The 1963 Football League Cup Final, the third to be staged since the competition's inception, was contested between local rivals Birmingham City

Birmingham City F.C.

Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...

 and Aston Villa

Aston Villa F.C.

Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

 over two legs. Aston Villa had won the inaugural competition in 1960–61

Football League Cup 1960–61

The 1960–61 Football League Cup was the inaugural staging of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs. The competition began on 26 September 1960, and ended with the two-legged final almost a year later on 22 August and 5 September 1961.The tournament was...

, and had beaten Birmingham 4–0 in their most recent League meeting, while Birmingham were seeking to win their first major trophy. Birmingham won 3–1 on aggregate, with all the goals coming in the first leg.

Match summary

The first leg took place on 23 May 1963 at Birmingham's home ground, St Andrews. Birmingham took the lead when Harris fed Auld who crossed for Ken Leek

Ken Leek

Kenneth 'Ken' Leek was a Welsh footballer, who played as a centre forward or inside forward for several different clubs and for the Wales national side in a professional career which spanned from 1952 until 1968. He scored 145 goals in the Football League from 396 appearances with five clubs...

's powerful shot, but Aston Villa equalised via Bobby Thomson

Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1937)

Robert Gillies McKenzie "Bobby" Thomson is a Scottish former professional Association footballer who played as a forward. He played most of his professional career in the West Midlands, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham clubs, and is probably best known for his four years...

. Seven minutes into the second half, the same combination of players made it 2–1, and after 66 minutes Jimmy Bloomfield

Jimmy Bloomfield

James Henry "Jimmy" Bloomfield was an English football player and manager.Born in Notting Hill, North Kensington, London, Bloomfield started his career at non-league Hayes before joining Second Division side Brentford in October 1952...

 met a Harris cross to score off the post to give Birmingham a 3–1 lead.
The second leg four days later at Villa Park

Villa Park

Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...

 was goalless. With former England

England national football team

The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...

 centre half Trevor Smith

Trevor Smith (footballer)

Trevor Smith was an English footballer, who played as a centre half for Birmingham City and the England national football team.- Biography :...

 marking Thomson out of the game and Birmingham's defensive tactics including regularly kicking the ball out for throw-ins, Aston Villa were unable to break their opponents down.

First leg

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">	BIRMINGHAM CITY:
1	Johnny Schofield Johnny Schofield John 'Johnny' Reginald Schofield was an English footballer, playing league football for Birmingham City and Wrexham....
2	Stan Lynn Stan Lynn Stanley "Stan" Lynn was an English professional association footballer who played as a right back. He made nearly 450 appearances in the Football League for Accrington Stanley, Aston Villa and Birmingham City...
3	Colin Green Colin Green Robert Colin Green is a Welsh former footballer born in Brymbo near Wrexham, who made 201 appearances in the Football League playing as a full back for Everton, Birmingham City and Wrexham. He played most of his professional club football for Birmingham City and was part of the team which won the...
4	Terry Hennessey Terry Hennessey William Terrence "Terry" Hennessey is a Welsh former international footballer who gained 39 caps for Wales. He played as a defender and made 400 Football League appearances in the 1960s and 1970s with Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County.After his playing career, he managed a number...
5	Trevor Smith Trevor Smith (footballer) Trevor Smith was an English footballer, who played as a centre half for Birmingham City and the England national football team.- Biography :...  (c)
6	Malcolm Beard Malcolm Beard Malcolm Beard is an English former professional footballer born in Cannock, Staffordshire who made more than 350 appearances in the Football League playing as a wing half. He spent the vast majority of his playing career at Birmingham City, for whom he made 405 appearances in all competitions, and...
7	Mike Hellawell Mike Hellawell Michael Stephen "Mike" Hellawell is a former professional footballer who played two games for England in 1962 against France and Northern Ireland.His brother John was also a professional player.-Career:...
8	Jimmy Bloomfield Jimmy Bloomfield James Henry "Jimmy" Bloomfield was an English football player and manager.Born in Notting Hill, North Kensington, London, Bloomfield started his career at non-league Hayes before joining Second Division side Brentford in October 1952...
9	Jimmy Harris Jimmy Harris (footballer) James "Jimmy" Harris is a former English professional footballer who played as a forward for Everton and Birmingham City in the First Division...
10	Ken Leek Ken Leek Kenneth 'Ken' Leek was a Welsh footballer, who played as a centre forward or inside forward for several different clubs and for the Wales national side in a professional career which spanned from 1952 until 1968. He scored 145 goals in the Football League from 396 appearances with five clubs...
11	Bertie Auld Bertie Auld Robert "Bertie" Auld is a Scottish former football player and manager, perhaps most notable as a member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions side of 1967. As a player, he made more than 200 appearances in the Scottish League playing for Celtic, Dumbarton and Hibernian, and more than 100 in the Football League...
Manager:
Gil Merrick Gil Merrick Gilbert Harold "Gil" Merrick , was an English footballer and football manager. Considered one of the best goalkeepers in the UK during the mid-1950s, Merrick was one in a long line of great Birmingham City keepers which included the likes of Johnny Schofield and Harry Hibbs...

