The 63-year-old helped Villa win the 1981 league title and the European Cup in 1982. Shaw, a former England Under-21 striker, also played for Blackpool, Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town.
A Boyhood Villa Supporter
A boyhood Villa supporter, he scored 18 goals as the club won the Division One title for the first time in 71 years, after which he was named PFA young player of the year and European young footballer of the year.
He followed it by scoring 14 goals in all competitions the following season, including three in the victorious European Cup campaign. Despite the success, Shaw was left out of England’s squad for the 1982 World Cup and never received a senior international cap.
Shaw responded by delivering his best return of 24 goals in the 1982-83 campaign but then suffered a knee which would hamper him for the rest of his career. He eventually left Villa in 1988 and had spells at Walsall and Shrewsbury Town before eventually retiring in 1992.
Gary Shaw's Impact on Aston Villa
Aston Villa icon Gary Shaw made 213 appearences for his boyhood club across a decade in claret and blue.
The 63-year-old Villa legend is widely regarded as one of the best forwards the club has had in their 150-year history after he made 213 appearances and scored 79 goals. Born in Kingshurst, Shaw spent a decade at his boyhood club after starting his apprenticeship with Villa in 1977.
In 1981, having contributed 18 goals to Villa's League Championship triumph, he was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. Shaw also played a key role in the club's European conquest a year later. Shaw played in seven of the club's eight matches before the final with Bayern, where he started in attack alongside match-winner Peter Withe.
After missing the 5-0 home win over Valur, Shaw bagged a brace in the return leg in Reykjavik. Villa saw off Dynamo Berlin in the second round, before Shaw handed Villa the all-important breakthrough in the quarter-final second leg against Dynamo Kiev at Villa Park. Villa drew 0-0 away from home, before winning 2-0 on home soil as Ken McNaught scored before half-time to double the lead after Shaw's opening goal in the fourth minute.
He remained a regular during the 1982-83 season, during which he won a European Super Cup medal. Shaw then suffered a series of injury problems which limited his availability in the final five years of his Villa career. He left the club on a free transfer in 1988, later playing in Denmark, Austria and Hong Kong.
Outpouring of Support for Gary Shaw
Lots of messages are appearing on social media after the news started to break. Stan Collymore posted on X: “Villans, Gary Shaw is very poorly in hospital after a fall. I'm sure the Villa family will rally round and give one of our greatest our love and support at this incredibly difficult time. Ledge, you're my hero, and I'm thinking of you.”
Project B6 added: “Thoughts on an 8th minute round of applause in Support of our original Star Boy Gary Shaw v Everton on Saturday? A Villan, A League and European Cup winner, A True Legend of Aston Villa Football Club.”
Another Villa fan said: “Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Gary Shaw. Boyhood hero and Villa Legend. Send him positive vibes Villa fans.”
A Villan Through and Through
LEGENDARY Aston Villa striker Gary Shaw is in serious condition in hospital after suffering a head injury in a fall.
The 63-year-old was a part of the Villa side that won the First Division, European Cup and European Super Cup between 1981 and 1982. He was named PFA Young Player of the Year following their title-winning season in which he scored 20 times.
The blonde-haired baby-faced assassin was regarded as one of Villa's greatest ever forwards, scoring 79 goals in 213 appearances for the club. SunSport understands he suffered the incident on Friday and is being cared for at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Reacting to the news of his health battle, former Villa striker Stan Collymore posted: “I'm sure the Villa family will rally round and give one of our greatest our love and support at this incredibly difficult time.
“Ledge, you're my hero, and I'm thinking of you.”
One fan wrote: “That's terrible news. One of my heroes back in the day. Hope he makes a full recovery.”
While another added: “Every #AVFC fan who remembers how brilliant Gary was in those glory years, sending prayers and deepest wishes for him to make a full recovery.”
A third replied: “Shocking news. I was lucky enough to meet him a few weeks ago at VP. Lovely bloke and a true legend. Got well soon Gary!”
And a fourth responded: “Still one of my all-time favourites, hope he makes a full recovery.”
Shaw spent 10 years playing for Villa's first team after coming through their academy. He racked up nearly 200 appearances for the club, leaving in 1988 to play his football in Denmark. He ended up with a tally of 73 goals in 196 games for Villa.
Spells followed at Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury, before he hung up his boots in 1992. Shaw never earned a cap for England, but did play seven times for the U21s, scoring two goals.
A Legacy Forged in Claret and Blue
Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw is reportedly in hospital in a serious condition after suffering a head injury following a fall.
Shaw, 63, is an icon at Villa Park after he helped the club to win the First Division in 1981, while he was also a crucial part of Villa's 1982 European Cup winning team. He is widely-regarded as one of the greatest forwards in Villa's history and scored 79 goals in 213 games.
After the worrying news, which was reported by BBC Radio WM, several Villa fans and former players sent their well-wishes to Shaw. Stan Collymore, a boyhood supporter who also played for the club, posted on X: ‘Villans, Gary Shaw is very poorly in hospital after a fall.
‘I'm sure the Villa family will rally round and give one of our greatest our love and support at this incredibly difficult time.
‘Ledge, you're my hero, and I'm thinking of you.’
Project B6, a fan account, added: ‘Thoughts on an 8th minute round of applause in support of our original star boy Gary Shaw v Everton on Saturday? A Villan, a League and European Cup winner, a true legend of Aston Villa Football Club.’
Meanwhile, another supporter said: ‘Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Gary Shaw. Boyhood hero and Villa Legend. Send him positive vibes Villa fans.’
Shaw - who was voted as the PFA Young Player of the Year during Villa's title-winning campaign in 1981 - eventually left the club in 1988 after struggling with injuries. Several former Villa players and supporters sent their best wishes to the 63-year-old. Shaw (left), pictured with strike partner Peter Withe, is also a matchday ambassador for Villa.
The striker went on to play in Denmark, Austria and Hong Kong, while he also represented Blackpool, Shrewsbury Town, Kilmarnock and Walsall during a decorated career. He retired from football in 1992 and has since spent time working as a statistical analyst, while he still has a role as a matchday ambassador for Villa.
Shaw, who also won seven caps for England Under 21s, spent just over a decade with Villa after starting his apprenticeship with the club in 1977.
