Tributes paid after death of NI and Aston Villa legend Peter McParland
McParland was the last surviving member of Villa's 1957 FA Cup win
Premier League club Aston Villa has paid tribute to former NI star Peter McParland, who passed away on Sunday aged 91.
The Newry-born man had been the last surviving member of the club's 1957 FA Cup-winning side.
McParland netted both goals when Villa defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the showpiece and hit the winner four years later as the club lifted the League Cup.
In doing so he became the first footballer to score in the finals of both major English cup competitions.
The winger had been playing for Dundalk when he was brought to Villa Park by then-manager George Martin, making his home debut in a September 1952 fixture against Wolves.
He won the first of 34 Northern Ireland caps while still a teenager in 1954, scoring twice on his debut against Wales, and became the first Aston Villa player to play at the World Cup finals for NI in 1958.
The Newry man found the net five times at the 1958 World Cup as NI reached the quarter finals before suffering a 4-0 defeat to France.
He holds the record for being the highest-scoring NI player in World Cup finals history.
Overall, McParland scored 121 time sin 134 appearances for the Villans, also helping them to a Second Division league title in 1959-60.
Following almost a decade at Villa Park, he moved to cross-town rivals Wolves for £35,000 in January 1962, before going on to play for Plymouth Argyle, Worcester City and Glentoran along with spells in Canada and the USA.
In a lengthy tribute posted to the club's website, Aston Villa FC said: 'Aston Villa Football Club is profoundly saddened to learn that Peter McParland, the last surviving member of the club's 1957 FA Cup-winning team, has passed away.
"Equally at home at centre-forward as on the left wing, McParland boasted a powerful header of the ball as well as possessing a talented left foot.
"The last survivor of the 1957 FA Cup-winning team, he was a guest of the club at the 2015 cup final against Arsenal.
'McParland also attended a special exhibition at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in January this year to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary.
'The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Peter's family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.
"Rest in Peace, Peter.'
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