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center> ASTON VILLA: 1   Nigel Sims

Nigel Sims

David Nigel Sims , known as Nigel Sims, is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Peterborough United in the 1950s and 1960s....

2   Cammie Fraser

Cammie Fraser

John Cameron "Cammie" Fraser is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a full back. He played 80 games for Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Football League and a further 72 for Aston Villa and Birmingham City in the English Football League.-Playing career:Fraser, born in...

3   Charlie Aitken 4   Vic Crowe

Vic Crowe

Victor Herbert Crowe was a Wales international football player and later football manager.-Career:Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old...

5   John Sleeuwenhoek

John Sleeuwenhoek

John Cornelius Sleeuwenhoek was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half.He made 226 appearances in the Football League for Aston Villa and was capped twice for England at under-23 level....

6   Gordon Lee

Gordon Lee (footballer)

Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...

7   Alan Baker

Alan Baker (footballer)

Alan Baker was an English football player. He played for several teams including Walsall F.C. and Aston Villa F.C.. He was born in Tipton, Staffordshire.-Career:...

8   George Graham

George Graham (footballer)

George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...

9   Bobby Thomson

Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1937)

Robert Gillies McKenzie "Bobby" Thomson is a Scottish former professional Association footballer who played as a forward. He played most of his professional career in the West Midlands, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham clubs, and is probably best known for his four years...

10   Ron Wylie

Ron Wylie

Ronald M. Wylie is a Scottish former football player, coach and manager. He played as a right half or inside forward for Notts County, Aston Villa and Birmingham City, making more than 550 appearances in the Football League, and more than 700 in all competitions...

11   Harry Burrows

Harry Burrows

Henry "Harry" Burrows is a former English professional footballer who is best known for his career with Aston Villa and Stoke City. His playing position was a Striker/Winger. Before playing for Villa, Burrows started his career at Wigan Boys. He then moved to Stoke City then Plymouth Argyle before...

Manager:   Joe Mercer

Joe Mercer

Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...

Second Leg

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">	ASTON VILLA:
1	Nigel Sims Nigel Sims David Nigel Sims , known as Nigel Sims, is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Peterborough United in the 1950s and 1960s....
2	Cammie Fraser Cammie Fraser John Cameron "Cammie" Fraser is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a full back. He played 80 games for Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Football League and a further 72 for Aston Villa and Birmingham City in the English Football League.-Playing career:Fraser, born in...
3	Charlie Aitken
4	Vic Crowe Vic Crowe Victor Herbert Crowe was a Wales international football player and later football manager.-Career:Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old...
5	John Sleeuwenhoek John Sleeuwenhoek John Cornelius Sleeuwenhoek was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half.He made 226 appearances in the Football League for Aston Villa and was capped twice for England at under-23 level....
6	Gordon Lee Gordon Lee (footballer) Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
7	Alan Baker Alan Baker (footballer) Alan Baker was an English football player. He played for several teams including Walsall F.C. and Aston Villa F.C.. He was born in Tipton, Staffordshire.-Career:...
8	George Graham George Graham (footballer) George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...
9	Bobby Thomson Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1937) Robert Gillies McKenzie "Bobby" Thomson is a Scottish former professional Association footballer who played as a forward. He played most of his professional career in the West Midlands, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham clubs, and is probably best known for his four years...
10	Ron Wylie Ron Wylie Ronald M. Wylie is a Scottish former football player, coach and manager. He played as a right half or inside forward for Notts County, Aston Villa and Birmingham City, making more than 550 appearances in the Football League, and more than 700 in all competitions...
11	Harry Burrows Harry Burrows Henry "Harry" Burrows is a former English professional footballer who is best known for his career with Aston Villa and Stoke City. His playing position was a Striker/Winger. Before playing for Villa, Burrows started his career at Wigan Boys. He then moved to Stoke City then Plymouth Argyle before...
Manager:
Joe Mercer Joe Mercer Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center> BIRMINGHAM CITY: 1   Johnny Schofield

Johnny Schofield

John 'Johnny' Reginald Schofield was an English footballer, playing league football for Birmingham City and Wrexham....

