Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog - Posts Tagged "walsall"
A European Cup winner on loan
Gary Shaw 1961 - 2024
Gary Shaw was born in Kingshurst, West Midlands on 21 January 1961and in February 1988, towards the end of a stellar career with Aston Villa in which his 213 appearances saw him score 79 goals, he came on a month’s loan to Blackpool, who were hoping to revive their sagging promotion hopes in what was then Division Three.
He said of his move to Blackpool, ‘I have not had opportunities at Villa because Graham Taylor hasn’t been able to find place for me. That is something I have to accept but my priority over the next month is to do well and get my career moving again. I don't know what will happen after that. With the size of Villa’s squad it certainly won’t be easy to get back in the team. For the moment I'm glad someone has come along and dragged me off reserve team football. All I am concerned about is doing well over the next month because whatever you do at reserve level it isn’t really enough.’
He had expressed interest in going out on loan before Christmas but at that time Villa needed cover for their regular strikers and he signed new players so that he then had healthy competition for the striking roles. Villa manager Graham Taylor thought it was a good move for Shaw but he stressed that nothing permanent had been discussed with Blackpool, adding, ‘It is the right decision for Gary. I haven’t been able to give him first-team football and 1 know he must have that. He needs to show he has completely recovered from his injuries, even if it is only in the Third Division. This month could do a lot for him. He has scored some goals in the Central League but for a player of his calibre that doesn't mean a lot.’
Meanwhile Blackpool manager Sam Ellis believed ‘Shaw can help Blackpool push for a promotion spot.’ And he added, ’There are no doubts Gary is fit enough and certainly no question that he is good enough to add genuine quality to our first team squad.’
He made his debut for the Seasiders at Bloomfield Road against Brighton on 6 February when the disgruntled Ellis stated ‘The twin arrival of striker Gary Shaw and goalkeeper Carl Muggleton on loan inside the last seven days is the signal for the axe to swing. I don’t believe the season is dead and I am anxious to woo back the crowds with a bright and breezy revival. Shaw’s presence has put one or two of the strikers under pressure and the advent of Muggleton — one of the best young goalkeepers in Britain — has certainly put question marks over Barry Siddall's hold on the number one slot. And emphasising his earlier points he repeated, ‘The arrival of Shaw and Muggleton underlines my belief that the squad needs a shake-up. I am disappointed we are not in a better position in the league. I thought the players were good enough to be much higher. I said there would be a shake-up along the way and there will be.’
However, Shaw was the only one of the pair to make his Blackpool debut [incidentally Muggleton was to make only two appearances overall for the club] but the visitors went away with a 3-1 victory.
Shaw’s second game The Seasiders did win 3-2 away at Notts County when, although Shaw did not score he gained praise when one report stated, ‘the way Gary Shaw got stuck in suggested he is prepared to fight for a new contract all the way’. This success was followed by an encouraging 3-3 draw at home against Gillingham when Blackpool were down to 10-men due to Tony Cunningham’s sending off.
He returned to the Midlands for the game against Walsall and as the former golden boy of nearby Aston Villa was making his fourth appearance for Blackpool he was asked for a comment and he realized the importance of the game and replied, ‘This is the most important month of my career.’ But, despite Cunningham’s bustling replacement Keith Walwyn’s aggression being expected to ‘help new boy Gary Shaw get among the goals’ the move failed as Blackpool suffered a 3-2 defeat and Shaw was substituted and was left out for the following game.
However after the side had lost 3-2 to Fulham, he was back as a substitute for what turned out to be his two final games for the club, against York City and Sunderland on the first and fifth of March respectively. The former were defeated 2-1 and a draw, 2-2, was secured against the subsequent League champions Sunderland at Roker Park. In both games he replaced Brian Butler; in the latter, preferred to 14-goal Craig Madden in the substitute’s role, he was introduced ‘in an attempt to step up a search for the equaliser’.
