Tributes paid to Aston Villa legend Stan Crowther

Tributes were today paid to former Villa hero and FA Cup final winner Stan Crowther, who has died aged 78.

Crowther, who passed away yesterday, was a member of the Villa side which famously beat Manchester United 2-1 to win the cup at Wembley in 1957 – the last time the club has won the famous trophy.

Former Villa boss Ron Atkinson, an apprentice at Villa Park during Crowther's playing days, remembers the circumstances of the wing-half's debut for the claret and blues in September 1956.

"He was a first class example of a player making the most of his big break," said Atkinson.

"We went up to Leeds and our regular wing half Billy Baxter suffered an injury.

"Stan played in the next game and did so well he went on to keep his place all the way to the cup final the following year. All credit to him. He got his big chance and he grasped it with both hands. On the day in the final he was one of the best players on the pitch."

Crowther made 60 appearances for Villa, scoring four goals, after being signed from Bilston Town in 1955.

He would eventually move to United in early 1958, making a unique piece of football history during his time at Old Trafford when he became the only player to turn out in the FA Cup after being cup tied. Crowther had been part of the Villa team which lost to Stoke City in the third round but United were given special dispensation following the Munich Air Disaster and he was allowed to play for them in the competition, making it all the way to Wembley for the second year running. But this time he was on the losing side as United went down to Bolton. Atkinson remembers no-nonsense Crowther, who was born in Bilston and lived most of his life in the Black Country, was also a very good snooker player.

"There used to be a snooker table above the main office at Villa Park and he used to beat everyone," he added. Neil Rioch, founder of Villa's Former Player Association, added: "The 1957 cup final team is held in huge regard at Villa and it is incredibly sad to see another member of that famous side lost."