Billy Walker’s tally of 244 goals between 1914 and 1933 is still a club record to this day for Villa

Football’s first brilliant maverick was Pongo Waring, who scored at nearly a goal a game in his seven years with Villa between 1928 and 1935. He was the archetypal cult hero, adored by fans despite his indiscretions.

The 1950s saw the emergence of Peter McParland, who scored both goals in the 1957 FA Cup final against Manchester United during the heyday of the Busby Babes. McParland also scored five goals for Northern Ireland’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals the following year.

The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of Charlie Aitken, Mr. Dependable, who played a record 662 times for the club during his 17-year tenure. Andy Gray was also a standout player, voted PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the same season.

The end of the decade was notable for the contribution of Peter Withe, who scored 20 goals as Villa won the league championship in 1980-81 and then netted the winner against Bayern Munich to crown them kings of Europe.

Rookie goalkeeper Nigel Spink replaced injured Jimmy Rimmer during that final and stayed at Villa Park for a further 13 years, clocking up 460 appearances.

Perhaps the best-loved member of that immortal side was midfielder Gordon ‘Sid’ Cowans, who had three separate spells at the club. Cowans’ passing range was integral to Villa’s success, and he was even picked ahead of Paul Gascoigne for England’s next competitive fixture after the 1990 World Cup.

Though Villa haven’t hit those European Cup heights since, they’ve still produced exceptional individuals like David Platt, who was the club’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons, and Paul McGrath, who was a huge part of the Villa teams that won the League Cups in 1994 and 1996.

Local lad and boyhood Villa fan Jack Grealish didn’t have the luxury of playing in one of their great sides, but his ability to dribble and glide past defenders earned him a £100 million move to Manchester City in 2021.

Now it’s your turn to decide who is the greatest Aston Villa player of all time. Cast your vote by clicking on the voting button or email [email protected] if you want to choose someone not on the shortlist. We’ll reveal the results of the greatest all-time player for all 20 Premier League clubs before the start of the 2024-25 season.