RETRO REPORTER: 'He's the new pride of the County Down'

We have delved into our archives where we have found a report from the days after the 1957 final, were Peter scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Manchester United.

Here it is, replicated in full from the Newry Reporter’s May 9, 1957 edition.

‘McParland Blasts United’ – ‘McParland Double Beats United’ – ‘McParland’s Cup Final’ – thus blared Sunday’s banner headings in the English and Irish Press.

Even one of them went as far as to say ‘Peter McVilla Does It Again’. What a day for Newry and Chapel Street, where the people who know Peter best of all bask in the pride that one of their own has gone out and achieved the impossible.

What effect will this wonderful achievement have on the big striding Aston Villa winger, the man of whom it rightly can be said that he brought Villa to Wembley and then got the Cup for them? If anything he will retire more wholly behind the quiet barrier that surrounds him.

Everyone who knows him has the same picture. A quiet retiring man, devoid of ‘push’ as we say here.

As one of a family of six – four girls and two boys – Peter showed no distinctive qualities as a child and youth, none that is except this beautiful trait that he has maintained unsullied into manhood and world fame. He was a quiet wee boy, playful, energetic, youthful but never boisterous, never offending by cheek as so many adolescents can be.

At school he took to football in the Gaelic code but when his street pals formed the Newry Shamrocks to contest the Summer League under 18, Peter’s feet got the better of him and he went along playing inside left.

They won the league that year and in the two succeeding seasons. As well they got the Knock Out Cups and entered for the Enniskillen £400 Trophy, reaching the semi-final only to go down to Derry Rangers.

Proud of their achievements the club arranged a friendly fixture with Dundalk Minors then going well in the FAI Minor Cup. The game was played at Dundalk, the local minor eleven featuring men who have since distinguished themselves in the game – Durkan, now of Glenavon; Trainor of Southampton; McCourt of Drumcondra and McCabe who had games with Glentoran. It was Peter’s first outing against up-and-coming talent.

His feet were leading him to glory even at that early age and after the game Dundalk signed him on amateur forms.

He made is debut with the Louth club in the League of Ireland against Bohemians, when he scored two goals and contributed in no uncertain manner to the club victory.

He hadn’t then reached the age of 16.

After a season or two with Dundalk he was approached by Major Buckley’s scout to join Leeds Unitd, which he did, but his youth and ties with home proved too strong and after a short time he returned to Ireland and was re-signed by Dundalk.

He had his choice of clubs but his loyalties were with the Mr Prole, then Secretary of Dundalk, who had given him his first chance.

Fate took a hand in his career the next year when he secured the goal that gave Dundalk their victory over Leeds United while that club was on an Irish tour.

About this time Peter’s old Senior League Club Newry Shamrocks were on the up and had actually challenged a Birmingham Shamrock Rovers to a friendly game in the Showgrounds. Peter played for the boys that night and again when Newry Shamrocks returned the fixture.

During the course of the game in the English City, Villa had a scout on the job and his first offer to play with the Claret and Blues came that night, but the etiquette of the game debarred him – he was a signed member of Dundalk Athletic Football Club.

Villa however saw the possibilities of the young Irishman and watching his future games with the Louth Club took up the chase latr in the season and finally succeeded in arranging his transfer in the face of much opposition. Three other teams – Southampton, Hull City and Birmingham were all interested, but Villa won the day and the transfer was fixed for £6,000.

Peter had taken his first step to Wembley while playing for Newry Shamrocks against Birmingham Shamrock Rovers earlier in the season 1952.

Strange to relate, Peter never played for his home club, Newry Town, though he had signed for them. He was just too young and when his chance came with Dundalk, the ‘Town’ didn’t stand in his way.

In his first season with the Villa he got one outing – against the famous Wolves and then he had to wait fourteen months before he got a second chance – again against Wolves, in an Easter fixture, when he scored the winning goal of the match. It was his entry to the first XI and since then except when representing his country in International games, he has been an automatic choice for the outside-left position.

Seven goals out of the club’s 18 is his total contribution to the Villa’s victory, the only game in which he did not score being that against West Bromwich Albion in the semi-final replay, when he did the next best thing, he set the ball up for Myerscough to score the winning goal.

Luton Town, Bristol City, Middlesboro’, Burnley and Manchester United – most of all – have all had reason to remember McParland as the Villa winger.

Watching Saturday’s Cup Final and in a frenzy – for she has almost been adopted as the mother of the ‘Villa’ was Peter’s mother and her husband, Mr and Mrs John McParland. Close by sat his cousin, Rev. John McAnuff, St Colman’s College, and beside him a lifelong pal of the great Peter, Frank O’Hanlon, one of Newry’s most ardent soccer fans.

Dotted around the stadium, lost in the thousands of Manchester United and Aston Villa fans were other locals – pals from Newry, from Warrenpoint, from Bessbrook and from Dundalk.

One chapter of the McParland story has now come to a close. What the future holds for him is unknown, but one thing is certain, as long as men discuss, argue and debate soccer, McParland’s name will arise.