1957 FA Cup hero Les Smith died today, aged 80.

Halesowen-born Smith passed away at the Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge after battling throat and bowel cancer.

Winger Smith joined Villa from Wolves in February 1956 for £25,000 and won an FA Cup winner's medal in his first full season in the 2-1 win over Manchester United.

But after playing a further 130 games and notching 25 goals for Villa, he was forced into early retirement in 1960 after suffering an Achilles injury.

He leaves a wife Mavis, aged 75, son Nigel, aged 47, and grandchildren Faye and Scott. Smith becomes the second Villa player from that victorious 1957 team to die in as many weeks after centre-half Jimmy Dugdale passed away.

All at the club would like to express their deepest sympathies to his family.