05-05-2025
How 25,000 paid tribute to Peter McParland after Aston Villa legend's death
Aston Villa paid tribute to the late Peter McParland and Jake Findlay at Villa Park this afternoon.
Around 25,000 fans were in attendance for the FA Youth Cup final between Villa's Under-18s and Manchester City Under-18s.
Before kick-off, a minute's silence was observed for both McParland and Findlay, who passed away last week.
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Some members of the crowd applauded the duo, before 'Holte Enders in the Sky' echoed from the Holte End and Trinity Road stands.
McParland, the last surviving member of the club's 1957 FA Cup-winning team, had recently celebrated his 91st birthday.
He will always be remembered as the player who scored both goals in Villa's 2–1 victory over Manchester United in the 1957 FA Cup final.
Findlay, a Scottish-born goalkeeper, joined Villa's youth ranks in 1968 and passed away at the age of 70.
He was part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup for the first time, four years after he joined the club.
Findlay also featured in Villa Park's first European match—the second leg of a UEFA Cup tie against Royal Antwerp in 1975.
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