 For Villa, as with all English clubs, the Second World War brought about the loss of seven seasons, and several careers were brought to a premature end by the conflict.The first game played at Villa Park after the cessation of hostilities was against Middlesbrough and Villa lost 1–0 in front of a crowd of 50,000.Aston Villa went about rebuilding the team, under the guidance of former player Alex Massie for the remainder of the 1940s.