Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

As you may be aware, the last time Aston Villa lifted the FA Cup was on May 4 1957.

Villa fanatic John Russell, who down the years has prided himself on chronicling the history of the club, was there at Wembley as a 17-year-old that day to witness the famous 2-1 victory over Manchester United.

Here, with recollections as vivid as if the showpiece occasion happened yesterday, not more than half a century ago, John goes on a triumphant trip down memory lane to tell the story of the day.

Tickets please

For me, the 4th May 1957 had got off to an unusual start. That very morning the postman delivered a package from Villa Park returning the away match programmes I had sent as evidence that I had attended 25 of the 26 away matches that season.

It came with the sardonic note that, “this was not enough to qualify me for a final ticket”. Fortunately I had got one by using vouchers but this only entitled me to the cheapest terrace ticket.

Dressed to impress

There were no replica shirts in those days. I wore my best blazer and flannels, plus the essential scarf, hat and rosette. And I carried the obligatory rattle. Most were plain wood but I had lovingly painted mine in the famous colours.

Travel in style

If I was condemned to a long distance view of the action at least I was going to get to Wembley in style. Travel by car was an option available to very few in those days and coaches were still called charabancs.

British Railways produced a claret and blue brochure describing the 19 special trains they were running to London for the final. Proper trains of between 12 and 16 coaches long. Three of them included dining coaches and I was going on the most exclusive of them from Snow Hill to the steps of the stadium at Wembley Hill.

Food for thought

The fare for all the trips was just over one pound but for precisely 1p more it was possible to have a four course lunch on the outward journey and a four course dinner on the return.

Perhaps I sensed then that it was going to be a once in a lifetime chance to indulge myself on a Villa excursion. My Civil Service salary was close to four quid per week.

The Barn Social Club on Brookvale Road had booked an entire dining coach to themselves on the previous cup trains and I was not going to miss out on this special day. I was especially privileged because I was the only person under drinking age allowed to go with them.

It’s a long way to Tipperary

This First World War tune rang out around Wembley Stadium that day. It was adapted by Villa supporters in mocking response to the Harry Lauder theme, ‘Keep Right on to the End of the Road’ sung by the Blues fans the year before.

Reading matter of choice

The train arrived at Wembley Hill station at 1.30pm and from there it was a few yards into the stadium. I do not even remember encountering any United supporters although I did buy the souvenir Manchester Evening News, apparently flown in by air, to go with the morning edition Mail and Sports Argus.

Admission

Admission was what now seems a derisory 17p but this was almost double the cost of standing at the Witton End at Villa Park back then. The price included tax. Over the intervening years I have often quoted the fact that the Villa played in the last FA Cup Final at which spectators were charged entertainment tax.

Telegram

There was never any doubt that the Villa were going to win. After all, just as they were leaving Birmingham the team had a telegram from a certain ‘FA CUP’ saying how much he was looking forward to being with them again on Saturday! Nobody in Manchester had the sense of humour to send one to their team!

Journey home and celebrations

The return train left Wembley at 17.44 and it was not the first to depart. Chaos would have resulted if United had equalised in those fraught last few minutes but in truth nobody expected the cup final to go to extra time in those days of the W formation. Every man behind the ball belonged to the rugby codes.

The train was time-tabled to take three hours to get back to Birmingham, allowing plenty of time for dining and wining. Except that most people would have preferred to be celebrating at the Social Club.

Even when they did get back there it was not long to go before last orders. Although being underage I was not even allowed into the club and simply went home. Soberly and reverently we returned to Villa Park next day for the march past.

Hands on the cup

This was something very few Villa supporters were able to do except at a cricket match against the Albion. It never occurred to anybody then to make money out of displaying it.