An exciting young striker in a League and European Cup winning team, Gary Shaw was the most exciting young player in the First Division in the early 1980s.
I loved Gary Shaw. He is one of the reasons that I briefly supported Villa in the late 70s/early 80s as a moment of rebellion against my dad who was at that time playing for Stoke 😉
I have huge respect for Shaw, a local lad who hit the heights for Villa. I always admired Shaw, though he should have played for England.
I've been hit quite hard by this one. For people of my age (I was 15 when 'they' had their glory), he represented the Midlands to some extent. Of course, I didn't want them to win anything, but Shaw was the single one of their players I couldn't force myself to dislike.
I know a small number of Villa fans and can fully empathise with their sadness today, as I feel it too.
Isn't it funny how some players epitomise a club and an era, and just transcend all club loyalties and boundaries. I'm similar to you, in that Shaw was one of those first players I fell for when I first discovered football as a kid.
For years and years the experience of going to Villa games home and occasionally away involved someone somewhere spotting Shaw in the stand, leading to thousands of people turning around and singing at him. He is idolised at our place. Absolutely up there as one of our very best ever.
I loved Gary Shaw. He is one of the reasons that I briefly supported Villa in the late 70s/early 80s as a moment of rebellion against my dad who was at that time playing for Stoke 😉
I'm a Birmingham City fan.
I have huge respect for Shaw, a local lad who hit the heights for Villa. I always admired Shaw, though he should have played for England.
I've been hit quite hard by this one. For people of my age (I was 15 when 'they' had their glory), he represented the Midlands to some extent. Of course, I didn't want them to win anything, but Shaw was the single one of their players I couldn't force myself to dislike.
I know a small number of Villa fans and can fully empathise with their sadness today, as I feel it too.
Isn't it funny how some players epitomise a club and an era, and just transcend all club loyalties and boundaries. I'm similar to you, in that Shaw was one of those first players I fell for when I first discovered football as a kid.
Top man, Ian. You and Gary Shaw.
For years and years the experience of going to Villa games home and occasionally away involved someone somewhere spotting Shaw in the stand, leading to thousands of people turning around and singing at him. He is idolised at our place. Absolutely up there as one of our very best ever.