The former Aston Villa and Wolves midfielder Paul Birch has died at
the age of 46 after a battle with cancer.  Birch, who was diagnosed
with bone cancer in May last year, died this morning at Good Hope
hospital in Sutton Coldfield. He came through Villa's youth team and
made more than 200 appearances for the club from 1980-91, when he was
sold to Wolves for £400,000.  He stayed at Molineux for five years and
went on to play for Preston, Doncaster and Exeter before retiring in
1999. "Villa are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Paul Birch,"
his first club said. "We express our deepest condolences to his family
and friends."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/02/paul-birch-aston-villa

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