 0 in the afternoon followed by a mad dash by car to Nottingham. The reserves win came too late because after only one win from nine games they had fallen from grace. With Dougan unfit Thomson took over again alongside Wylie and Baker. An early injury to Deakin did not help but we held out until Julians nodded in from a corner and Quigley gave them some sort of revenge just as the 24,896 were moving towards the exits (90).

And finally you get to find out the reason for the title to this article. We have to go to Ipswich Town for a match which had defied all logic all season.

As we kicked off we had the hopes of everyone in Burnley resting heavily on our shoulders. Burnley had to beat already=relegated Chelsea and hope we would beat Ipswich if the Clarets were to take the crown. Even so they still had to beat Sheffield Wednesday in their last match next week. The fact that Burnley could only draw 1-1 with Chelsea can possibly be put down to the news they were hearing from the stand opposite the Russell Road terrace at Ipswich.

It was only a matter of when Ipswich would score, not if. The when coming from a late brace by centre-forward Crawford (73 & 77). We had played our part in keeping the title race open to the last but cannot complain at the result. Neither could most of the 28,832 who were as stunned as the rest of the nation and did not really know how to celebrate. Thus it was that standing on the Russell Road terrace at Ipswich that I was for the first time on a ground when the first division title was won. Would our day ever come? Ironically the referee for this vital match was none other than Ernie Crawford of Hillsborough infamy 1959.

We still had the little matter of a make up fixture against Cardiff City to come. 22,174 chose to see out the season. The game began with a flurry of goals Ward (6) then in an instant a deflected equaliser thanks to Rankmore (8). Mel Charles, John’s brother, put them ahead again (18) before we stiffened our resolve and Dougan scored only his tenth goal of the campaign (33). Hampton – Waring – Ford – Hitchens – Dougan (note the print size).
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No fewer than 26 players appeared in the first team during the season. Only Crowe appeared in all 42. Deakin 40, Sleeuwenhoek and Aitken 35 each all plus cups. Names which may account for our respectable seventh-place finishP42 W18 D6 L16 F65 A56* Pts44 *bettered only by Everton, 54.

FA Cup Final Tottenham Hotspur 2 Burnley 1 . I had the good fortune to sit immediately behind an artist who painted a famous picture of the stadium/game which now lies in the FA Headquarters.

Lord Mayor’s Charity Cup Aston Villa Youth 1 Birmingham City Youth 3 agg 4-4. After this blight on youth football and the city in general the Lord Mayor wisely put his trophy back in the vaults never to be seen again.