1896–97 Aston Villa F.C. season

3rd English title (22 goals) (25 December 1896) Sheffield United 7–0 Blackburn Rovers (9 January 1897) (28 November 1896) (26 September 1896) Derby County 8–1 West Bromwich Albion (25 December 1896) Everton 6–3 West Bromwich Albion (17 April 1897) Everton Aston Villa Everton Everton 2–1 Liverpool (3 October 1896) Nottingham Forest 4–1 Burnley (24 October 1896) Sheffield United 7–0 Blackburn Rovers (9 January 1897) Main article: History of Aston Villa F.C. (1874–1961)

The 1896-97 English football season was Aston Villa's 9th season in the Football League since being one of its 12 founding members in 1888. Villa were champions for the third time matching Sunderland's three wins. For good measure, the FA Cup was also won, to make Villa the second team to complete "The Double" after Preston North End in 1888–89.

This was the season during which Villa moved from Wellington Road to their current home at Villa Park, although it was still referred to as 'Aston Lower Grounds' for some time.

The Ever-presents were Charlie Athersmith, Jimmy Cowan, and Fred Wheldon. Villa first reached the top on 28 Nov and used 17 players through out.John Campbell was not quite as productive as in the previous season, and the leading scorer honours went to Fred Wheldon. Fred had been signed in 1896 for £350 from local rivals Small Heath, who had been relegated the previous season. He was a good dribbler with the ball and won four caps for England. He played first class cricket for Worcestershire.

There were debuts for Fred Wheldon (123), Jimmy Whitehouse and Albert Evans.

League

Main article: 1896–97 Football League

A total of 16 teams competed in the 1896–97 Football League. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Two points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

The season got off to a slow start, with Villa recording only two wins in the first six games. An unbeaten run of 12 games took them to the top, where they finished with a lead of 11 points. The title was won when Derby County F.C. failed to win on 10 April; Villa had three games left to play, all of which were won.

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Note	Scorers
2 September 1896	Stoke	Wellington Road	2–1	—	Jack Cowan 20', Jack Devey
5 September 1896	Albion	Stoney Lane	1–3	—	Jack Devey
12 September 1896	Sheffield United	Wellington Road	2–2	—	Fred Burton, Fred Wheldon
19 September 1896	Everton	Goodison	3–2	—	Johnny Campbell (3)
26 September 1896	Everton	Wellington Road	1–2	—	Jack Devey
3 October 1896	Sheffield United	Bramall Lane	0–0	—	—
10 October 1896	Albion	Wellington Road	2–0	—	Fred Wheldon, Johnny Campbell
17 October 1896	Derby	Baseball Ground	3–1	—	Fred Wheldon, Johnny Campbell, Jack Cowan
24 October 1896	Derby	Wellington Road	2–1	—	Jack Cowan, Fred Wheldon
31 October 1896	Stoke	Victoria Ground	2–0	—	Fred Wheldon, Steve Smith
7 November 1896	Bury	Wellington Road	1–1	—	Charlie Athersmith
14 November 1896	Wednesday	Olive Grove	3–1	—	Fred Wheldon, Johnny Campbell, Charlie Athersmith
21 November 1896	Wednesday	Wellington Road	4–0	—	Steve Smith, Charlie Athersmith, Jack Devey, Fred Wheldon
28 November 1896	Blackburn Rovers	Ewood	5–1	—	Jack Devey, Johnny Campbell, Charlie Athersmith, Steve Smith, Unknown
19 December 1896	Nottingham Forest	Wellington Road	3–2	—	Jack Reynolds 5', Jack Devey 15', Charlie Athersmith
25 December 1896	Liverpool	Anfield	3–3	—	Jack Cowan, Fred Wheldon, Charlie Athersmith
26 December 1896	Wolves	Molineux	2–1	—	Bob Chatt, Charlie Athersmith
2 January 1897	Burnley	Wellington Road	0–3	—	—
9 January 1897	Sunderland	Newcastle Road	2–4	—	Own Goal, Johnny Campbell
16 January 1897	Sunderland	Wellington Road	2–1	—	Fred Wheldon, Unknown
6 February 1897	Bury	Gigg Lane	2–0	—	Johnny Campbell (2)
8 February 1897	Burnley	Turf Moor	4–3	—	Johnny Campbell, Jack Devey (2), *(fourth scorer)*
22 February 1897	Preston	Wellington Road	3–1	—	Jack Devey, Charlie Athersmith
6 March 1897	Nottingham Forest	Town Ground	4–2	—	Jack Devey, Jack Cowan, Johnny Campbell, Fred Wheldon
13 March 1897	Liverpool	Wellington Road	0–0	—	—
22 March 1897	Bolton Wanderers	Wellington Road	6–2	—	Charlie Athersmith, Jack Reynolds, Johnny Campbell, Fred Wheldon, *(others)*
27 March 1897	Bolton Wanderers	Pike’s Lane	2–1	—	Johnny Campbell, Fred Wheldon
17 April 1897	Blackburn Rovers	Villa Park	3–0	—	Johnny Campbell, Fred Wheldon, Own Goal
19 April 1897	Wolves	Villa Park	5–0	—	Jimmy Cowan, Jack Devey, Jack Cowan, Johnny Campbell (2)
26 April 1897	Preston	Deepdale	1–0	—	Fred Wheldon

Source: avfchistory.co.uk