Peter McParland. 1934-2025

[TheTimVilla]

My dad is 88. In the time we have been watching The Villa together, we have seen some great players (Sid, God, etc) but dad says that McParland was his favourite Villa player of time. That suggests to me that he must have been bloody good, when you consider how many Villa players he has seen down the years!

[Hillbilly]

The reason I’m a Villa fan. Dad was from the same neck of woods and saw him play for Dundalk. When he came across, Peter was playing for Villa so it seemed only reasonable to follow the Villa. Thanks Peter and RIP.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I was just a tad too young to see him play but he played with my cousins Frank Jnr and Amos...they spoke very highly of him and my older brother worshipped him!
Met him briefly at a few events and he always surprised me with his stamina to talk to hundreds of Villa fans, sign autographs, pose for pictures, and how patient and impeccably pleasant he was.
Met him at the big 150 event in Brierley Hill last year and, along with Sammy Morgan, had a lovely long chat...coincidentally I was wearing my '57 replica shirt and he signed it for me. He was so lovely, clearly enjoyed the day and certainly made mine!
He was a very special Villain.
RIP dearest Peter.

[amfy]

I have said before that for my Dad’s 70th birthday I wrote to him via Villa Park and jokingly asked him to my dad’s party which would be a Rock n Roll dance in Southampton. He rang me to say he couldn’t make it but would ring my dad on his birthday.

It was a fabulous surprise for my dad and they chatted on the phone for some time and arranged to meet up at a later date. They actually met up a couple of times and kept in touch by phone.

My Dad always joked that Peter McParland probably enjoyed meeting him even more than he enjoyed meeting Peter McParland because so obviously he loved to hear all my Dad’s memories of his playing days.

Aston Villa really was his life.

[Steve67]

RIP Peter.  A true Villa legend. 

[adrenachrome]

The reason I’m a Villa fan. Dad was from the same neck of woods and saw him play for Dundalk. When he came across, Peter was playing for Villa so it seemed only reasonable to follow the Villa. Thanks Peter and RIP.

Same here, although my Dad was from Fermanagh.

As an aside, in 1969 I was in the same form at school as Peter's nephew James who bore a remarkable resemblance to the legend. He was an excellent footballer as well.

[dave shelley]

Was Peter ever married and did he have a family.?  This is something I have never known.

[PeterWithesShin]

NI great McParland left mark on club and international stages

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cxeenyxz0pgo

[passport1]

Extremely sad news. My late dad and his friends followed Villa going to every match in the 57 cup run. He always told me about meeting Peter shortly before the final at a function that was held at the Tower ballroom. He asked Peter did they have any chance? To which he replied "we are going there to win it".

[dave.woodhall]

Was Peter ever married and did he have a family.?  This is something I have never known.

He was married and I don't know how many children he gad but he said they were the reason he left Glentoran when the Troubles started.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Speaking of Glentoran, were there no limits to Peter's talents?

Glentoran Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player-manager Peter McParland, aged 91.

'Peter joined Glentoran in 1968 following the departure of Alex Young, taking on the role of player-manager. In his debut season, he made 18 appearances and scored 10 goals before leading the club to a memorable Irish League title and City Cup double in the 1969–70 campaign. He retired from playing in 1971.

Before arriving at the Oval, Peter enjoyed a celebrated career with Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as spells in Canada and the United States.

An icon of Northern Ireland football, he earned 34 international caps and remains the nation’s top scorer at World Cup finals, famously scoring five goals at the 1958 tournament in Sweden.

Glentoran extends our heartfelt condolences to Peter’s family and friends as we remember a true great of the game'.

[BC Villain]

No Irish player has scored more goals at the World Cup and only Lineker and Kane have done so for a UK nation.

Pretty clear from reading the tributes that he was a phenomenal player in his time.  I guess most non-Villa fans will remember him for the clash with Ray Wood, though it was a perfectly legal challenge at the time.

[not3bad]

RIP Peter McParland. I wonder if he ever imagined he would be the last living Aston Villa FA Cup winner by the year 2025. Condolences to his family and friends.

[Steve kirk]

Very sad news, definitely one of the Villa greats, my late Dad and especially my grandad used to wax lyrical about him, he’s always and quite rightly remembered for the brace in the 1957 final and his international record but he also scored a shed load of goals for our beloved Villa, think it was around 120 in 340 games, that’s a great strike rate
RIP Peter McParland xx

[dave.woodhall]

Speaking of Glentoran, were there no limits to Peter's talents?

Glentoran Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player-manager Peter McParland, aged 91.

'Peter joined Glentoran in 1968 following the departure of Alex Young, taking on the role of player-manager. In his debut season, he made 18 appearances and scored 10 goals before leading the club to a memorable Irish League title and City Cup double in the 1969–70 campaign. He retired from playing in 1971.

When he was manager he used to have George Best's dad and his uncle on the stand, berating him because the Glens had turned down their wee Georgie as a lad.