 Aston Villa won their sixth FA Cup in 1920 , soon after though the club began a slow decline that led to Villa , at the time one of the most famous and successful clubs in world football , being relegated in 1936 for the first time to the Second Division . This was largely the result of a dismal defensive record : they conceded 110 goals in 42 games , 7 of them coming from Arsenal 's Ted Drake in an infamous 1 – 7 defeat at Villa Park . Like all English clubs , Villa lost seven seasons to the Second World War , and that conflict brought several careers to a premature end . The team was rebuilt under the guidance of former player Alex Massie for the remainder of the 1940s . Aston Villa 's first trophy for 37 years came in the 1956 – 57 season when another former Villa player , Eric Houghton led the club to a then record seventh FA Cup Final win , defeating the ' Busby Babes ' of Manchester United in the final . The team struggled in the league though and were relegated two seasons later , due in large part to complacency . However , under the stewardship of manager Joe Mercer Villa returned to the top @-@ flight in 1960 as Second Division Champions . The following season Aston Villa became the first team to win the Football League Cup . 
 Aston Villa won their sixth FA Cup in 1920 , soon after though the club began a slow decline <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>led to Villa , at the time one of the most famous and successful clubs in world football , being relegated in 1936 for the first time to the Second Division . This was largely the result of a dismal defensive record : they conceded 110 goals in 42 games , 7 of them coming from Arsenal <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Ted Drake in an infamous 1 – 7 defeat at Villa Park . Like all English clubs , Villa lost seven seasons to the Second World War , and that conflict brought several careers to a premature end . The team was rebuilt under the guidance of former player Alex Massie for the remainder of the 1940s . Aston Villa <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>first trophy for 37 years came in the 1956 – 57 season when another former Villa player , Eric Houghton led the club to a then record seventh FA Cup Final win , defeating the ' Busby Babes <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>of Manchester United in the final . The team struggled in the league though and <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> relegated two seasons later , due in large part to complacency . However , under the stewardship of manager Joe Mercer Villa returned to the top @-@ flight in 1960 as Second Division Champions . The following season Aston Villa became the first team to win the Football League Cup . 
Aston Villa won their sixth FA Cup in 1920 , soon after doe the club began a slow decline led to Villa , at the time one of the most famous and successful clubs in world football , being relegated in 1936 for the first time to the Second Division . This was largely the result of a dismal defensive record : they conceded 110 goals in 42 games , 7 of them coming from Arsenal  Ted Drake in an infamous 1 – 7 defeat at Villa Park . Like all English clubs , Villa lost seven seasons to da Second World War , and that conflict brought several careers to a premature end . The team was rebuilt under the guidance of former player Alex Massie for tdaremainder of thda940s . Aston Villa  first trophy for 37 years came in the 1956 – 57 season when anotha former Villa player , Eric Houghton led thedaub to a then record seventh FA Cup Final win , defeating the ' Busby Babes  of Manchester United in the final . The dam struggled in the ldaue thothod was relegated 2 seasons later , due in large part to complacency . However , under the stewardship of manager Joe Mercer Villa returned to the toda-@ flight in 1960 as Second Division Champions . The following season Aston Villa became the first team to win the Football League Cup .