Funeral of Villa legend Johnny Dixon

Feb 4 2009 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

FORMER players, friends and family of Villa legend Johnny Dixon paid tribute to a “true gentlemen” during an hour-long funeral service.

Johnny Dixon, who was the last player to captain Aston Villa to FA Cup glory in 1957, died last month aged 85 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He made 430 appearances during his 17-year playing career with the club, scoring a total of 144 goals.

Among the mourners at his funeral, at St James’s Church in Mere Green, were his wife, Brenda, two children, Andrew and Helen and former players Gordon Cowans and Peter McParland.

Mr McParland, who scored both of Villa’s goals in the 1957 FA Cup victory over Manchester United, said: “Johnny was a true gentleman who led by example both on and off the field. He would never swear and would never argue with the referee.

“He would lead from the front and there is no doubt that he was an inspiration to us all in his own quiet way.

“The photo of him holding up the trophy after he collected it from the Queen is one of the most important moments in Aston Villa history and one of the proudest in his life.”