That terminated his loan spell after he had made six appearances for Blackpool and although at Villa Park he was known as ‘Shawsy, the blond bombshell striker with the surest of touches in front of goal’, he unfortunately did not add to his tally at Blackpool. Manager Ellis commented as Shaw prepared to return to Aston Villa, ‘There was no benefit in pursuing a move. It was always going to be a month’s loan. No fee was discussed for a permanent move. If Shaw had found just a spark of his old goal flame Blackpool might have ventured a small bid.’
On his return to Villa he commented, ‘1 still believe I can do a jab. My contract at Villa is up at the end of the season. I am determined to fight my way back and will listen to any reasonable offer.’
He had begun his career in junior football with Coleshill Town before his talent as a striker was spotted by Villa who duly had signed him as a youngster in 1977.
While at Villa he had been PFA Young Player of the Year in 1981 and European Young Player of the Year in 1982 and he played a significant part in Villa’s Division One title win in 1980/81. In the League that season, Villa used just 14 players in 42 games, when he and Peter Withe scored a combined 38 goals, Withe 20 and Shaw 18, to earn the club a first league title in 71 years. He was also a European Cup winner with Villa in 1982 and scored one of the goals in Villa’s European Super Cup two-leg victory over Barcelona in 1982/83.
In addition, he played seven games, scoring two goals, for the England Under 21 side in 1981/82. He was also included in the 40-strong preliminary England squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals but subsequently he was not picked in the final 22.
An injury in 1983 had somewhat reduced his potency and, reluctantly, Villa released him after the 1987/88 season. Thereafter he had a couple of seasons in Denmark and Austria before returning in 1990 when had short spells with Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town. He then moved to Hong Kong where he was a member of the Ernest Borel squad that did a Cup double in the 1991/92 season.
After retirement from the game he subsequently worked for Villa as a youth team coach and for the Press Association and was latterly a football ambassador at Villa Park, where he was a most popular figure.
Following a fall at home he entered hospital but failed to recover and passed away peacefully on 16 September.
Although he only played those six games for Blackpool he is still an integral part of the history of the club and those who did see him play for the Seasiders were delighted to have had the opportunity to do so.
He will be sadly missed and sincere condolences go to his family and friends; Rest in Peace Gary Shaw.
Gary Shaw was born in Kingshurst, West Midlands on 21 January 1961and in February 1988, towards the end of a stellar career with Aston Villa in which his 213 appearances saw him score 79 goals, he came on a month’s loan to Blackpool, who were hoping to revive their sagging promotion hopes in what was then Division Three.
He said of his move to Blackpool, ‘I have not had opportunities at Villa because Graham Taylor hasn’t been able to find place for me. That is something I have to accept but my priority over the next month is to do well and get my career moving again. I don't know what will happen after that. With the size of Villa’s squad it certainly won’t be easy to get back in the team. For the moment I'm glad someone has come along and dragged me off reserve team football. All I am concerned about is doing well over the next month because whatever you do at reserve level it isn’t really enough.’
He had expressed interest in going out on loan before Christmas but at that time Villa needed cover for their regular strikers and he signed new players so that he then had healthy competition for the striking roles. Villa manager Graham Taylor thought it was a good move for Shaw but he stressed that nothing permanent had been discussed with Blackpool, adding, ‘It is the right decision for Gary. I haven’t been able to give him first-team football and 1 know he must have that. He needs to show he has completely recovered from his injuries, even if it is only in the Third Division. This month could do a lot for him. He has scored some goals in the Central League but for a player of his calibre that doesn't mean a lot.’
Meanwhile Blackpool manager Sam Ellis believed ‘Shaw can help Blackpool push for a promotion spot.’ And he added, ’There are no doubts Gary is fit enough and certainly no question that he is good enough to add genuine quality to our first team squad.’
He made his debut for the Seasiders at Bloomfield Road against Brighton on 6 February when the disgruntled Ellis stated ‘The twin arrival of striker Gary Shaw and goalkeeper Carl Muggleton on loan inside the last seven days is the signal for the axe to swing. I don’t believe the season is dead and I am anxious to woo back the crowds with a bright and breezy revival. Shaw’s presence has put one or two of the strikers under pressure and the advent of Muggleton — one of the best young goalkeepers in Britain — has certainly put question marks over Barry Siddall's hold on the number one slot. And emphasising his earlier points he repeated, ‘The arrival of Shaw and Muggleton underlines my belief that the squad needs a shake-up. I am disappointed we are not in a better position in the league. I thought the players were good enough to be much higher. I said there would be a shake-up along the way and there will be.’
