Such is the ‘magic’ of the cup particularly for away supporters keen to try out a new ground. The journey is so devious that Villa stay over Friday night in Bedford. I leave New Street 9.25 – Luton Midland 12.25. Fare 15/- (75p).

As expected Kenilworth Road has no monopoly on mud. In such conditions kick and rush is the order of the day. A Dixon header from a corner by Smith and twelve minutes in 1-0. But Crowther is another who is not averse to playing substitute goalkeeper and we are duly punished by Turner (57). Luton score almost by mistake when a corner by Davies struck Morton on the back of the head (70) and already it is a long way to Wembley.

Then midst mounting tension – this is the FA Cup, after all – McParland dashes through the mud (81). 2-2. See you on Monday afternoon. I can now use my leave allocation as I see fit so no problem being amongst the 28,536 for two o’clock – early in case of extra time.

Villa Park mud does not quite bear comparison with the depth of Bedfordshire mud so there was a bit more footballing skills on view. It took Villa just on an hour to break down the Luton resistance when Dixon ran in to score with a superb header(60). Then after a bit of pinball football Dixon again provided the killer touch and we could all go home happy in the knowledge that we were drawn to play at either Charlton Athletic or Middlesbrough at the end of the month. Either of them grounds we would have been pleased to avoid.

While we had been visiting Luton stay at home followers of the Youth team had seen a remarkable 4-4 against Sheffield United in round four. Hazelden 3.

Meanwhile Blues had failed to win at Carlisle as expected so on Wednesday evening I was amongst the 56,458 who saw Blues 4 Carlisle United 0 under the St. Andrews floodlights. Compare thE attendance with that at Villa Park two days earlier on a Monday afternoon.

Everton provided the first league opposition of the new year and the number of their team changes suggests they still did not have a settled side despite having recovered from their dismal start to the season. A fact more than emphasised by Dixon (3), a carbon copy of his goal at Luton, Pace (22), Sewell (34), Smith (75) and Pace again (80). Other than an injury to Sims, Harris (29) was not as important as it might have been for the 25,274.

The alternative to Sims was the untried McBride so Jones was recalled for the first time in nearly twelve months. From my position almost directly on the White Hart Lane terraces I can comment that it remains the most dismal performance I have ever seen from a Villa goalkeeper. He was obviously nervous from the start so it was something of a surprise that it took the home team 65 minutes to record their first goal.

This after a remarkable penalty miss. No way was it a save. In trying to place the ball Harmer sent in a very gentle kick as Jones remained static on his line. Jones turned obviously expecting the ball to be nestling in the corner of the goal only for it to rebound from halfway up the post directly into his arms. He looked as bewildered as did Harmer and the 38,394.

Stokes finally broke the deadlock (65) with an element of assistance from Jones. Soon followed by Bobby Smith (75) and Stokes again (80). But for the work of Crowther and Saward in protecting Jones the deficit would have been much bigger. Unsurprisingly it proved to be Jones’s swansong. Spurs have now beaten us fourteen times in a row. Not an encouraging sign to be heading for second division Middlesbrough in round four.

Lead by Brian Clough the home team went at us hammer and tongue from the go. Fortunately Sims was back but had his ‘Jones moment’ when a shot hit his knee and fell to Clough (27). But we met force with force and Pace (39) finally managed to silence the expectant 42,396. Albeit only temporarily because Boro were soon swarming all over us again only for Harris to score a soft goal (41) when Sims was unsighted.

It was unlikely Boro would keep up such a pace all afternoon and as we started to get the measure of them Smith, assisted by Saward (53) brought us level. It was now our turn to take control and it was no surprise when Saward, again, began a move that ended with Dixon, who had guested for Middlesbrough several times during the war the satisfaction of showing them what they missed.

John Charles brought his talents to Villa Park to demonstrate to the 39,432 quite what a world class footballer could achieve with ten reasonably proficient team mates to help him. Actually his greatest moment in this came when, back helping his defenders, he cleared a shot from McParland off the line. Unless you discount his contribution to the goal by Forrest (23). Villa were on top throughout the second half and were duly rewarded with an equaliser by Pace (54). But 1-1 was a poor reward.

Monday afternoon saw the rerun of the game v Manchester City postponed from before Christmas. Hence just 10,593 mainly pensioners because others did not have the luxury of a Civil Service leave sheet. And of course, the heavy rain may have dissuaded a few from paying to stand out on the open terraces. Roy Chapman (7 from 19) came in to replace the injured Pace.

One-sided games do not get any more one-sided than this one once Smith (44) and McParland (67) had put the game to bed. How then did it come to finish 2-2? Perhaps Peter Aldis is the best person to answer that question when he was the victim of an own goal (80). Nothing to worry about, let’s go down the Witton end and make it three.

Only we went down the Witton end but did not make it three. A goalbound shot by Chapman sticking in the heavy mud. You already know the score so all I have to do is record that when it was over it was difficult to distinguish which of the mud-spattered players had applied the crucial blow. McClelland (85).

St Andrews again for England B 4 Scotland B 1.

Bolton Wanderers, Burnden Park, Nat Lofthouse. But the England centre-forward lacked support and with the best defensive record in the first division we too were likewise deficient in providing Chapman many chances. So it is no surprise that the 21,102 went home having witness a not very exciting nil-nil.

We arrived back to find that our Youth Cup exploits were over after a 1-3 at Brammall Lane. But there was still the FA Cup to worry about.

Blues had beaten Southend United in round four 6-1 and with Millwall due up next the Birmingham Mail was getting beside itself at the possibility of a Villa v Blues final. So much so that they decreed that if Blues could have a song Villa needed on too. for no obvious reason they decided to adopt words to “It’s a long way to Tipperary. Not to be outdone by the mob from Coventry Road we went along with it.
Our problem was we first had to overcome Bristol City who, as all the word now knows were “miles too slow”.

Except that they weren’t, quite. Not least because although second division they nevertheless had the current England centre forward John Atyeo in their ranks. With a covering of sand down the middle the pitch looked more like a beach. Villa wore their new pale blue change strip with Bristol in white instead of red. Class finally told just when we were starting to get concerned that their rearguard action might succeed in frustrating us. A great passing movement ended in Pace netting (36).

Atyeo rounded Dugdale, who had his work cut out all afternoon and suddenly the 63,099 realised that they might be watching a major cup upset. Then McParland crossed the ball over and Sewell took flight He was parallel with the turf and diving forward a height of two feet above the turf when his headed the ball home (73) 2-1. I had a perfect view of the goal and always thought that if he had merely stepped forward a few feet he could have simply tapped the ball home. But it made a splendid photograph. Blues won 4-1. Albion too were in the fifth round. Don’t draw them, please

As we trundled off the see the rearranged match v Portsmouth on Monday afternoon we still did not know who were we to play next? For some still unaccountable reason it was decided that the FA Cup should be shown live on television just before the evening news. 10,767. We were paying dearly for not having installed floodlights.

Worse, we were incurring the wrath of other clubs and their supporters whose grounds now had them by refusing to play under them until we had lights of our own. Insufficient time to bring out a proper Villa news, just a single 2d sheet, a collectors item.

As if his flying header had not been enough Sewell chose the occasion to score the cheekiest goal ever executed. Seven minutes in Smith centred only the ball went right across the area out to McParland on the left. Amid confusion in the Portsmouth defence McParland pushed the ball back in the centre to the waiting Sewell. All he had to do was push the ball past the advancing Uprichard. But that was too easy for Sewell. Instead he deliberately turned round and then from eight yards out backheeled into the net. As with the header it made a splendid picture for the next edition. One can only imagine the derision had he missed.

One good turn deserves another and again seven minutes in and he made it a brace. From this point on it should have been a question of how many? But we have been here before. Unaccountably relegation favourites Portsmouth were allowed to come back into the game and might easily have stolen it. 54 and our impregnable defence slipped, Harris on the other hand slipped in himself. Then again the sand proved our downfall. Portsmouth were probably more used to having a kickabout on the beach, Henderson especially (60). 2-2. How did that happen?

Gathered in front of the small television screen we were to be punished a second time for our afternoon failures Many if not most fans felt that our cup dream was over. We were to play at Burnley in round six and it is well-known that results at Turf Moor have an air of inevitability about them.

Next it did not concern me when my name came up on the Saturday morning roster. It was easy to swop if need be. Also those working Saturday morning were entitled to take a half-day off in the following week. So if in need of a half-day to take in a game there were always those willing to let me take over their duties. But we were due at St. Andrews.

