Joe Mercer’s Villa have to play the first leg of the inaugural League Cup final as the second fixture of the 1961-62 season despite the competition having been contested in 1960-61. Villa face second division Rotherham in the first leg at Millmoor and are well beaten leaving them with it all to do in the second leg at Villa Park. Meanwhile, forward Ralph Brown made his sole appearance for Villa aged 17 after having joined the club as a junior. Brown would move on to Notts County in May 1962.