On this day in 1961

[PeterWithesShin]

We won the inaugural League Cup 3-2 on aggregate against Rotherham.

[brian green]

Look at the size of Nigel Sims and how small Jimmy Dugdale was for a centre half.  Thank you for posting that.

[Tugby Villain]

I did an article about this in the January issue.  A great success, and one that should not be overlooked.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I've got the programmes for both legs. The first leg at Rotherham changes hands for hundreds.

[cdbearsfan]

It's a shame there doesn't appear to be any footage of this anywhere.

I can't help feeling that they'd have persuaded a camera crew to turn up at late notice if a London side had been involved!

[BC54 VFC]

I've got the programmes for both legs. The first leg at Rotherham changes hands for hundreds.

Paid £222 for mine - the most I've ever paid for a programme.

[MorrisNielson]

Its a shame that the cup final got held over until the start of the 61/62 season, therefore Gerry Hitchens missed out on a medal as he left for Inter Milan in that summer.  Although, it gave young Ralph Brown his only 1st team game.

[eamonn]

What, in September? How queer.

[brian green]

Bloody hell.  I have got one of those Millmoor programmes somewhere.  If the mice have not eaten it.

[Ron Manager]

I don't think Ralph Brown is on that team photo.Wasnt it the only game he played for the first team?  Morris to the thread please!

[Ron Manager]

Look at the size of Nigel Sims and how small Jimmy Dugdale was for a centre half.  Thank you for posting that.

Jimmy Dugdale was as I recall about 5ft 10" which was not particularly small.A good comparison would be the England captain Billy Wright who was 5ft 8".Both of them were top class centre halves in their era.

[brian green]

They were indeed.  Model professionals.

[Ron Manager]

We won the inaugural League Cup 3-2 on aggregate against Rotherham.

I am having trouble identifying the player at the right end of the top row.Could he be the fabled Ralph Brown or is it Trevor Birch?

It's Ralph Brown.l found a picture of him when he was with Ilkeston Town!

[Axl Rose]

I've got the programmes for both legs. The first leg at Rotherham changes hands for hundreds.

Wow! I just had to have a look on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1961-LEAGUE-CUP-FINAL-ROTHERHAM-UNITED-v-ASTON-VILLA-RARE-/112043148245

[cdbearsfan]

£900 for our (losing) 1924 Cup Final programme!

http://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Aston+villa+programme&isNewKw=1&sqp=aston%2Bvilla%2Bprogramme&_sop=16&_sacat=53621&_pgn=1