The 1961 Football League Cup Final was the inaugural League Cup

League Cup

In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...

 final. It was contested by Rotherham United

Rotherham United F.C.

Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

 and Aston Villa

Aston Villa F.C.

Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

 over two legs. Aston Villa won 3–2 on aggregate.

Due to fixture congestion, the second leg wasn't played until after the start of the 1961-2 season. As a result Villa began their defence of the trophy just eight days after winning it.

First leg

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">	ROTHERHAM UNITED:
1	Roy Ironside Roy Ironside Roy Ironside is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Rotherham United and Barnsley. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team.-References:...
2	Peter Perry Peter Perry Peter Perry was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Ernestown, Ontario in 1792, the son of Robert Perry and Jemima Gary Washburn. His father was a United Empire Loyalist from Vermont who had served with the Queen's Rangers and Edward Jessup's Loyal Rangers during the...
3	Lol Morgan Lol Morgan Lol Morgan is a former professional footballer and manager who was active during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Rotherham, England.- As a player manager :Darlington*Fourth Division runner-up: 1965-66...
4	Roy Lambert Roy Lambert (footballer) Roy Lambert is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Rotherham United and Barnsley. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team.-References:...
5	Peter Madden Peter Madden (footballer) Peter Madden was a player for the English football club Rotherham United from 1955-1966. He was also manager of the English football clubs Darlington and Rochdale . After leaving Rochdale in March 1983 he stayed in the area and ran a public house in nearby Littleborough...
6	Ken Waterhouse Ken Waterhouse Ken Waterhouse is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Preston North End, Rotherham United and Bristol City and Darlington. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team. Waterhouse became manager of Morecambe in 1965 and left in 1969...
7	Barry Webster Barry Webster Barry Webster is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Rotherham United and Bradford City. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team. After leaving Bradford, he joined Buxton.-References:...
8	Don Weston Don Weston Donald Patrick "Don" Weston was a former professional footballer who played as a striker for many football teams during the 1950s and 1960s.-Playing career:...
9	Ken Houghton Ken Houghton Ken Houghton is a former football midfielder and manager.After spending time as a schoolboy on the books of Sheffield United F.C. Houghton was released without turning professional and went to work as a miner in Silverwood Colliery, playing football for their amateur side alongside his work...
10	Alan Kirkman
11	Keith Bambridge
Manager:
Tom Johnston Tom Johnston (footballer) Thomas Deans "Tom" Johnston was a professional footballer and football manager....

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center> ASTON VILLA: 1   Nigel Sims

Nigel Sims

David Nigel Sims , known as Nigel Sims, is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Peterborough United in the 1950s and 1960s....

2   Stan Lynn

Stan Lynn

Stanley "Stan" Lynn was an English professional association footballer who played as a right back. He made nearly 450 appearances in the Football League for Accrington Stanley, Aston Villa and Birmingham City...

3   Gordon Lee

Gordon Lee (footballer)

Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...

4   Vic Crowe

Vic Crowe

Victor Herbert Crowe was a Wales international football player and later football manager.-Career:Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old...

5   Jimmy Dugdale

Jimmy Dugdale

James Robert "Jimmy" Dugdale was a former English professional footballer best known for his career with Aston Villa, with whom he won a F.A. Cup winner's medal in 1957, 2nd Division Championship 1960, Inaugural League Cup Winner 1961. His playing position was Centre-Half James Robert "Jimmy"...

6   Alan Deakin

Alan Deakin

Alan Deakin was an English footballer during the 1960s. He was the captain of Aston Villa and also played for Walsall.-Career:...

7   Jimmy MacEwan

Jimmy MacEwan

James "Jimmy" MacEwan is a former Scottish professional footballer who is best known for his career with Aston Villa. Before playing for Villa MacEwan started his career at Raith Rovers. MacEwan then went onto play for Walsall and won one cap for the Scottish B side.-References:*, Post War English...

8   Bobby Thomson

Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1937)

Robert Gillies McKenzie "Bobby" Thomson is a Scottish former professional Association footballer who played as a forward. He played most of his professional career in the West Midlands, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham clubs, and is probably best known for his four years...

9   Ralph Brown

Ralph Brown

Ralph William John Brown is an English actor and writer, known for playing Danny the drug dealer in Withnail and I, the security guard Aaron in Alien 3, DJ Bob Silver in The Boat That Rocked, and the pilot Ric Olié in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace...

10   Ron Wylie

Ron Wylie

Ronald M. Wylie is a Scottish former football player, coach and manager. He played as a right half or inside forward for Notts County, Aston Villa and Birmingham City, making more than 550 appearances in the Football League, and more than 700 in all competitions...

11   Peter McParland

Peter McParland

Peter James McParland, MBE is a former professional footballer.-Dundalk & Aston Villa:...

Manager:   Joe Mercer

Joe Mercer

Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...