So, easy, carry out my obligations till noon then take an easy stroll to Bordesley. Except that by noon it was obvious that that walk would be pointless as news came that the game had already been cancelled.

But all is not lost. Travelling home via Villa Park established that there was no likelihood of the game there being postponed due to a little bit of snow. So after lunch, back for Villa Reserves 6 Huddersfield Town Reserves 0. Myerscough 3 Hazelden 2.

Coincidentally the reserves had been due to play at Burnley on sixth round day but instead it was the first team which arrived a tad short of essential match practice. Supporters took the crowded excursion train north fearful of what was to come. Villa supporters may have made up as many as 20% of the 49,346 assembly. Not only was Burnley rightly labelled a bogey ground but so far this season Burnley had been unbeaten there.

The omens seemed satisfied when Aldis had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when he deflected a shot by Lawson where it was intended to go anyway (31). Playing in pale blue against white we knuckled down determined not to let such a misfortune get the better of us. Smith is tripped – no penalty! Pilkington shoots wide when well placed. Then 65 and suddenly Turf Moor is the scene of the right shade of claret and blue. Smith centred, McParland leapt, 1-1.

Nail biting continued right to the end. Dixon was brought down, a penalty this time, surely. No. Pilkington misses again, three times. Back to Villa Park where everyone was convinced history was in our favour.

But first the semi-final draw. Blues and Albion were still in the cup but like us had to face replays. But there had to be a local derby. Only club through were league leaders Manchester United and nobody wanted to play them. Birmingham drew the short straw.

The FA became wise to our cunning ploy of playing replays on a Monday so that the opposition was still exhausted. They insisted on a Wednesday afternoon. No real problem, being early closing day it probably added to the attendance, 46,531.

Then Burnley won the toss for choice of colours so unable to play in pale blue again we sent over to St. Andrews and borrowed a set of their red change shirts complete with prominent city badge. Burnley chose all-black with white colours much to the confusion of the spectators and referee Topliss who was obliged to discard his jacket at half-time.

Blacklaw failed to field a shot by Leslie Smith, the ball reached Dixon 1-0 (18) and the sound was deafening as the ground became a sea of claret and blue If any Burnley supporters had made the journey there were few in evidence. When Lynn cleared off the line, not for the first time, there really was a sense that it was going to be our day. But another fifty minutes of mental anguish followed before Smith–Dixon–McParland, Goal. 2-0 A semi-final, but who would we be playing and where?

Over at Highbury Albion were doing battle with Arsenal after a 2-2 at the Hawthorns. The replay was decided by one of the most controversial goals in FA Cup history. With a linesman standing erect with flag aloft the referee waved play on and so he made the decision that it was to be Albion at Molineux when most thought St. Andrews should have been the first choice.

But for 11/- (55p) we went Old Trafford for what many were already imagining was a cup final rehearsal. Only the Birmingham press continued to contemplate an all-city squabble. The Manchester evening paper summed it up when it commented, “If we (United) do not play better than this in the final we are in for a disappointment”. This presupposes that as everyone outside Birmingham assumed they would beat the Blues.

Trust to tell it was a fairly unsatisfactory match to play out in front of 55,686 but no Villa supporter was complaining after a 1-1. Most interesting thing about the Villa team was the selection of Myerscough in place of Pace (rested or perhaps Houghton wanted to follow a hunch). We were under the cosh from the start culminating in a goal by Charlton (15).

Myerscough hit the bar only for Wood to ‘save’ after the ball had appeared to cross the line. Sewell was adjudged offside and it appeared everything was going against us. That is until (72) Smith–Dixon-Goal! 1-1 at the end, a point gained rather than one lost and we get to buy the evening sports paper as we waited for the much later than usual return excursion timed for 8.15.

Wednesday afternoon at three was becoming the norm. A not so rare 2d single team sheet for the visit of Cardiff City. On this occasion early meant just thirty five seconds after Mr Howlett had set the game in motion. McParland from six yards.

Then goals came thick and fast throughout the afternoon. Sewell (5 & 61) and McParland (85) adding to Welsh woes. Almost unnoticed their one response came from centre-forward Gerry Hitchens. “He’s good isn’t he? Wish we’d got him.” No controversy over who would be our number nine at Molineux. Only 18,396 so the absence of floodlights is costing us dear.
Perhaps the debate would be decided when Arsenal came a’ visiting. Myerscough keeps his place so that must be the way the cookie is crumbling. But a goalless bore draw proved absolutely nothing except that best defence in the land. As 38,893 can testify.

