Vic Crowe

On leaving school, Vic Crowe played for Erdington Albion, the West Bromwich Albion nursery team, and whilst with the Army in Scotland, had trials with Stirling Albion, but signed for Aston Villa in 1951 and would spend most of his career with the Birmingham club. Crowe established himself in the Villa team when Danny Blanchflower vacated the right-half berth in 1954. He missed the 1957 FA Cup Final due to injury but captained the side to the Second Division title in 1960 and League Cup Final success in 1961. He was capped 16 times by Wales. Crowe was one of Phil Woosnam's first signings after he was appointed player-coach of the Atlanta Chiefs and so trusting was Woosnam of Crowe that he appointed him his assistant off the field and team captain on it. Crowe was also instrumental in the Chiefs' recruitment for their maiden season in the National Professional Soccer League. For instance, it was Crowe who approached Peter McParland about a move to the Chiefs and he spotted goalkeeper Sven Lindberg while scouting in Sweden. At the end of his first season with the Chiefs, Crowe was voted the club's Most Valuable Player. He returned to Villa as a reserve team coach in September 1969. On 19 January 1970, with Villa bottom of the Second Division, manager Tommy Docherty was sacked. and was replaced by Crowe. but he was unable to prevent Villa being relegated when at the end of the 1969–70 season. The following season he led his Third Division team to the League Cup Final against…

Aston Villa

Football League Cup: 1960–61