There were debut appearances for Nigel Spink (361), Des Bremner (174), Tony Morley (137), David Geddis (47), Eamonn Deacy (33), Pat Heard (24), Terry Donovan (24), Terry Bullivant (12), Mike Pejic (10), Noel Blake (4) and Robert Hopkins (3).

[1] 8 September 1979: The national transfer record fee is broken for the second time in four days when Wolverhampton Wanderers pay almost £1,500,000 for Aston Villa and Scotland striker Andy Gray.

[2] October 1979: John Gidman is sold to Everton for £650,000 (2013: £2,900,000) in a deal which sees midfielder Pat Heard move the other way at a valuation of £150,000.

[3] Heard would make nine appearances in his first season at Villa Park.

[4] 8 March 1980: Second Division West Ham United beat Aston Villa 1–0 in the FA Cup sixth round.