The great day has arrived. We are off to Wolverhampton. Remembering to travel via New Street because most of the Albion supporters will take the Snow Hill route.

55,549. Villa fans are mostly on the South Bank. I am standing right up against the pitchside railings had there been any pitchside railings. Within touching distance of the photographers behind the goal. It is always interesting how many cameramen there are and which end they choose. The many who elected for the south end won the day.

Except that out on the field nobody won the day. After weeks of mud the pitch was quite firm and the ball bouncy. Neither to the benefit of Villa. And “get there early” was good advice not just to hear the band from RAF Bridgnorth but because the ball came my way after only two minutes and was only prevented from reaching me by some netting. Whitehouse had done the damage.

Spectators on the North Bank got a better view of our brilliant equaliser than I did . McParland (40) meeting a cross from Dixon in signature fashion. Next Whitehouse is seen running full tilt in my general direction and all thoughts of Tipperary much less Wembley go by the board as the ball goes by Sims. 1-2. Villa players looked stunned as they exited the arena. But more determined when they returned a few minutes later.

Albion equally so and a fierce battle ensued for the possession of the ball. It was eventually won by McParland when he met a centre from Myerscough and beat the despairing Millard on the line as he seemed tempted to punch the ball aside with Sanders closer to me than the goal. 2-2.

The long lines of queues for the trains home took a long time to clear. And now a major problem. How to get hold of a ticket for the replay at St. Andrews. At least arranging it for Thursday allowed a little more time for things to get organised. Meanwhile, as expected, Manchester United beat Blues 2-0 at Hillsborough so there was to be no second city final.

When I came to a ticket I was in luck. A work colleague was a Blues season ticket holder and he got me a 6/- standing ticket in the small area in front of the stand so I did not have to endure the crowded Spion Kop or the Tilton Road end. 58,067. Also I had an uncanny knack of being in the best place for a view of a goal and none more so then in the 39th minute when Myerscough headed what turned out to be the winning goal. With an enhanced photograph or a magnifying glass I might be seen in one superb picture taken from behind the goal.

I was also directly in line to a remarkable involuntary clearance by Stan Lynn when rushing back to protect his goal a shot struck him on the heel and curved wide of the far post. Albion will complain that they were without Allen for much of the game after he clashed heads with Jimmy Dugdale but we took our one chance, they, none of theirs.

Never was a four o’clock journey home on the number 8 inner circle bus more joyous than that afternoon. We were on our way to Tipperary, the tuneless Albion supporters back to the Black Country.

We still had eleven league games to play ahead of Wembley.

Two days later and 33,185 we were able to celebrate together when Preston North End came, this time with Tom Finney in his new role of centre-forward, aided by Tommy Thompson at number eight and Dcoherty T at right-half. Early on Finney and Lynn clashed heads and both left the field for treatment. Dixon proving his versatility at right-back.

Fred Else, who never liked to wear gloves, uncharacteristically fumbled a back pass and Myerscough stepped in with his first league goal to add to his first Villa goal two days earlier (40). Finney missed a great chance to equalise when he was the victim of a superb defender-like tackle by Sims. Then Dixon won a tackle, passed to Sewell (83) and most went home happy, though perhaps not so the visitors who had just seen their hopes of the title disintegrate.

A midweek trip to Cardiff with its associated travelling problems meant I was marked absent. Had I been there I would have seen the home team defeat us in a scrappy game through a goal not by Hitchens but by McSeveney as the Villa defenders stood motionless expecting the whistle for offside (48). Justice of a sorts was done when McSeveney shot tamely into the arms of Sims from the penalty spot. Thus ended our fourteen game unbeaten run. 0-1. 18,364.

A visit to Stamford Bridge presented me with no travelling problems given excursion fares from both New Street and Snow Hill. Brought about because there was a surfeit of English and Scottish supporters on the way to Wembley where they were scheduled to reenact the battle of Culloden. The fact that Myerscough played alongside Pace was an uncontentious issue at the time. In the absence of Dixon, Lynn captained.

Everyone now wanted to beat Aston Villa; Chelsea went at us hammer and tongue and things looked ominous when Brabrook netted after only five minutes. Then followed lots of end to end stuff to excite the 28,025 Pace to Southren to Sewell (61) and it was hi ho for Paddington.

