See main article: History of Aston Villa F.C. (1874–1961).
| Club: | Aston Villa |
| Season: | 1896–97 |
| Manager: | George Ramsay |
| Stdtitle: | Grounds |
| League: | First Division |
| League Result: | Champions (3) |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Winners |
| League Topscorer: | Fred Wheldon (18) |
| Season Topscorer: | Fred Wheldon (22) |
| Prevseason: | 1895–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1897–98 |
| 1897 FA Cup final | |
| Event: | 1896–97 FA Cup |
| Team1: | Aston Villa |
| Team1score: | 3 |
| Team2: | Everton |
| Team2score: | 2 |
| Date: | 10 April 1897 |
| Stadium: | Crystal Palace |
| City: | London |
| Referee: | J. Lewis |
| Attendance: | 65,891 |
The 1896-97 English football season was Aston Villa's 9th season in the Football League since being one of its 12 founding members in 1888. Villa were champions for the third time matching Sunderland's three wins. For good measure, the FA Cup was also won, to make Villa the second team to complete "The Double" after Preston North End in 1888–89.
This was the season during which Villa moved from Wellington Road to their current home at Villa Park, although it was still referred to as 'Aston Lower Grounds' for some time.
John Campbell was not quite as productive as in the previous season, and the leading scorer honours went to Fred Wheldon. Fred had been signed in 1896 for £350 from local rivals Small Heath, who had been relegated the previous season.[1] He was a good dribbler with the ball and won four caps for England. He played first class cricket for Worcestershire.
There were debuts for Fred Wheldon (123), Jimmy Whitehouse and Albert Evans.[2]
See also: 1896–97 Football League. A total of 16 teams competed in the First Division in the 1896–97 season. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Two points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.
The season got off to a slow start, with Villa recording only two wins in the first six games. An unbeaten run of 12 games took them to the top, where they finished with a lead of 11 points. The title was won when Derby County F.C. failed to win on 10 April; Villa had three games left to play, all of which were won.
See also: 1896–97 FA Cup.
Ever-present: Charlie Athersmith, JimmyCowan, Fred Wheldon
First at top: 28 Nov
Players used: 17