1969–70 Aston Villa F.C. season

The 1969–70 English football season was Aston Villa's 70th season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Second Division. On 19 January 1970, with Villa bottom of the Second Division, manager Tommy Docherty was sacked.[1] Vic Crowe was subsequently appointed manager.[2]

Aston Villa
1969–70 season
ChairmanEngland Doug Ellis
Manager(1) Scotland Tommy Docherty
(2) Wales Vic Crowe
StadiumVilla Park
Second Division21st
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Second City Derby
32--23--24

Bruce Rioch (154) moved to Aston Villa in July 1969 for a fee of £100,000, then a record fee paid by a Second Division side. Tommy Docherty, then Manager saw two Zambians, Emment Kapengwe (3) and Freddie Mwila (1) in action and signed them on. They arrived in Birmingham in August 1969 and signed for Villa for two years. There, they met Brian Tiler (107) who would later coach the Zambian national team. Kapengwe and Mwila [3] became the second and third black players to represent Villa since Willie Clarke in 1901. Other debut appearances included Chico Hamilton (208), Andy Lochhead (131), Pat McMahon (130), Jimmy Brown (75), George Curtis (51), Neil Rioch (22), John Phillips (15), Evan Williams (12), and Brian Rowan (1).[4]

Results were not very good and Villa were relegated to the third division. Docherty left the team and the duo decided to come back home after 9 months with Villa.

In the Second City derby Villa drew at home and won away.[5]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
18 Birmingham City 42 11 11 20 51 78 0.654 33
19 Watford 42 9 13 20 44 57 0.772 31
20 Charlton Athletic 42 7 17 18 35 76 0.461 31
21 Aston Villa (R) 42 8 13 21 36 62 0.581 29 Relegation to the Third Division
22 Preston North End (R) 42 8 12 22 43 63 0.683 28
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Docherty dismissed by Aston Villa board, GEOFFREY GREEN, 20 January 1970, The Times, Issue: 57772
  2. ^ Saunders chosen as Aston Villa's new manager, 5 June 1974, The Times, Issue: 59107
  3. ^ Neil Brown's Aston Villa Player Registry
  4. ^ "Aston Villa's Seasons". AVFC History.
  5. ^ "All Aston Villa's Matches". AVFC History. Retrieved 6 August 2023.