Gary Shaw.

[Duncan Shaw]

Could have been an all time great. He had the instinct of Greaves in the penalty area.  Considering his size, he was very strong with the ball played up to him. His touch in playing in Withe and Morley was exceptional.

Like he plays in Dennis Mortimer for the second here.

https://youtu.be/ldOT57FtsIc

Before I clicked this I knew it was going to be the Liverpool game, same as above, as Dennis broke across the halfwayline I knew we were going to win the league.

Gary Shaw was my first hero too (perhaps understandably, not related!) and like someone alluded to up there, he was ahead of Lineker at the time of his injury.  he really was a fanstastic, fantastic player.  European young player of the year - alot of rumours about him being lined up for Juve at the time as well.

[Flamingo Lane]

Gary Shaw was indeed a fantastic footballer.  One of my fondest memories of seeing him play was in a youth cup game at Leicester City, which must have been 1978 or 79, as I went to the game as I was at university there.  He was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch, his general control of the ball, effortless movement and ability to bring others into play a joy to watch.  I recall he also scored a splendid goal, in what I think was a 1-1 draw. 

[WarszaVillan]

As with many of our own he also got a lot of stick at times from part of the crowd.

[West Derby Villan]

As mentioned before he was 1982 European Young Player of the Year, that's how good he was. Wish him a speedy recovery, fantastic talent

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

As mentioned before he was 1982 European Young Player of the Year, that's how good he was. Wish him a speedy recovery, fantastic talent

The presentation was made in Montecatini and my Italian mate Stefano, who is a Montecatini boy, always brings this up in conversation..."Gary Shaw...Aston Villa...best young footballer in Europe gets his medal in MY town!"

Get well soon Gary Shaw!

[Sunny Villa]

Gary was pure class and a real gent .he has had his demons but was always there for the club .

For the record he was not a bad cricketer and would turn our for a local club regularly he brought the League Cup to the clubhouse for all the local kids to see and have photos taken

[Villan For Life]

As with many of our own he also got a lot of stick at times from part of the crowd.

I don't recall that at all. Where and when?

[dave shelley]

As with many of our own he also got a lot of stick at times from part of the crowd.

I don't recall that at all. Where and when?

He did.  I remember we were playing Bristol City away, I think it was Boxing Day 1979.  He was playing poorly and the some of our fans' were giving him some stick.  Then, bang!  hat-trick.  No more stick, surprisingly.

[garyshawsknee]

Anytime the great man's name is mentioned, I have to bore the H and V parish that he's the reason I support Villa. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

[Villan For Life]

As with many of our own he also got a lot of stick at times from part of the crowd.

I don't recall that at all. Where and when?

He did.  I remember we were playing Bristol City away, I think it was Boxing Day 1979.  He was playing poorly and the some of our fans' were giving him some stick.  Then, bang!  hat-trick.  No more stick, surprisingly.

Isn't that just an isolated incident though? The OP seemed to suggest that it was a regular occurrence.

[eamonn]

How long would we have been able to hang on to him for if he'd reached his potential without the injuries?

[peter w]

Not long. Barcelona were reportedly already apparently lining him up for a 'cool' £1m+ fee around 83 before his knees started to give.

[garyshawsknee]

Wasn't Doug suppose to be negotiating that deal after the Super cup game ?

[OzVilla]

For the record he was not a bad cricketer and would turn our for a local club regularly he brought the League Cup to the clubhouse for all the local kids to see and have photos taken

I played against him a couple of times when he was playing for Bourneville. I was keeping wicket and could barely control myself. Needless to say, there was no sledging that day.

[Diablo]

As with many of our own he also got a lot of stick at times from part of the crowd.

Always seemed to me that Morley got stick from some of our fans as opposed to Shaw (I may have been more sensitive to it though as Morley was one of my favourite players at that time).