Fans gathered at Villa Park to pay their respects to Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw, who passed away last month at the age of 63. A funeral procession for the former striker took place in Birmingham on Wednesday afternoon, as crowds assembled near the fan zone at Villa Park to honour his memory before the cortege made its way to Sutton Coldfield Crematorium for the funeral service.
Supporters shared heartfelt memories, with several fans speaking to BBC Midlands Today about Shaw's significance to them. Antoni Trzcinski, who has known Shaw since childhood, remarked on the impact he had, stating, “I saw him make his full debut when he came on against Bristol City and scored a goal for the Villa – instant hero.”
Lynne Wilson recalled how Shaw would give her lifts to the Villa training ground and highlighted his friendly nature, sharing, “He’s always been a lad, chatting with everybody, and he was so looking forward to the Champions League. It’s just so sad that he won’t be able to see it.”
Maria Gregory, who described Shaw as her first crush and an enduring source of inspiration throughout his career, expressed her disbelief at his passing: “I can’t believe we’re here today…he should be here today.” She shared her opinion on Shaw’s talent, stating, “He would have probably said differently but, in my opinion, they haven’t got his charisma and that’s something he had in spades. He will be very sadly missed.”
Gary Shaw was a key player during Aston Villa's successful run in the early 1980s, including their European Cup triumph in 1982. His contributions to the club and his connection with fans are set to be remembered fondly as Aston Villa FC continues its legacy.