2   Stan Lynn

Stan Lynn

Stanley "Stan" Lynn was an English professional association footballer who played as a right back. He made nearly 450 appearances in the Football League for Accrington Stanley, Aston Villa and Birmingham City...

3   Colin Green

Colin Green

Robert Colin Green is a Welsh former footballer born in Brymbo near Wrexham, who made 201 appearances in the Football League playing as a full back for Everton, Birmingham City and Wrexham. He played most of his professional club football for Birmingham City and was part of the team which won the...

4   Terry Hennessey

Terry Hennessey

William Terrence "Terry" Hennessey is a Welsh former international footballer who gained 39 caps for Wales. He played as a defender and made 400 Football League appearances in the 1960s and 1970s with Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County.After his playing career, he managed a number...

5   Trevor Smith

Trevor Smith (footballer)

Trevor Smith was an English footballer, who played as a centre half for Birmingham City and the England national football team.- Biography :...

 (c) 6   Malcolm Beard

Malcolm Beard

Malcolm Beard is an English former professional footballer born in Cannock, Staffordshire who made more than 350 appearances in the Football League playing as a wing half. He spent the vast majority of his playing career at Birmingham City, for whom he made 405 appearances in all competitions, and...

7   Mike Hellawell

Mike Hellawell

Michael Stephen "Mike" Hellawell is a former professional footballer who played two games for England in 1962 against France and Northern Ireland.His brother John was also a professional player.-Career:...

8   Jimmy Bloomfield

Jimmy Bloomfield

James Henry "Jimmy" Bloomfield was an English football player and manager.Born in Notting Hill, North Kensington, London, Bloomfield started his career at non-league Hayes before joining Second Division side Brentford in October 1952...

9   Jimmy Harris

Jimmy Harris (footballer)

James "Jimmy" Harris is a former English professional footballer who played as a forward for Everton and Birmingham City in the First Division...

10   Ken Leek

Ken Leek

Kenneth 'Ken' Leek was a Welsh footballer, who played as a centre forward or inside forward for several different clubs and for the Wales national side in a professional career which spanned from 1952 until 1968. He scored 145 goals in the Football League from 396 appearances with five clubs...

11   Bertie Auld

Bertie Auld

Robert "Bertie" Auld is a Scottish former football player and manager, perhaps most notable as a member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions side of 1967. As a player, he made more than 200 appearances in the Scottish League playing for Celtic, Dumbarton and Hibernian, and more than 100 in the Football League...

Manager:   Gil Merrick

Gil Merrick

Gilbert Harold "Gil" Merrick , was an English footballer and football manager. Considered one of the best goalkeepers in the UK during the mid-1950s, Merrick was one in a long line of great Birmingham City keepers which included the likes of Johnny Schofield and Harry Hibbs...

Birmingham City

{|width=100%
|width=50% valign=top|
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
|Round 2||align=right|Birmingham City||6–0||Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster Rovers F.C.

Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...

|-
|Round 3||align=right|Barrow

Barrow A.F.C.

Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...

||1–1||Birmingham City
|-
|Round 3 replay||align=right|Birmingham City||5–1||Barrow
|-
|Round 4||align=right|Birmingham City||3–2||Notts County

Notts County F.C.

Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

|-
|Round 5||align=right|Birmingham City||6–0||Manchester City

Manchester City F.C.

Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...

|-
|Semi-final (1st leg)||align=right|Birmingham City||3–2||Bury

Bury F.C.

Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

|-
|Semi-final (2nd leg)||align=right|Bury||1–1||Birmingham City
|-
|  ||colspan=4 align=center|(Birmingham City win 4–3 on aggregate)
|}

Aston Villa

{|width=100%
|width=50% valign=top|
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
|Round 2||align=right|Aston Villa||6–1||Peterborough United

Peterborough United F.C.

Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

|-
|Round 3||align=right|Aston Villa||3–1||Stoke City

Stoke City F.C.

Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...

|-
|Round 4||align=right|Aston Villa||6–2||Preston North End

Preston North End F.C.

Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

|-
|Round 5||align=right|Aston Villa||4–1||Norwich City

Norwich City F.C.

Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...

|-
|Semi-final (1st leg)||align=right|Sunderland

Sunderland A.F.C.

Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...

||1–3||Aston Villa
|-
|Semi-final (2nd leg)||align=right|Aston Villa||0–0||Sunderland
|-
|  ||colspan=4 align=center|(Aston Villa win 3–1 on aggregate)
|}
|}

External links

• League Cup 1963 at The English Football Archive
• First leg facts at soccerbase.com
• Second leg facts at soccerbase.com
• League Cup 1963 at rsssf.com