Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Monday February 2 2009
Time: 11:33AM
UK time is: 17:42:37
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Villa Hero - Paul Birch - RIP
Oh no, more awful awful news. This is a very sad day.
A statement from Neil Rioch, Chairman of the Aston Villa Former Players Association:
'It is with the greatest sadness that I inform you that former Aston Villa & Wolves player Paul Birch passed away this morning (Monday 2nd February 2009) in Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield after a long and courageous battle against cancer.
I will inform you of funeral arrangements as soon as they are known.'
RIP Birchy, you'll be forever in our hearts.
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Your Comments
Awful day for Villans everywhere. A truly great player and a massive, brave guy personally also. Thoughts are with his family. RIP.
The Fear
RIP terrible news, puts the window into perspective really.
1982benny
Extremely sad day indeed. RIP
fatloser
Grew up watching birchy gutted RIP.
chris the villan
RIP Birchy sad, sad day.
MattUTV
Gutted. RIP Birchy, you'll be very fondly remembered by all!
DeanoVilla
Very sad news - Sadder still that SSNews would rather concentrate on Robbie Keane getting into a car.
Condolences from all at Vital QPR.
Boxer
RIP....sadly missed on and off the pitch.
bentonm
Im in shock, RIP
DO'L
Dreadful news. Thanks for the memories Paul, RIP.
godzvilla
Three Villa legends in such a short space of time. I will never forget that performance against Inter Milan when Birchy completely marked Lothar Mattheus out of the game. Always gave 100% every time he pulled a Villa shirt on, and showed great courage in his biggest battle with that awful illness that claims so many peoples lives. RIP Birchy, you will always be fondly remembered.
krfeskivilla
RIP Birchy
jonah
Boxer, great comment and best of luck to your team.
Paul Birch was a true Villan, not the best player ever, but no one tried harder for the team in my many years of watching. What a sad loss, RIP Birchy
villan from luton
Awful awful news. Very sad day. Him and Kevin Gage were some of the first polayers i remember as a kid. Always liked Birchy. RIP. Sympathies to the family.
nottinghamvillain
true villa hero r.i.p
avflell
RIP Birchy you will be sadly missed by all true Villans everywhere.My sympathies are with your family and friends.Gone but never forgotten.
happyvillan
RIP Birchy aways a Lion
B6_COMPANY
R.I.P Birchy
Im sure he'll get the same fantastic applause at the hamo game vs Doncaster as Vic Crowe and Johnny Dixon got on Saturday Afternoon.
UTV
Hitman
Forever immortalised in 'my old man..' RIP Birchy.
roundovilla
I commented on the Vic Crowe article that it always comes in threes. This is one thing i am not happy to be right about. RIP Paul.
young_jonah
Condolences to his friends, family and fans..............
horseworrier
RIP Birchy. A true star
DoLpHiNaToR
In echoing the thoughts of krfeskivilla - that performance against Matthaus was one of the greatest individual Villa player performances in my living memory. Birchy was a true Villan in every way - the type of player who the Holte End appreciate. Sad, sad day knowing that he is no longer with us.... Holte enders in the sky. With Johnny and Vic, he'll be watching over our great club from above - lets hope the current boys can honour his memory with similar effort for the rest of the season....
gmvillan
RIP Birchy, too young, Condolences to the family
steff_the_villan
R.I.P Birchy.
Mutt_Man
Rest In Peace. Forever a Hole End Legend. :(
Adam Deuce
Terrible news, RIP Birchy, sadly missed but fondly remembered!
splatt
How fitting Doncaster Rovers will be the opponents at Villa Park for 1 minutes appreciation of his time at both clubs.
tomog
RIP thoughts with the family at this time.
col8
RIP Birchy. A legend.
olofthegreat
One of my boyhood favourites gone. Such a great guy and such an engine... he never stopped running. My condolences to the Birch family. A truly sad day for Villans and supporters of the beautiful game everywhere.
Rawlie
Very sad news, I hope they hold either a minutes applause or silence on Wednesday night, he was only with us at Doncaster for a year but was very popular amongst the fans.
I hope they are also out with the buckets for the Paul Birch trust on Wednesday night has the Rovers fans will definitely give generously along with your goodselves.
RIP Birchy
dazza71
Gutted, R.I.P.
Villan444
Very sad news ....
We'll always remember you Birchy...what a player you were
South African Villans
reza
D'ya know, I was gutted and sulked on Saturday when we didn't score and beat Wigan. This puts life completely in perspective. What a sad loss this is. I feel awful - RIP Paul - so many thoughts, but so few words!
claretandbluestu
What a sad day.Thanks for the memories Birchy you were 100% for Villa every time you pulled on the shirt.
50 years a villan
I think back to my earliest memories supporting the club - and Birchy is at the fulcrum of that moment in time. Birchy scored in the 1st and 2nd games that I witnessed at VP - a memory and a name that I will pass down a generation or two. We'll never forget those marauding runs through midfield and down the wing, those flowing golden locks whilst you battled for those in Claret and Blue (& the 'gold' of Wolves). Because that's what you were Birchy... a Battler - and that's certainly how you will be remembered. Thank you Birchy - you gave us so much, yet at this time we feel that we offered little in return. I hope the trust succeeds in its purpose and raises awareness of an unfortunate illness. Our thoughts are with Paul's family and friends. RIP Paul 'Birchy' Birch - forever in our memories...
bazzah
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