Football legend Gary Shaw’s will revealed after star died aged 63 ‘banging head while getting out of cab on night out’

FOOTBALL legend Gary Shaw left nearly £300,000 after he died without writing a will. The Aston Villa striker, who died last September aged 63 after banging his head while getting out of a taxi, had no children, no siblings and never married. He did not draw up any wishes for his net worth when he passed. It means the European Cup-winning ace’s entire estate will be managed by a lawyer for the benefit of Michael Measey – believed to be one of Shaw’s friends or relatives.

His estate was valued at £297,000 but £10,000 was deducted for fees, funeral costs and legal bills. Thousands of people a year die intestate, meaning they have no will, and their estate is typically passed by a court to either their spouse or closest living blood relative. The High Court signed off his estate on February 10 and Michael Measey was named as administrator. Shaw rose through the ranks at his boyhood club and netted 79 goals in 213 games for Villa from 1978 to 1988.

He scooped the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year in 1981 and European Young Player of the Year in 1982, the year his side won the UEFA Cup. He was so well-liked that when Villa beat Barcelona to win the European Super Cup, Diego Maradona asked for his shirt. The Argentine great sent one of Barca's staff to Villa's dressing room with his shirt, with orders to bring back Shaw's jersey as a swap.

But Villa's kit man refused the deal because the tops were too expensive to give away. The former England Under-21s striker also played for Blackpool, Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town. Ron Greenwood named Shaw in his preliminary squad for the 1982 World Cup in Spain but axed him from his final selection. England were dumped out after goalless draws with Germany and Spain, and Shaw never earned a full international cap.

After retirement, he worked as a statistical analyst and was a club ambassador at Villa Park meeting fans in the ground’s hospitality section. He sold his tranche of trophies and medals to a private buyer in 2018. The ace had been out drinking with friends on September 5 and was found by a neighbour collapsed on the pavement near his house at 1am the next morning, an inquest heard. It's believed he fell and hit his head, causing a fatal injury.

A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death. He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital but died from his injury 11 days later with his family by his side. Crowds assembled at the stadium in October to pay their respects before his funeral at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium, where the service was held. After his death, ex-Villa and England star Jack Grealish led tributes, writing: “RIP Gary Shaw. What an absolute legend and an unbelievable player.

“Sending all my thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones”. Match of the Day host Gary Lineker added: “Very sad. RIP Gary”. Birmingham Coroner's Court heard how the 63-year-old former footballer was found collapsed in the street by a neighbour after he had fallen and hit his head on a kerb. After the accident on September 6 this year, he passed away surrounded by his family 10 days afterwards.

The inquest was told Shaw had been for a night out at the Jam House in the centre of Birmingham and was put in a taxi by friends at around 1.30am. However, as he exited the cab, he fell and hit his head on a kerb before being found by a neighbour in the early hours. They then phoned an ambulance and the 1982 European Cup winner was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However, his condition deteriorated and he died ten days later on September 16 after suffering the "severe head injury".

Birmingham Coroner Louise Hunt recorded that Shaw died as a result of an accident. She said: "Mr Shaw had been out for the night drinking with friends on September 5. "In the early hours of September 6 and made his way home in a taxi. "He was found collapsed on the pavement outside his home address having fallen and hit his head. "He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was found to have a severe head injury as a result of the fall which resulted in his death on September 16.".

Philip Cutler, his brother-in-law, said in a statement how Gary had been out for the evening at the club. He confirmed that Gary was put into a taxi by friends at 1.30am and after getting out of the taxi, fell and hit his head on the kerb, rendering him unconscious. Philip said it was then sometime between 2am and 3am he was found and an ambulance called. A doctor said in a statement Gary had suffered an extensive and diffused head injury and that no surgical intervention was possible.