However, Shaw was the only one of the pair to make his Blackpool debut [incidentally Muggleton was to make only two appearances overall for the club] but the visitors went away with a 3-1 victory.
Shaw’s second game The Seasiders did win 3-2 away at Notts County when, although Shaw did not score he gained praise when one report stated, ‘the way Gary Shaw got stuck in suggested he is prepared to fight for a new contract all the way’. This success was followed by an encouraging 3-3 draw at home against Gillingham when Blackpool were down to 10-men due to Tony Cunningham’s sending off.
He returned to the Midlands for the game against Walsall and as the former golden boy of nearby Aston Villa was making his fourth appearance for Blackpool he was asked for a comment and he realized the importance of the game and replied, ‘This is the most important month of my career.’ But, despite Cunningham’s bustling replacement Keith Walwyn’s aggression being expected to ‘help new boy Gary Shaw get among the goals’ the move failed as Blackpool suffered a 3-2 defeat and Shaw was substituted and was left out for the following game.
However after the side had lost 3-2 to Fulham, he was back as a substitute for what turned out to be his two final games for the club, against York City and Sunderland on the first and fifth of March respectively. The former were defeated 2-1 and a draw, 2-2, was secured against the subsequent League champions Sunderland at Roker Park. In both games he replaced Brian Butler; in the latter, preferred to 14-goal Craig Madden in the substitute’s role, he was introduced ‘in an attempt to step up a search for the equaliser’.
That terminated his loan spell after he had made six appearances for Blackpool and although at Villa Park he was known as ‘Shawsy, the blond bombshell striker with the surest of touches in front of goal’, he unfortunately did not add to his tally at Blackpool. Manager Ellis commented as Shaw prepared to return to Aston Villa, ‘There was no benefit in pursuing a move. It was always going to be a month’s loan. No fee was discussed for a permanent move. If Shaw had found just a spark of his old goal flame Blackpool might have ventured a small bid.’
On his return to Villa he commented, ‘1 still believe I can do a jab. My contract at Villa is up at the end of the season. I am determined to fight my way back and will listen to any reasonable offer.’
He had begun his career in junior football with Coleshill Town before his talent as a striker was spotted by Villa who duly had signed him as a youngster in 1977.
While at Villa he had been PFA Young Player of the Year in 1981 and European Young Player of the Year in 1982 and he played a significant part in Villa’s Division One title win in 1980/81. In the League that season, Villa used just 14 players in 42 games, when he and Peter Withe scored a combined 38 goals, Withe 20 and Shaw 18, to earn the club a first league title in 71 years. He was also a European Cup winner with Villa in 1982 and scored one of the goals in Villa’s European Super Cup two-leg victory over Barcelona in 1982/83.
In addition, he played seven games, scoring two goals, for the England Under 21 side in 1981/82. He was also included in the 40-strong preliminary England squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals but subsequently he was not picked in the final 22.
An injury in 1983 had somewhat reduced his potency and, reluctantly, Villa released him after the 1987/88 season. Thereafter he had a couple of seasons in Denmark and Austria before returning in 1990 when had short spells with Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town. He then moved to Hong Kong where he was a member of the Ernest Borel squad that did a Cup double in the 1991/92 season.
After retirement from the game he subsequently worked for Villa as a youth team coach and for the Press Association and was latterly a football ambassador at Villa Park, where he was a most popular figure.
Following a fall at home he entered hospital but failed to recover and passed away peacefully on 16 September.
Although he only played those six games for Blackpool he is still an integral part of the history of the club and those who did see him play for the Seasiders were delighted to have had the opportunity to do so.
He will be sadly missed and sincere condolences go to his family and friends; Rest in Peace Gary Shaw.
