Aston Villa is mourning the loss of a true legend, Peter McParland, who has passed away at the age of 91. McParland was the last remaining member of the club`s historic 1957 FA Cup-winning squad, and tributes are being shared following the news.
The club confirmed that Peter, a Northern Ireland international who earned 34 caps for his country, died shortly after celebrating his 91st birthday.
Peter McParland holds an indelible place in Aston Villa history. He famously netted both goals in the memorable 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the 1957 FA Cup final at Wembley, securing the trophy for Villa for the last time.
His knack for decisive goals continued in 1961 when he scored a dramatic extra-time winner against Rotherham United, clinching the League Cup title. This achievement made him the first footballer ever to score in the finals of both major domestic knockout cup competitions in England.
During his ten-year career with Aston Villa, McParland made 341 appearances and scored an impressive 121 goals. He was a versatile forward, equally comfortable as a centre-forward or on the left wing, known for his powerful heading ability and talented left foot.
On the international stage, McParland was just as significant. He scored five goals for Northern Ireland during the 1958 World Cup campaign, helping his team reach the quarter-finals. He still holds the record as the highest-scoring Northern Irishman in World Cup history.
Aston Villa released a statement expressing profound sadness at his passing and extending the thoughts of everyone at the club to Peter’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
Born in Newry, Northern Ireland, in April 1934, McParland began his football journey with Dundalk FC before being signed by Villa manager George Martin. He made his debut for Villa against Wolves in September 1952.
He earned his first international cap as a teenager in 1954, scoring twice against Wales. In addition to his cup triumphs, McParland also played a key role in Villa winning the Second Division title in the 1959-60 season.
Following his successful spell at Villa, McParland joined Wolves in January 1962 for a fee of £35,000. In the later stages of his career, he also played for Plymouth Argyle and Worcester City, as well as teams in North America including Toronto Inter-Roma and Atlanta Chiefs.
Peter remained connected with Aston Villa in his later years, attending the 2015 FA Cup final as a guest and visiting a special exhibition earlier this year at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery to commemorate the club`s 150th anniversary.
