The 1963–64 English football season was Aston Villa's 65th season in The Football League. Villa played in the First Division.
Winning the League Cup in 1961 had been the recent pinnacle for the club. Although Villa finished seventh in 1961–62, the following season saw the beginning of a decline in form that would see them finish in 15th place in 1963 and fourth from the bottom in 1964. Manager Joe Mercer parted company with the club in July 1964 because of these results and his declining health.Ward, Adam, p. 97, "Mercer began to suffer ill health and in 1964 he left the club."
John Lennon's In His Own Write received critical acclaim when published in 1964, with favourable reviews in London's The Sunday Times and The Observer. Among the most popular poems in the collection was "Deaf Ted, Danoota, (and me)". with the fifth verse: Thorg Billy grows and Burnley ten, And Aston Villa three We clobber ever gallup Deaf Ted, Danoota, and me.John Lennon, Beatalic Graphospasms, Saturday Evening Post, 1964
In the Second City derby Villa lost the home fixture but held Birmingham to a draw at St Andrews.
There were debuts for Mick Wright (282), Tony Hateley (127), Dave Pountney (113), Graham Parker (21),https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/graham-parker Bob Wilson (9), and Stan Horne (6).
Table
Matches DateOpponentVenueResultNoteScorers24 Aug 1963Nottingham ForestA1–021-year-old Hateley scores the winner on his debut.https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/aston-villa/matches/league/1963-64Tony Hateley 26' https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/274726 Aug 1963Stoke CityH1–3—Tony Hateley https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/274831 Aug 1963BlackburnH1–2—Own goal 74' https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/27494 Sep 1963Stoke CityA2–2—Harry Burrows 39', Tony Hateley 83' https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/27507 Sep 1963BlackpoolA4–0—Alan Deakin 16', Harry Burrows 42', 56', 67' https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/275110 Sep 1963ArsenalA0–3—— https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/275214 Sep 1963ChelseaH2–0—Jimmy MacEwan 13', Tony Hateley 79' https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/275316 Sep 1963TottenhamH2–4—Own goal 33', Alan Baker https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/275421 Sep 1963West HamA1–0—Harry Burrows 11' https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/275528 Sep 1963Sheffield UnitedH0–1——5 Oct 1963LiverpoolA2–5—Tony Hateley 34', 44'7 Oct 1963EvertonH0–1——12 Oct 1963West Bromwich AlbionA3–4—Own goal 21', Mike Tindall 22', Tony Hateley 88'19 Oct 1963ArsenalH2–1—Tony Hateley 57' (pen), 85'26 Oct 1963Sheffield WednesdayA0–1——2 Nov 1963BoltonH3–0—Tommy Ewing 47', Harry Burrows 54', 77'9 Nov 1963FulhamA0–2——16 Nov 1963Manchester UnitedH4–0—Tony Hateley 1', 52', Alan Deakin 17', Harry Burrows 89'23 Nov 1963BurnleyA0–2——30 Nov 1963Ipswich TownH0–0——7 Dec 1963Leicester CityA0–0——14 Dec 1963Nottingham ForestH3–0—Harry Burrows 24', Jimmy MacEwan 25', Own goal 36'21 Dec 1963BlackburnA0–2——26 Dec 1963WolvesA3–3—Dave Pountney 68', Vic Crowe 75', Tony Hateley 90'28 Dec 1963WolvesH2–2—Harry Burrows 32', 48'11 Jan 1964BlackpoolH3–1—Phil Woosnam 27', 89', Tony Hateley 65'18 Jan 1964ChelseaA0–1——25 Jan 1964TottenhamA1–3—Harry Burrows 82' (pen)1 Feb 1964West HamH2–2—Harry Burrows 10', Phil Woosnam 49'8 Feb 1964Sheffield UnitedA1–1—Ron Wylie 7'19 Feb 1964LiverpoolH2–2—Ron Wylie 5', Harry Burrows 9'22 Feb 1964West Bromwich AlbionH1–0—Phil Woosnam 81'28 Feb 1964EvertonA2–4—Harry Burrows 6', George Graham 75'7 Mar 1964Sheffield WednesdayH2–2—Tony Hateley 6', Charlie Aitken 83'21 Mar 1964FulhamH2–2—Harry Burrows 35', Mike Tindall 69'28 Mar 1964BoltonA1–1—Tony Hateley 20'30 Mar 1964Birmingham CityH0–3——31 Mar 1964Birmingham CityA3–3—Lew Chatterley 2', 30', Mike Tindall 13'4 Apr 1964BurnleyH2–0—Tony Hateley 54', 58'6 Apr 1964Manchester UnitedA0–1——11 Apr 1964Ipswich TownA3–4—Dave Pountney 32', 82', Ron Wylie 61'18 Apr 1964Leicester CityH1–3—Alan Deakin 75'
FA Cup
The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 4 January 1964. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays, though none of these then resulted in a second replay.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate9Aston Villa0–0Aldershot4 January 1964ReplayAldershot2–1Aston Villa8 January 1964
League Cup
Second round Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 3–1 Barnsley 25 September 1963 Third round
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa 0–2 West Ham United 16 October 1963
References
Sources