Aston Villa hero Peter McParland dies aged 91
Villa are in mourning for legendary forward Peter McParland, who has died aged 91.
McParland’s passing was announced 68 years to the day after he scored both goals when Villa beat Manchester United 2-1 to win the 1957 FA Cup, the last time the club won the famous trophy.
He also scored the winner four years later when Villa beat Rotherham to win the inaugural League Cup, making him the first player to score in the finals of both domestic cup competitions.
In total, he scored 121 times in 341 appearances during a decade at the club.
Born in Newry, Northern Ireland, McParland grew up a Villa supporter and after being signed by George Martin, made his debut against Wolves aged 18.
He won the first of his 34 international caps while still a teenager, scoring twice on his debut against Wales in 1954. McParland was the first Villa player to play in the World Cup finals when representing his country in Sweden in 1958.
That followed the glorious day at Wembley, when his two goals helped Villa overcome the famous Busby Babes to win the FA Cup for what was then a record seventh time.
McParland, who played both on the left wing and at centre-forward, scored seven goals in total on the Cup run. Three years later he would help the club claim an instant return to the top flight by winning the Division Two title.
McParland left Villa in 1962 to join Wolves. He also played for Plymouth Argyle, Worcester City and Glentoran, as well as having spells in Canada and the USA before hanging up his boots.
The last surviving member of Villa’s FA Cup winning team, he was a guest of honour when the club most recently reached the final in 2015. In January, he attended a special exhibition at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary.
