PROGRAMME - Swansea Town v Aston Villa Feb 1924
Swansea City v Aston Villa - 2nd Feb 1924 |
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SWANS v ASTON VILLA FA CUP 2nd ROUND 2nd FEBRUARY 1924 In only Swansea Town's fourth season in the Football League proper (following the introduction of an additional division in 1920) the team was sitting proudly at the top of Division 3 South and anticipating promotion for the first time. The "icing on the cake" was a home draw in the Second round of the FA Cup against glamorous Aston Villa, one of the League's twelve founder members in 1888, and already FA Cup winners on six occasions and league champions on five occasions. The build up to the game saw the Swans spend the week in Llandrindod Wells, looking to the soothing spa waters to boost their preparations, and they travelled to Swansea by train on the morning of the match. Villa, meanwhile, were greeted by a large crowd on their arrival at High Street station on Friday evening, and ensconced themselves in the Osborne Hotel, Rotherslade overnight. The game itself, before a crowd of 19035, was played at a furious pace, and press reports of the time referred to the Swans having the greater territorial advantage, but going down to a 2-0 defeat to an experienced Villa side containing five English internationals, courtesy of a brace of Capewell goals. Interesting other FA Cup result on this same day saw Cardiff beat Arsenal 1-0, a result to be famously mirrored three years later in the Final at Wembley. Unfortunately, the Swans exit from the cup also saw them fall from grace in the promotion stakes, with subsequent results seeing them fade to eventually finish fourth. The experience proved invaluable though, as the following season they were promoted as champions. Two of the main news items in the days leading up to the Villa match concerned the British government's recognition of the constitution of the USSR, and the increase in price of a gallon of petrol to 1s 11d (10p in new money!) The match programme is an impressive 12 page production, with the outer 4 page cover produced on pink paper. As with most programmes of the era it is heavy on advertising, but with a reasonable amount of reading content. There are adverts for no fewer than five sports outfitters, together with famous Swansea names Down & Son Furnishers and the Ben Evans department store. Estimated value of a reasonable condition copy of this programme - £650 What to read next:In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them. We have looked through our photo archives for a look back as some games against Stoke City over the years, what are your memories of these games ? Saints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned. Not my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't ! The big question is how can a side that was so tight at the back, so clinical up front and who could pass the ball around almost with their eyes closed, become the disorganised rabble that they were at the Leicester City this evening. Russell Martin has revealed his side for the game against Leicester City, find out what surprises he has for Saints supporters this time out. Saints travel up to Leicester knowing that it is almost certain that they will just be in the play offs come the end of the season, however there is still the feint hope of 3rd place to play for, however the Foxes are playing for a bigger prize. Saints head up to Leicester City this evening with their automatic promotion hopes just about over, so for the 3,000 fans who bought their tickets when there was hope here are the details. There can be no excuses for this defeat, a loss that effectively means that it will be a play off spot and not an automatic promotion place for Southampton, so where did it all go wrong. Cardiff City 2 - 1 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report. |