Villa open their second season in the third division with a comfortable win but midfielder Pat McMahon leaves the pitch on a stretcher after 65 minutes with a dislocated and fractured ankle.

Vic Crowe's Villa open the season with a handsome win over Plymouth as winger Ray Graydon made his debut aged 24 after moving from Bristol Rovers for a fee of £50,000 plus forward Brian Godfrey in July 1971. 

Also making his bow for Villa was goalkeeper Tommy Hughes, 24, after moving from Chelsea in May 1971 for a fee of £12,500.

In less positive news, 25 year old midfielder Pat McMahon left the pitch on a stretcher after 65 minutes with a dislocated and fractured ankle - an injury that would necessitate long term absence and recovery.

Villa are held at home by fellow third division side Wrexham in the first round or the League cup ahead of a replay at the Racecourse Ground. 

Vic Crowe's Villa need a late penalty to draw with third division rivals Wrexham in the League Cup.

Villa are denied a late penalty as they are held at Fellows Park by neighbours Walsall to leave them joint second in the early third division table.

Vic Crowe's Villa can only draw with neighbours Walsall.

Wrexham hit a late equaliser once again, this time in 27th minute of extra time, to take Villa to a second replay in the first round of the League Cup.

Vic Crowe's Villa can only draw with Wrexham in the League Cup first round replay necessitating a second replay at a neutral venue.

Villa tumble to joint tenth in the table after their first defeat of the season but they have played a game less than early leaders Notts County who sit three points ahead of Vic Crowe’s side.

Vic Crowe's Villa lose and fail to score for the first time this season to make it two wins, one draw and a defeat in division three so far this campaign.

Bruce Rioch receives his second booking in five days, his third this season and his fifth in seven months as Villa, who have been ordered by the FA to improve their disciplinary record or face a fine of £13,000. Rioch could have been booked twice and sent off but the referee erred on the side of leniency after his handball with five minutes left to play. More positively Villa win through to the League Cup third round.

Vic Crowe's Villa play their fourth League Cup game of the season in just eight games as fellow third division side Chesterfield are dispatched.

A Chico Hamilton inspired Villa climb back to fifth in the table, three points off leaders Notts County with a game in hand, as they beat fellow promotion chasers Brighton at Villa Park.

Vic Crowe's Villa make it three wins, one draw and a defeat in division three so far this campaign and sit fifth in Division Three on seven points, three points off leaders Notts County but with a game in hand.

Villa win away for the first time in fourteen games as the wingers combine again to secure a narrow victory for Vic Crowe’s side - although the boss is absent scouting talent - as they remain joint fifth in the table but close the gap to joint leaders Bournemouth and Notts County to two points with a game in hand on the top four. 

Vic Crowe's Villa make it four wins, one draw and a defeat in division three so far this campaign and consolidate fifth place whilst retaining their game in hand over Plymouth Argyle, Swansea, Notts County and new leaders AFC Bournemouth. Meanwhile, midfielder Malcolm Beard made his Villa debut aged 29 after moving from Birmingham City in July 1971.

Even this early in the season, Villa suffer a ‘shock’ defeat as they are beaten at home by bottom side Mansfield (one point in six games) despite having had eighteen shots on goal (Mansfield four) in a game they, on balance, should have been victorious in by at least six goals. 

Vic Crowe's Villa suffer their first real setback of the season as they are beaten at home by bottom of the table Mansfield to make it four wins, one draw and two defeats in division three so far this campaign.

Villa beat familiar foes Wrexham to go joint fourth, two points behind leaders Bournemouth after wasting their game in hand against Mansfield.

Vic Crowe's Villa face Wrexham for the fourth time in eleven games and make it five wins, one draw and two defeats in division three so far this campaign. As a result Villa climb to fourth in Division Three - their finishing position in 1970-71 - two points off leaders AFC Bournemouth with equal games played.

Despite, or maybe because of, the games coming so thick and fast Villa record their biggest win of the season and fourth third division victory in five games to climb to joint first alongside Bournemouth.

Vic Crowe's Villa make it six wins, one draw and two defeats in division three so far this campaign. As a result Villa vault into joint first place, level on points with AFC Bournemouth with 9 games played.

Villa record their third successive away victory and after 10 games they sit top of the third division, level on points with Bournemouth but ahead on goal average and two points ahead of the chasing pack.

Vic Crowe's Villa make it seven wins, one draw and two defeats in division three so far this campaign.

Villa fight back from two down to force a League Cup replay at Villa Park against first division Palace.

Vic Crowe's Villa hold First Division Palace to a deserved draw to force a Villa Park replay in the 3rd Round of the League Cup.

Villa fall back to joint second in the table, two points off leaders Bournemouth, as they fall to a shock defeat to a Rotherham side who came to Villa Park to draw.

