Peter McParland 90 today

[darren woolley]

I've had the pleasure to meet Peter a few times he's a real gentleman.

[The Man With A Stick]

Not bad for a winger trying to be a striker.

For a small town Newry has done well to produce Peter Mc and Pat Jennings.

And the reason I was born a Villa fan.

Had no idea he was from Newry, that's where my Mom was born.

Happy birthday to him anyway, hopefully he gets to see us raise some more silverware very soon.

[Baldy]

Happy Birthday 'Big Man' and the reason I and lots of others follow Aston Villa.

My Dad, Irish, moved to Aston in the 1950's and used to bring 6 of the kids to Villa Park to give Mom a rest. Villa had a number of Irish players back then (Blanchflower, McParland, Saward, Walsh etc) and that's the reason Dad followed them together with many other Irish.

Siblings still Villa mad. Peter was my late Dad's favourite player.

Happy days. Thank you Mr McParland and thank you Dad.

[dave.woodhall]

I've had the pleasure to meet Peter a few times he's a real gentleman.

It takes one to know one, Daz.

[Clampy]

I've met him a couple of times, lovely chap. McParland, not Daz.

[Clampy]

Although Daz is very nice chap as well.

[Louzie0]

Happy 90th birthday Peter!
UTV and thank you XXX

[Steve67]

Happy birthday big fella.  Thanks for the service and the memories. x

[The Moose]

I was 9 months old when McParland won the FA Cup - I'd like to see us do it again!

[ROBBO]

I was about ten and still to this day disappointed that the press made more of the challenge than the Villa win itself. Being ten Mac looked like a giant on the pitch, his runs down the wing terrified defences.

[Footy-Vill]

Its interesting to see Mcpharland was a league top scorer twice

He's in record books for this.
8 goals in 57/58 from 17 games.

And of course the first goal scorer in the Winning FA cup final although having seen this footage it would not be allowed to stand today but that is irrelevant as it was a goal.
Football back then was very physical so I imagine he would have been a physical player as both defenders and strikers wouldn't hold back!

Congratulations to him for the milestone of 90!

[Footy-Vill]

I was about ten and still to this day disappointed that the press made more of the challenge than the Villa win itself. Being ten Mac looked like a giant on the pitch, his runs down the wing terrified defences.

That's a great memory.
So in some quarters back then it was thought challenge was overly robust ?
I thought that was part and parcel of the game and that only over the last twenty years or so it wouldn't be allowed.

By the way envious you have and others the experience of Villa winning the FA Cup ! (And the rest!)

[SaddVillan]

Always remember seeing a fan at the 94 League Cup final wearing a Villa shirt and on the back it had:

         McParland
                57

Perfect!

[jon collett]

I was about ten and still to this day disappointed that the press made more of the challenge than the Villa win itself. Being ten Mac looked like a giant on the pitch, his runs down the wing terrified defences.

That's a great memory.
So in some quarters back then it was thought challenge was overly robust ?
I thought that was part and parcel of the game and that only over the last twenty years or so it wouldn't be allowed.

By the way envious you have and others the experience of Villa winning the FA Cup ! (And the rest!)

If you’re talking about the charge it wasn’t given as a foul and the keeper moved towards super Mac first. Ray Wood had made a thing of egging on forwards to charge him but this never gets mentioned.

The goals weee completely separate and there is no dispute about either of them. The Villa were worthy winners!

[Dogtanian]

Always remember seeing a fan at the 94 League Cup final wearing a Villa shirt and on the back it had:

         McParland
                57

Perfect!

I have a number plate starting AV57. I think MCP was one of the suffixes I tried to get, but wasn’t available.