Gary Shaw - RIP

[dave.woodhall]

That's a lovely piece from Dennis.

[PeterWithesShin]

You'd be hard pushed to find anyone that has a bad word about his ability as a player, or that met him as a player or later on. It would have been easy to be bitter over being as good as he was and having it gone before your 23rd birthday but Gary never seemed to be. He just carried on loving the Villa.

[Charlie8182]

Being born in 1972 he was my first and biggest ever Villa hero when my dad started taking me in 1980, and today's news is more upsetting to me than anyone else in the public eye who has passed and who I've not met.  I'm in this picture of his goal against Coventry on 27/02/1982 against the yellow arrow.  Rest in peace Legend.

[VillaTim]

A goal you don't see shown too often

https://x.com/1968Tv/status/1835716458963144784

Lovely goal, lovely move , in front of the away fans, limbs, bog roll flying . Happy days. Thanks Gary.

[Nunkin1965]

Such very sad news about a true Villa hero.
Your memory will live long and you'll never be forgotten by so many.
Condolences to friends and family.

[RichardBatchelor]

It was generally harder to win a cap back then, although it was ridiculous they took Gary to Australia and then never played him.

Yes, it does seem bonkers, doesn’t it?

[astonvilla82]

Hi.
Sunderland fan here.
Just want to offer my sympathy with you all for the sad loss of Gary Shaw.
He was a magnificent young player, and lost to the game as a player way to young.
RIP Mr Shaw.

Much appreciated

[Nev]

I finally cracked while watching the piece on Midlands Today. Central News only gave him a cursary mention which I thought was poor.

[BC54 VFC]

Shrewsbury had a few last glimpses of his talent. He's still thought of fondly by a lot of them that saw him play there, including something like a 5 minute hat-trick.

Scored the only goal when they knocked Wimbledon out of the cup, too, back when Wimbledon were top flight.

I was at the Gay Meadow to witness that goal (26/01/91), the last I saw him score; a typically instinctive Gary Shaw goal, having also seen him score on his Villa debut at Bristol City (26/08/78).

The hat-trick was against Bradford City on 22/12/90, scored in 4 minutes and 32 seconds!

[paul_e]

I'm too young to really remember anything about Shaw as a player but I know I met him a few times as a toddler and again a couple of times as a teenager and from the latter my memory is of a great guy who loved football, loved Villa and loved the part he got to play in our history.

[Beard82]

Thoughts are with his family, and all of H&V posters who held him dear.

He was before my time - but whenever I tell anyone older than me that I'm a Villa fan - they talk of the great team from the early 80s - and he's always one of the first players they mention.

Googled some of the players from my childhood, and he was younger than most of them - he was way too young - and judging by what you're all saying a legend in every sense of the word.

RIP - HEITS

[RamboandBruno]

I was born in 74, so only saw peak Gary Shaw live before the injury, a handful of times. Shaw and Withe typically scoring to get us back to 2-3 vrs Liverpool in December 82 being one of them. But despite that Gary Shaw for me is the epitome of the golden memories of my childhood. I’m 8 playing Wembley singles in the park with my mates, my new Villa kit on and I am Gary Shaw, living the dream for 10 minutes on a summers evening.

I’m 50 now and I feel far more affected by this than maybe a man of my age with a family of my own should. Gary Shaw is not only a villa legend, he’s my childhood dreams too. I feel pretty devastated.

I know he will get a deserved send off on Saturday, but I hope the real tribute is against Bayern, surely his greatest moment was against them so seems fitting.

RIP Gary, HEITS

[Beard82]

https://x.com/holttrinity/status/1835745020286021643

[dicedlam]

I have been sitting here at home tearfully watching some of the highlights of Gary’s goals and interviews, then looking out of my window, I could see what can only be described as the most beautiful claret and blue sunset I have seen in a while.

I’m sure the sun was setting over Kingshurst. HEITS.

[Witton Warrior]

https://x.com/holttrinity/status/1835745020286021643

That's done it. Tears flowing