Since its establishment in 1874, Aston Villa has consistently been among the top contenders for the most exemplary Premier League performance. The team has beaten the odds to surpass known titans while being viewed as the underdog on several football betting sites. Aston Villa has frequently shown that its squad is its most enormous asset, thanks to its exceptional players and lineups. The top 15 goal scorers to ever represent the club are listed below.
1. Thomas “Pongo” Waring
Waring is one of those enigmatic figures whose name will live on in history. Since his debut in 1938, this legend has scored 167 goals in 225 appearances, which is quite an accomplishment. One of his most memorable Villa moments was scoring all four goals in a 4-3 victory over Manchester United.
2. Johnny Dixon
Johnny Dixon, a former captain of Aston Villa, is a memorable legend who made his debut in 1946, immediately following World War II. Shortly after making his debut, he led Aston Villa to the FA Cup in 1957, defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the finals. The late Johnny Dixon scored 144 goals in 437 appearances throughout his career.
3. Eric Houghton
This prodigy made his appearance for Aston Villa in 1929 when he was only seventeen. He spent most of his career with Aston Villa, setting an impressive record of 170 goals in 392 games. His knack for scoring goals earned him the moniker “howitzer” for his lightning-fast blasts.
4. Dai Astley
Dai Astley, a native of Wales, dominated the stadium with his elite abilities and unmatched endurance. He was a nightmare for opposing teams in the good old 1930s! Throughout his 165 games, he scored 92 goals.
5. Billy Walker
Billy Walker, a forward at Aston Villa, was seen as a wild card because of his great offensive potential and unpredictable nature. He played for Aston Villa in 1920 and remained there for 14 years, until 1934. Billy had a stellar record, scoring 78 goals in just 236 games.
6. Peter McParland
This relic is from the Aston Villa super squad that won the FA Cup right under Manchester United’s nose in 1957. He joined Aston Villa in 1952 and amassed an impressive record of 75 goals in 275 appearances during his brief tenure at the club. They say two legends can’t coexist, but back in the day, Johnny Dixon and Peter McParland were goal-scoring machines whose records would stand the test of time.
7. Peter Withe
Peter made 182 appearances and scored 74 goals for Aston Villa between 1980 and 1985. It was sheer will and prowess that propelled this now-retired attack-centre-forward to the pinnacle of his career. At his prime, he helped Aston Villa win the European Cup (1981-1982) against German giants Bayern Munich.
8. Gabriel Agbonlahor
Early in the 2000s, when Gabriel Agbonlahor made his professional debut, his name dominated the press. Gabriel managed to score Aston Villa 74 goals across 11 consecutive seasons. In 2007, when he was at his best, he earned himself the title of player of the month.
9. Dwight Yorke
When Dwight Yorke arrived at Aston Villa in the 1990s, he caused quite a stir. As he made 231 appearances in the club’s matches, he scored 73 goals and retired in 2008 after playing for Aston Villa and Manchester United. He successfully captured numerous awards throughout his career, including Player of the Month, Player of the Season, and the Golden Boot.
10. Tony Hateley
Anthony Hateley was an Aston Villa centre forward who appeared in 127 games and scored 68 goals between 1963-1964 and 1966-1967. Aston Villa signed Tony for £22,000 to replace Derek Dougan in 1963. Tony’s trademark move was making the most of the opportunities his teammates gave him and finishing with incredible strength.
11. Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson had a massive impact on Aston Villa for the few years he was there, starting his career in 1950 and ending it in 1955. Many people remembered him as an intelligent and hardworking player because of his anticipation and perfect ball control, which often caught opposing teams off guard. In his 149 club appearances, he scored 67 times.
12. John Beresford
John Beresford made his debut for Aston Villa in 1927 at 22 and played there until 1936. He was a member of the 1930–31 Aston Villa team that placed second in the League Championships and had a track record of 66 goals in 224 matches.
13. Trevor Ford
Throughout his career, Trevor Ford was considered one of the top centre forwards of Aston Villa, scoring 60 goals in 120 appearances. Being quick and slick with the ball, Trevor successfully transferred his regional league form to league football. However, Ford was not merely a goal scorer, as his ball-handling skills often saw him playing on the flank and giving pinpoint passes to his teammates.
14. Andy Gray
Andy spent most of his career at Aston Villa, where he played from 1975-79 and from 1985-87. He was incredibly skilled and quick-witted and an invaluable asset to his teammates, with whom he worked brilliantly. After retiring, Andy dedicated his life to mentoring young stars as Aston Villa’s assistant coach.
15. Gary Shaw
Gary Shaw made his first club appearance at Aston Villa on August 26th 1978. His consistency at the club earned him 59 goals in 162 matches. After a knee injury, he left Aston Villa in 1988 but continued to work as a football speaker.
Conclusion
It’s clear that Aston Villa’s brand has long been carried by its impressive squad and formation . Aston Villa’s current team has a daunting task ahead to live up to the high standards that their predecessors have set.
