The triumphant return of Aston Villa to the Champions League has been marred by the tragic death of Gary Shaw, one of the club’s European Cup-winning heroes. As the team was gearing up for their first appearance in the competition in 41 years, it was confirmed that the former golden boy of Villa had not awoken from an induced coma.
Shaw, aged 63, was hospitalised last week following a reported fall outside his home and never regained consciousness. This marks a heartbreaking end for a player who was once the darling of the Holte End at the peak of his career.
The news came just over 48 hours before Villa were set to rejoin a competition they won with Shaw playing a pivotal role in their 1-0 victory against Bayern Munich in the final.
An Aston Villa statement reads: “Aston Villa Football Club is deeply shocked and profoundly saddened to learn that Gary Shaw, one of our European Cup-winning heroes, has passed away.
“Gary was one of our own, a talented striker who delighted supporters with his goalscoring exploits which helped fire Villa to success in the 1980s. Individual accolades would also follow for a player who was idolised by many on the terraces.
“He passed away peacefully earlier today surrounded by his family, who asked Aston Villa to release a statement on their behalf.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gary’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”
Shaw was a key figure in the team that not only clinched the cup under manager Tony Barton but also secured the First Division title under Ron Saunders a year earlier.
With his blond hair and handsome features, he became a heartthrob both on and off the pitch until a knee injury not only cut short his playing days but also plagued him for the rest of his life. However, it was under Saunders as a teenager that Shaw truly flourished.
He was mentored by senior members of Villa’s squad after making his debut in the first-team at the tender age of 17.
Shaw signed professional forms for the club he supported as a boy on his 18th birthday, and his rise to stardom was swift.
During Villa’s title win in 1981, he only missed two matches and scored against Dynamo Kiev in the quarter-final of the European Cup the following year, which saw Villa lift the trophy.
His name is immortalised on a large banner that adorns the North Stand of the ground, featuring words from Brian Moore’s commentary.
Shaw found winger Tony Morley who crossed the ball for Peter Withe to score the winning goal in Rotterdam. The Solihull-born forward was voted into the PFA’s team of the season and also named European young footballer of the year.
However, just over 16 months after this triumph, an injury during a game at Nottingham Forest signalled the beginning of the end.
Shaw sustained a knee injury that led to his early retirement.
In his later years, he became a regular in press boxes, covering matches for the Press Association.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk