Former Aston Villa midfielder Ian Taylor soaked up a memorable night in Bern as Unai Emery’s side secured an easy win in the Champions League.
Ian Taylor made 288 appearances during his time at Aston Villa and on Tuesday night, he was seen chanting with supporters before the game.
The Villans marked their return to the Champions League in style with a 3-0 win over Young Boys as Unai Emery became only the second person in the competition to manage six or more teams.
That is a feat the Spaniard can be proud of, dedicating the victory in Switzerland to Aston Villa icon Gary Shaw, who sadly passed away on Monday aged 63.
Who was Gary Shaw?
Shaw was part of the Aston Villa side that were incredibly successful during the 1980s.
Beginning his apprenticeship with Villa in 1977, Shaw made his senior debut for the club in 1978 as a substitute against Bristol City before having a couple of starting appearances.
Years after making his debut, the former striker became a regular for Aston Villa in the 1981/82 campaign as he helped his side win the European Cup in 1982.
Shaw went on to make 213 appearances for the club, scoring 79 times and was given a free transfer in 1988, later playing in Denmark, Austria and Hong Kong.
In recent years, Shaw had been a regular visitor to Villa Park on matchdays, engaging in Q&A sessions with guests in corporate areas around the stadium.
He would have been overjoyed to have watched Villa in the Champions League with former player Taylor paying tribute to him in Bern.
How Gary Shaw was remembered during Aston Villa v Young Boys
Taylor, of course, is an Aston Villa legend, scoring 42 goals in 288 appearances between the 1990s and 2000s.
He is an icon of the football club however, it was Shaw who inspired him to support Aston Villa growing up.
Before the game kicked off in Bern, Taylor paid tribute to the former striker with a speech. “His name is Gary Shaw,” Taylor said.
“He was one of my heroes when I grew up and he was one of the people that made me support Aston Villa. I felt it, I know there was a big fella over there that felt it and I know we all felt it. So, if you’ve got a drink in your hand, I want you to raise a glass for our hero, Gary Shaw.”
This was a touching moment for everyone involved with the football club as they paid respects to one of their own.
- READ MORE: Gary Lineker and Jack Grealish lead tributes after Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw dies aged 63
Former Aston Villa players pay tribute to Gary Shaw
Tributes far and wide have come in for Shaw, including from Aston Villa academy product Jack Grealish.
Just like Grealish, Shaw was one of Villa’s own, a Birmingham-born boy, who lived his dream of playing for his boyhood club.
He wrote on his Instagram story: “RIP Gary Shaw. What an absolute legend and an unbelievable player. Sending all my thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones.”
Robert Snodgrass, who made 43 appearances for Aston Villa, also paid tribute by simply writing: “Legend.”
Curtis Davies is another former player who responded, saying: “RIP Gary” as floods of responses came in for Shaw.
It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for Aston Villa in recent days but they’ll just be glad that their maiden Champions League victory was dedicated to Shaw.