Next came Sunderland to play the postponed game from Boxing Day on yet another Monday afternoon off. Pace outside-left for McParland who was away on international duty. Myerscough led the line but Pace struck the first blow with a header (11). Dugdale and Sims gifted an equaliser to Fleming when neither thought it a good idea to kick the ball clear. Myerscough made his claim for a Wembley spot (57) and that appeared to be it.

But we presented Sunderland with a belated Boxing Day gift in their relegation struggle. Hannigan (75). With only 8,930 present – our lowest gate in living memory – there was none of the usual rush for the buses, if indeed, there were any buses. We were now by far the leading draw specialists with fifteen to our credit.

Only two days later and next we visit the scene of our most recent triumph, St.Andrews. Perhaps the best chance to get a good look at any potential cup final reserves in the event of injury. Jackson, Birch, Chapman and Southren. Pace at number nine, no Myerscough so the assumption is, Pace at Wembley.

But it was Chapman who stole the show. His first, a shot from twenty yards which left Merrick standing. (8) Followed by a sensational replica (21). If Blues had any pretensions of trying to show they would have made worthy cup final opponents now was their chance but other than Murphy (42) they blew it and we showed ourselves worthy of the big occasion – with a ‘double’ to boot. 29,853.

Nigel Sims apparently sustained an injury at St. Andrews, either that and we did not want to risk our most precious goalkeeper at this late stage so 18 year old Arthur Sabin gets promoted from the reserves for a much-awaited debut. And it was a debut for the ages.

It is also many a long day since a Villa Park crowd got the screech 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 except that the 28,134 did not get to offer the six and seven and had to be content with five. With the exception of Arthur it was otherwise described as our full cup final eleven which was bad news for Pace. Opponents for our fourth game in eight days were Sheffield Wednesday. Sewell (7), Myerscough (44), Smith (56), McParland (79 & 82) get the biggest credit for the rout.

Another Monday afternoon game, this time at Burnley, and being Burnley with the inevitable result. There is no suggestion that Sabin had been injured, only exhausted, but it is little realised how close Villa came to having an amateur in goal at Wembley. Because into the breech at Burnley stepped our old friend Mike Pinner, back from a spell with Arsenal.

The team might well have been considered a reserve team from a few weeks ago including as it did Jackson, Pritchard, Birch and Chapman. A fact noted by the citizens of Burnley who stayed at home in their droves, only 17,381 giving up on an evening of Panorama. Shackleton (not Len) (23 & 35), Pace (41) providing the necessary.

Five days between games became almost been a luxury as we were required to move from Burnley to Newcastle on Easter Saturday but the first team was back with a spectacular result. Mitchell (18) had the 28,543 in raptures, oblivious of what was to come. We hardly got a look in, until, inexplicably their failure to increase their lead led to frustration and Sewell (71) and McParland (72) showed them why we were going to Wembley.

As if to prove the win at Newcastle was no fluke, enter Wolverhampton Wanderers on Easter Monday. A game which deserved far more than the 34,063 who made the effort. In what turned out to be our full cup final eleven we were treated to the sort of win we always hoped for against the Wolves. Dixon (8). From then on we beat upon their house but it fell not, before it finally gave way to the wrecking ball fifteen sublime minutes to Smith (73 & 78) Sewell (88).

On Easter Tuesday we travelled to Wolverhampton hopeful of a repeat but wary that the reverse is a likely possibility. Mr Pinner appeared in goal again. Birch, Pace and Chapman were also called upon to play their part, just in case. Wolves were not content with victory, they clearly wanted revenge for their embarrassment yesterday. With Southren limping Broadbent (27), Wilshaw (58), Broadbent (74) took advantage of the remaining ten.Not as good a game as yesterday but 35,585 had no cause to ask for their money back.

The most important thing about our tenth game in April was that nobody should get injured against Luton Town. The result was of no consequence and nobody expected too much of an effort. So nobody amongst the 28,524 can claim to be disappointed with the almost friendly game which went the way of Turner (68 & 85), Brown (82),interspersed by Smith (77).

Position 10th P42 W14 D15 L13 F65 A55 Pts 43

The FA Cup Final has been the subject of numerous articles elsewhere and so it is sufficient to merely repeat Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 1.