31 Facts About Martin Peters

Martin Stanford Peters was an English footballer and manager.

Martin Peters briefly managed Sheffield United before retiring from professional football in 1981.

Martin Peters's versatility was such that while he was at West Ham he played in every position in the team, including goalkeeper in his third game, replacing an injured Brian Rhodes.

Martin Peters was born in Egham Road, off Beckton Road in Plaistow, Essex, on Monday 8 November 1943 during the Second World War.

Martin Peters came to the attention of Fulham, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

Martin Peters did not support any club as a schoolboy and favoured joining Chelsea as his friend Terry Venables, whom he had met playing for Dagenham Schoolboys, had signed for Chelsea.

Martin Peters was a major influence on Peters and his progress as a young footballer.

Also in 1962, Martin Peters played in goal for West Ham in a game against Cardiff City after regular goalkeeper, Brian Rhodes had been injured.

Martin Peters played only five games in his first season with West Ham.

Martin Peters was usually partnered in midfield by Eddie Bovington and Ronnie Boyce.

Martin Peters began to impose himself on West Ham's game, and another chance for silverware came in 1966 when West Ham reached the League Cup final.

The occasion was still over two-legs with each of the finalists hosting a leg, and Martin Peters played in both matches.

On 21 March 1970, Martin Peters scored on his Spurs debut against Coventry City.

Martin Peters completed one more full season with Spurs, who lost the 1974 UEFA Cup final to Feyenoord on aggregate.

In total Martin Peters played 260 times in all competitions, scoring 76 goals.

Martin Peters helped newly promoted Norwich establish themselves in the First Division, making more than 200 appearances, and earning a testimonial against an all-star team which included most of the 1966 World Cup-winning England XI.

Martin Peters was voted Norwich City FC Player of the Season two years running, in 1976 and 1977, and in 2002 was made an inaugural member of the Norwich City FC Hall of Fame.

In 1978, whilst still a Norwich City player, Martin Peters was awarded an MBE for services to association football.

Martin Peters travelled to Australia and played as a guest player for Victorian State League side Frankston City.

Martin Peters joined Sheffield United on 31 July 1980 as player-coach, eventually replacing Harry Haslam as manager.

Martin Peters played in England's three group games in the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico, from which they qualified, again with West Germany waiting in the last eight.

International disappointment for Martin Peters was tempered mildly by more club success, and he scored the only goal as England beat Scotland at Wembley on 19 May 1973.

Martin Peters's wait to become manager was not long, his final game coming against Gillingham on 17 January 1981 which Haslam was too ill to attend, and at which there were demonstrations from the Sheffield United fans.

Martin Peters retired to take up the manager's job the following day with United 12th in the table with 16 games to play, but was unable to halt the decline already in place, winning just three of the remaining games.

Martin Peters joined the board of directors at Spurs in a non-executive capacity in 1998, taking on a supporter-liaison role.

Martin Peters remained in that post for four years before stepping down, but remained one of the match-day welcomers in the hospitality suites at the club's White Hart Lane ground.

Martin Peters worked in the hospitality suites at Upton Park for West Ham home matches.

In 2006, Martin Peters published his autobiography, The Ghost of '66.

Martin Peters identified as a Conservative Party supporter when asked about his politics in 1972.

In 2016, it was announced that Martin Peters had Alzheimer's disease.

In September 2021, Martin Peters' ashes were interred in a foundation stone at West Ham's ground, the London Stadium.