The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to former Aston Villa player Gary Shaw after his death at the age of 63.
Villa fan William posted on X ahead of their Champions League away game against Young Boys in Bern on Tuesday evening, saying he hoped the game was “the first step towards another European adventure”.
The prince added that his thoughts were with Shaw’s friends and family following his passing on Monday.
The Prince and Princess of Wales posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “The last time @AVFCOfficial won in the top European competition, it was the month before I was born. Let’s hope tonight is the first step towards another European adventure!
“My thoughts this evening are also with Villa legend Gary Shaw’s friends and family following his passing yesterday.”
Shaw, who was born in nearby Kingshurst, initially joined Villa as an apprentice and scored 79 goals in 213 games for the team.
In 1981, he scored 18 goals as Villa clinched the First Division Championship for the first time since 1910 in a side also comprising names like Gordon Cowans, Tony Morley and captain Dennis Mortimer.
In 1988, he left for spells in Denmark and Austria, before ending his career with short periods at Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury respectively.
He made his final playing appearance in Hong Kong in 1991, but he remained a popular figure at the club where he often worked as a match day ambassador.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here