Second leg

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">	ASTON VILLA:
1	Geoff Sidebottom Geoff Sidebottom Geoffrey Sidebottom was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Career:Sidebottom joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from their Yorkshire-based nursery club Wath Wanderers in 1954...
2	John Neal John Neal (footballer) John Neal is a former English football player and manager.Neal was a full-back whose playing career included numerous clubs, including Hull City, Southend United and Swindon Town...
3	Gordon Lee Gordon Lee (footballer) Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
4	Vic Crowe Vic Crowe Victor Herbert Crowe was a Wales international football player and later football manager.-Career:Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old...
5	Jimmy Dugdale Jimmy Dugdale James Robert "Jimmy" Dugdale was a former English professional footballer best known for his career with Aston Villa, with whom he won a F.A. Cup winner's medal in 1957, 2nd Division Championship 1960, Inaugural League Cup Winner 1961. His playing position was Centre-Half James Robert "Jimmy"...
6	Alan Deakin Alan Deakin Alan Deakin was an English footballer during the 1960s. He was the captain of Aston Villa and also played for Walsall.-Career:...
7	Jimmy MacEwan Jimmy MacEwan James "Jimmy" MacEwan is a former Scottish professional footballer who is best known for his career with Aston Villa. Before playing for Villa MacEwan started his career at Raith Rovers. MacEwan then went onto play for Walsall and won one cap for the Scottish B side.-References:*, Post War English...
8	Alan O'Neill
9	Peter McParland Peter McParland Peter James McParland, MBE is a former professional footballer.-Dundalk & Aston Villa:...
10	Bobby Thomson Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1937) Robert Gillies McKenzie "Bobby" Thomson is a Scottish former professional Association footballer who played as a forward. He played most of his professional career in the West Midlands, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham clubs, and is probably best known for his four years...
11	Harry Burrows Harry Burrows Henry "Harry" Burrows is a former English professional footballer who is best known for his career with Aston Villa and Stoke City. His playing position was a Striker/Winger. Before playing for Villa, Burrows started his career at Wigan Boys. He then moved to Stoke City then Plymouth Argyle before...
Manager:
Joe Mercer Joe Mercer Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center> ROTHERHAM UNITED: 1   Roy Ironside

Roy Ironside

Roy Ironside is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Rotherham United and Barnsley. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team.-References:...

2   Peter Perry

Peter Perry

Peter Perry was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Ernestown, Ontario in 1792, the son of Robert Perry and Jemima Gary Washburn. His father was a United Empire Loyalist from Vermont who had served with the Queen's Rangers and Edward Jessup's Loyal Rangers during the...

3   Lol Morgan

Lol Morgan

Lol Morgan is a former professional footballer and manager who was active during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Rotherham, England.- As a player manager :Darlington*Fourth Division runner-up: 1965-66...

4   Roy Lambert

Roy Lambert (footballer)

Roy Lambert is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Rotherham United and Barnsley. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team.-References:...

5   Peter Madden

Peter Madden (footballer)

Peter Madden was a player for the English football club Rotherham United from 1955-1966. He was also manager of the English football clubs Darlington and Rochdale . After leaving Rochdale in March 1983 he stayed in the area and ran a public house in nearby Littleborough...

6   Ken Waterhouse

Ken Waterhouse

Ken Waterhouse is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Preston North End, Rotherham United and Bristol City and Darlington. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team. Waterhouse became manager of Morecambe in 1965 and left in 1969...

7   Barry Webster

Barry Webster

Barry Webster is a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Rotherham United and Bradford City. He was a member of Rotherham's 1961 Football League Cup Final team. After leaving Bradford, he joined Buxton.-References:...

8   Don Weston

Don Weston

Donald Patrick "Don" Weston was a former professional footballer who played as a striker for many football teams during the 1950s and 1960s.-Playing career:...

9   Ken Houghton

Ken Houghton

Ken Houghton is a former football midfielder and manager.After spending time as a schoolboy on the books of Sheffield United F.C. Houghton was released without turning professional and went to work as a miner in Silverwood Colliery, playing football for their amateur side alongside his work...

10   Alan Kirkman 11   Keith Bambridge Manager:   Tom Johnston

Tom Johnston (footballer)

Thomas Deans "Tom" Johnston was a professional footballer and football manager....

Aston Villa

EWLINE Round 2 Aston Villa 4–0 Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... Round 3 Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... 3–3 Aston Villa Round 3 replay Aston Villa 3–1 Preston North End Round 4 Aston Villa 3–3 Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... Round 4 replay Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Aston Villa Round 4 2nd replay Plymouth Argyle 3–5 Aston Villa Quarter-final Aston Villa 3–0 Wrexham Semi-final (1st leg) Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... 2–2 Aston Villa Semi-final (2nd leg) Aston Villa 1–1 Burnley Semi-final replay Aston Villa 2–1 Burnley   (at Old Trafford Old Trafford Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:... )

Rotherham United Round 2 Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... 1–2 Rotherham United Round 3 Rotherham United 2–0 Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... Round 4 Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... 0–2 Rotherham United Quarter-final Rotherham United 3–0 Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... Semi-final (1st leg) Rotherham United 3–2 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... Semi-final (2nd leg) Shrewsbury Town 1–1 Rotherham United   (Rotherham United win 4–3 on aggregate)