Player #523 for Aston Villa, William John Anderson, known as Willie Anderson, played as a midfielder for the club. Willie played for Villa between 1966-67 and 1972-73 making 285 appearances and scoring 44 goals.

Willie was born in Liverpool on 24 January 1947 and made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 21 January 1967 at the age of 20.

Villa had signed Willie from Manchester United on 1 January 1967 for a fee of £20,000

Although Manchester United manager Matt Busby rated Willie and offered him the chance to remain with the club, but as deputy to George Best, Willie preferred to leave in order to find first team football with Villa.

A dangerous winger, he was a good supplier of chances for his fellow forwards and scored a fair sprinkling of goals for himself becoming virtually ever present for Villa over six years.

Willie therefore got his wish for football with Villa but he suffered relegation in 1966–67, and could only finish 16th and 18th in the Second Division in 1967–68 and 1968–69. Worse was to come with a 21st placed finish in 1969-70 seeing Villa relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history - despite Willie scoring 5 from midfield.

Better times were to come and after helping Villa to runners up in the League Cup in 1970-71 with 2 goals in 10 appearances, he helped Villa win promotion during the 1971–72 season, scoring a career high fifteen goals in all competitions with eight coming from penalties, helping him gain a reputation as a penalty taker specialist.

Willie became one of the fans’ favourites during the most troubled period of the club’s history.

Willie’s final game for Villa came on Saturday, 13 January 1973 - aged just 25 - and he moved on to Cardiff City on 1 February 1973 for a handsome fee of £60,000.

During his time with Villa, Willie had played under managers Dick Taylor, Tommy Cummings, and Tommy Docherty and Vic Crowe.