Prince William pays Gary Shaw tribute following tragic passing of Aston Villa legend

Prince William has paid tribute to Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw, following his tragic death aged just 63.

Villa kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night, their first season in Europe's top competition since 1983. However, the start of the competition comes just 24 hours after one of the club's famous European Cup winner of 1982, Shaw, passed away.

And William, a boyhood Villa fan took chance to post his thoughts before the game - along with a message for Shaw. "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."

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Villa issued a statement of their own on Monday following Shaw's death. "Aston Villa Football Club is deeply shocked and profoundly saddened to learn that Gary Shaw, one of our European Cup-winning heroes, has passed away," it began.

"Gary was one of our own, a talented striker who delighted supporters with his goalscoring exploits which helped fire Villa to success in the 1980s. Individual accolades would also follow for a player who was idolised by many on the terraces.

"He passed away peacefully earlier today surrounded by his family, who asked Aston Villa to release a statement on their behalf. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gary’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time."

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Villa manager Unai Emery earlier called for the Premier League side to win their European opener in honour of Shaw. Villa's players wore black armbands for Tuesday's fixture against Young Boys in Switzerland. their first in the Champions League since the competition took on that name in the 1990s.

"My condolences go out to Gary’s family and all Villa supporters," Emery said. "We will have the memories always. There is a picture at our training ground of him and the European Cup. He was a protagonist in that. It is a sad day - and yes, we can use it as motivation.”

Former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor was another to pay tribute. "We sometimes forget what legends those guys were who won the European Cup," Agbonlahor said. "We haven’t played in the competition for 41 years since - and what they achieved makes them legends of the club.

“It’s devastating news. I’m sure the club will have something appropriate lined up and condolences to his friends and family. I hope the club gives him the send-off that a true legend of the club deserves.”

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