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Gary Shaw with local fans at the Bowling Club in the Marsh. Photo: Anna Barker

The Young PFA Player of the Year for 1981 was in Weymouth for two days of visiting before his book signing event on Friday 3 September where he spoke to members of the Dorset Lions – a branch of South Dorset fans for West Midlands Football Club.

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A Dorset Lions spokesperson said: “Gary spent two days in Weymouth where he played golf – one of his great passions – at Weymouth Golf Club.

“He also had time to visit Weymouth and Portland.

“In fact, the last time he came here was in the mid-1960s with his mother and father.

“It was a big success with fantastic comments from the Dorset Lions.”

Gary Shaw (left) in the European Cup victory in 1981. Photo: Dorset Lions

At the start of his career, the former Villa striker also received the Bravo Award for the best Under-23 player in European competitions – an annual award given by Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo to the most outstanding young European footballer. The award was abolished in 2015.

Photo: Dorset Lions

As well as helping Aston Villa win the 1982 European Cup (which is equivalent to the Champions League) and the English football Premier League in 1980-81 (the equivalent of the Premier League), Shaw also helped his team to win the European Super Cup in 1982.

Shaw with the European Cup in 1981. Photo: Dorset Lions

Following his side’s successful European campaign, his promising career at Villa was cut short after sustaining a serious knee injury during an away game against Nottingham Forest in September 1983.

After leaving Villa in 1987, Shaw would go on to perform in Denmark, Austria and Hong Kong.

Gary Shaw with the Dorset Lions bowling alley at the Marsh. Photo: Anna Barker