Aston Villa is saddened to hear of the passing of former goalkeeper Colin Withers at the age of 80.
The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Colin’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
The Erdington-born keeper, who made 163 league and cup appearances for the club, had the misfortune to play for Villa during one of the most difficult periods of the club’s history.
However, the picture would have been even bleaker but for his outstanding performances.
An England schoolboy international, he joined a struggling Villa side in November 1964 and they continued to find the going tough, despite his heroics between the posts.
His endeavours were not lost on supporters, even though he had previously played over 100 games for Birmingham City before making his Villa debut against Tottenham Hotspur.
The fans acknowledged just how important Withers was to the team by awarding him the Terrace Trophy in both 1966 and 1967.
The award was of little consolation on the second occasion, Villa being relegated to the old Second Division at the end of the 1966/67 campaign.
He left the club in the summer of 1969 to join Lincoln City, subsequently playing in Holland for Go Ahead Eagles.
In later years, he and his wife Audrey ran a guest house in Blackpool.
Rest in Peace, Colin.
