60 years ago today

[Villa Lew]

Villa 11  Charlton Athletic 1  Division 2  14 November 1959

The great Gerry Hitchens scored 5, Bobby Thomson 2, Peter McParland 2, Jimmy MacEwan and Ron Wylie. Biggest Villa Park win, biggest win since the 2nd World War and equalled the biggest margin of victory ever.

Went to a few matches that season but unfortunately not this one, but can remember hearing the result on Sports Report, on the BBC Light programme. Were relegated the previous season, but came immediately back up as Champions.

Sims, Lynn, Neal, Crowe, Dugdale, Saward, MacEwan, Thomson, Hitchens, Wylie, McParland.

[dave shelley]

Oh how well I remember that match.  Headlines the following day in, I think it was the News of the World ,Villa Shooting Boots Size Eleven.

The Charlton goalie, appropriately named Willie Duff IIRC was injured in the first half but we were already for or five up at that stage.  He played outfield in the second half.  What a game.

Another memory of that day, I got an early birthday present off the Old Man, The Encyclopedia of Sport.  I still have it.

[Exeter 77]

60 years ago today Colin Gibson was born.

[SteveN]

60 years ago today Colin Gibson was born.

The best left back I have seen in my time watching the Villa.

[dcdavecollett]

Larry Canning, that excellent reporter, may have agreed with you.

[Pat McMahon]

Larry Canning, that excellent reporter, may have agreed with you.

I loved his reports on Grandstand / Final score. I hear he was a great player but he had a voice for broadcasting.

[dcdavecollett]

Yes, he did.

One of his favourite radio phrases, as a former Villa player, was, "I'd like to say that Villa played well, today, but I can't!"

[Godfrey Brian]

Larry Canning, that excellent reporter, may have agreed with you.

I loved his reports on Grandstand / Final score. I hear he was a great player but he had a voice for broadcasting.

Saw him play for the Villa Old stars at The 'Miner's' Ground Old Walsall Road in the early seventies-he was still pretty good then!

[dave shelley]

Larry Canning, that excellent reporter, may have agreed with you.

I loved his reports on Grandstand / Final score. I hear he was a great player but he had a voice for broadcasting.

Saw him play for the Villa Old stars at The 'Miner's' Ground Old Walsall Road in the early seventies-he was still pretty good then!

I saw him play for the Old Stars too, a couple of times.