ASTON VILLA’S GREATEST EVER PLAYER: John Devey won five league titles, Peter McParland was an FA Cup hero, Andy Gray starred as a fearless young striker and Jack Grealish was sensational… but who do YOU think is their all-time standout star?
Mail Sport with the help of our readers is on a mission to find the greatest player of all-time at each of the 20 Premier League clubs.
Today it’s the turn to look at the legends of Aston Villa from Billy Walker and the fabulously-named Pongo Waring to the European Cup heroes of 1982 and latter-day stars like Jack Grealish.
And once you’ve made up your mind who is all the best-ever, it’s time to vote…
Aston Villa are one of only six English teams to have been crowned champions of Europe and can claim an impressive ‘celebrity fan’ in heir to the throne William, Prince of Wales.
Villa’s most successful period was a long time ago, winning the league and FA Cup six times apiece by 1920. They won the league championship again in 1981 and the European Cup against Bayern Munich the following year.
John Devey (bottom row, left of the trophies) won five league championships between 1893 and 1900 – including the 1897 Double – during an era in which Aston Villa dominated
Peter Withe scored 20 goals as Aston Villa won the league championship in 1980-81 and netted the winner as the club were crowned kings of Europe
Charlie Aitken was Mr Dependable when Villa won the League Cup in 1975 as a Second Division side
Villa’s last FA Cup triumph in 1957 was down to Peter McParland who scored twice in the final
John Devey won five league championships between 1893 and 1900 – including the 1897 Double – during an era in which Villa dominated. Not only was he captain and scorer of 182 goals, he also played first-class cricket for Warwickshire.
Billy Walker took over the mantle between 1914 and 1933, his tally of 244 goals still a club record to this day. Born just a few miles from Villa Park, he helped the club win the FA Cup beating Huddersfield 1-0 in the final.
Football’s first brilliant maverick was Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring who scored at nearly a goal a game in his seven years with Villa between 1928 and 1935
Football’s first brilliant maverick was Pongo Waring who scored at nearly a goal a game in his seven years with Villa between 1928 and 1935.
He was the archetypal cult hero, adored by fans despite indiscretions. ‘There were no rules for Pongo. Nobody knew what time he would turn up for training,’ admitted Walker who appreciated the magic Waring would produce on the pitch.
Villa’s last FA Cup triumph in 1957 was down to striker Peter McParland who scored both goals in the final against Manchester United during the heyday of the Busby Babes.
The second followed a shoulder-charge into United’s Ray Wood, leaving the ‘keeper with a broken cheekbone, but that incident shouldn’t overshadow McParland’s contribution to Villa. He scored five goals for Northern Ireland’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals the following year.
Charlie Aitken was Mr Dependable when Villa won the League Cup in 1975 as a Second Division side. The Scottish defender played a record 662 times for the club during his 17 years.
The end of the decade was notable for the contribution of Andy Gray a fearless young centre-forward who was voted PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the same season. When he left for Wolves, they had to pay a British record £1.45million.
Billy Walker’s tally of 244 goals between 1914 and 1933 is still a club record to this day for Villa
Andy Gray was the fearless young centre-forward who was voted PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the same season
Despite losing Gray, Villa then famously had the greatest two years in their history, with the team built by Ron Saunders throwing up several candidates for the greatest player.
Centre-forward Peter Withe scored 20 goals as Villa won the league championship in 1980-81 and then netted the winner against Bayern to crown them kings of Europe.
Even now at Villa Park, there is a banner on the north stand displaying the commentator’s reaction: ‘Oh, it must be… It is… Peter Withe!’
Nigel Spink lifts the European Cup after replacing an injured Jimmy Rimmer during the final. The goalkeeper would go on and stay at Villa Park for a further 13 years, clocking up 460 appearances
Rookie goalkeeper Nigel Spink replaced injured Jimmy Rimmer during that final and stayed at Villa Park for a further 13 years, clocking up 460 appearances.
Perhaps the best-loved member of that immortal side was midfielder Gordon ‘Sid’ Cowans, who had three separate spells at the club.
Cowans’ passing range was integral to Villa’s success. When Paul Gascoigne came back from Italia 90 as a national treasure, 32-year-old Cowans was picked ahead of him for England‘s next competitive fixture, a Euros qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Though Villa haven’t hit those European Cup heights since, they’ve still produced exceptional individuals.
David Platt was the club’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons and then became a European name by starring for England at that 1990 World Cup having just helped Villa finish league runners-up.
When Paul McGrath signed from Manchester United, he couldn’t train properly because of a long-standing knee problem, but was still Villa’s best player at the weekend.
McGrath was a huge part of the Villa teams that won the League Cups in 1994 – against United – and 1996. The terrace anthem ‘Paul McGrath my lord, Paul McGrath’ still gets a rendition from Villa fans.
The best-loved member Villa’s immortal side of the 1980s was Gordon ‘Sid’ Cowans
David Platt (left) was the club’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons and Paul McGrath (right) was a huge part of the Villa teams that won the League Cups in 1994 and 1996
Jack Grealish was a modern day icon at Aston Villa before he later joined Man City for £100m
Local lad and boyhood Villa fan Jack Grealish didn’t have the luxury of playing in one of their great sides – even playing for two seasons in the Championship.
But his ability to dribble and glide past defenders was noticed elsewhere and he became England’s first £100million player when he joined Manchester City in 2021 – giving Villa funds to improve other areas of the team which they’ve done in spectacularly under Unai Emery.
To select your greatest Aston Villa player, click on the voting button or email greatest@dailymail.co.uk if you want to choose someone not on the shortlist.
We will reveal the results of the greatest all-time player for all 20 Premier League clubs before the start of the 2024-25 season.