Vic Crowe's Villa fall to their third League defeat of the season and drop to second place as they make it seven wins, one draw and three defeats in division three so far this campaign.

Andy Lochhead scores his tenth of the season, and sixth in the League Cup, as Villa beat first division Palace in the third round replay at Villa Park. Villa scored twice, had a clear penalty denied and Palace ‘keeper John Jackson had to make spectacular saves to keep Vic Crowe’s first division side at bay.

Vic Crowe's Villa beat First Division Palace to take their place in the Fourth Round of the League Cup for the second successive season and sixth time in eleven League cup campaigns.

Despite a strong start that saw Villa run rings around Plymouth for the first half hour, they were always chasing the game at Home Park once they fell behind, going on to suffer a 2-3 defeat and drop to joint fourth in the third division table, two points off leaders Bournemouth who are now joined by Villa’s victorious opponents Argyle at the summit.

Vic Crowe's Villa's cup form doesn't transfer into the league and they suffer their second successive defeat dropping Villa to fourth in Division Three as they make it seven wins, one draw and four defeats in division three so far this campaign.

Villa bounce back from successive, though unlucky, third division defeats to beat Tranmere at Villa Park and climb back to joint third, two points off leaders Bournemouth.

Vic Crowe's Villa record their first league victory in three games and climb to third in Division Three, two points off leaders AFC Bournemouth as they make it eight wins, one draw and four defeats in division three so far this campaign.

Bournemouth, in front of their biggest crowd for ten seasons inflict Villa’s largest defeat in the third tier as Villa make it three third division defeats in their last four as they drop to joint fourth, four points off their victorious opponents after fourteen games. 

Villa face Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (AFC Bournemouth) for the first time in competitive football, Bournemouth become the 105th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.

Vic Crowe's Villa's promotion 4-pointer ends in heavy defeat dropping Villa to fourth in the table, four points behind their victorious opponents and leaders Bournemouth. As a result Villa make it eight wins, one draw and five defeats in division three so far this campaign, with three of those losses coming in the last four League matches.

Despite once again being in the ascendancy for 30 minutes, Villa falter and are beaten by three goals in ten second half minutes to be knocked out of the League Cup by second division Blackpool.

Vic Crowe's Villa suffer a second successive heavy defeat as they concede three in ten minutes to division two Blackpool in the League Cup.

Vic Crowe's 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Villa 🟩 win for the second time in five games as they return to goalscoring form to dispatch Blackburn and make it 🟩 nine wins, 🟨 one draw and 🟥 five defeats in division three so far this campaign. 

Veteran centre forward Dave Gibson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 comes in for his first game of the season and inspires Villa to the 🟩 win to Villa fourth in the table and four points off leaders Bournemouth after 🕒 15 games.

Forward Brian Little 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 17 makes 🕒 his debut appearance in a Villa shirt as a 69' substitute for Gibson having impressed with the youth team to become the 555th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Villa four two up with ten minutes to play capitulate and allow themselves to be overrun by Vale. Despite collecting just one point, Villa climb to joint third place with Swansea but are now five points behind leaders Bournemouth and four points behind second placed Notts County who Villa face in their next game.

Vic Crowe's Villa score four for the second successive match, four away from home, but can only draw in a remarkable match with Vale. As a result Villa make it nine wins, two draws and five defeats in division three so far this campaign. 

Meanwhile, forward Mick Hoban made his debut appearance in the Villa squad debut aged 19 after joining from St. Chad's College.

Villa win in front of the fourth biggest crowd of the day in the country behind only Everton, Manchester United and Arsenal. Despite beating second placed County however, Villa fall to fourth in the table, one point behind third placed Rotherham but close the gap to their opponents to two points whilst Bournemouth’s lead at the top of the table is cut to four.

Vic Crowe's Villa score just the one but make it ten wins, two draws and five defeats in division three so far this campaign.

Villa lose to fourth division Southend in the first round of the FA Cup in a game that marks the final appearances of Tommy Hughes, Dave Gibson and Keith Bradley. For Hughes it is another difficult game after he drops the free kick that leads to Southend’s goal.

Villa face Southend United for the first time in competitive football, Southend become the 106th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.

Vic Crowe's Villa lose in the FA Cup first round to fourth division side Southend. 

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Tommy Hughes made his final appearance aged 24, after a short, at times error strewn time with Villa. Hughes moved to Hereford United in August 1973 having made 23 appearances. 

Right back Keith Bradley also made his final Villa appearance aged 25 before moving to Peterborough in November 1972. Bradley played for Villa between 1964-65 and 1971-72 making 146 appearances and scoring twice. 

Also making their final appearance was forward Dave Gibson aged 23 before moving to Exeter in January 1972. Gibson played for Villa between 1970-71 and 1971-72 making 21 appearances and scoring once.