33 Facts About Peter Whittingham

Peter Michael Whittingham was an English professional footballer.

In eleven seasons at Cardiff, Peter Whittingham played 457 competitive matches and scored 96 goals, putting him seventh on the all-time appearances list and ninth among their goalscorers.

Peter Whittingham signed for Blackburn Rovers in June 2017, and made 24 appearances for the club before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in August 2018.

Peter Whittingham died in March 2020, as a result of an accidental fall at a pub.

Peter Whittingham was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and attended King Henry VIII School, Coventry.

Peter Whittingham's father Harry was a well-known fishmonger in the area and was known as "Harry the Fish".

Peter Whittingham has an older brother named James who works as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs.

Peter Whittingham began playing football as a youth player with his local side Coventry City, joining the club at the age of seven.

Peter Whittingham's brother had been playing in the club's youth sides and Whittingham had been noticed playing on the side of pitch by one of the club's scouts.

Peter Whittingham played with Coventry until the age of 16 but was released in 2001 after the club opted against offering him a contract with officials believing he was too small to play professionally.

Peter Whittingham signed with Aston Villa in April 2001 and was part of the club's FA Youth Cup-winning team of 2002.

Peter Whittingham finished the season having made 39 appearances in all competitions as a left-sided midfielder, including playing six times in the club's League Cup run where they reached the semi-final before losing to Bolton Wanderers, a match in which Whittingham was later branded a "scapegoat" for his side's defeat.

However, he gradually fell out of favour as the side struggled and, on 14 February 2005, Peter Whittingham signed for Championship club Burnley on a one-month loan having not featured for Villa for nearly two months.

Peter Whittingham quickly established himself in the team and was a first-team member until the end of the year, despite competition from Joe Ledley on the left-hand side.

Peter Whittingham's recall saw him moved to an unfamiliar role on the right side of midfield, but he soon settled into the role and started the majority of the remaining matches of the season, as well as being the team's top scorer during their FA Cup run.

Peter Whittingham continued his scoring form with a brace against Watford and goals against Crystal Palace and Coventry City followed by a hat-trick against Sheffield United.

Peter Whittingham earned the October Player of the Month award on 14 November 2009.

Peter Whittingham scored a fantastic volley against Barnsley on 13 March, which ended up being voted Football League Goal of the Year award for 2011.

Peter Whittingham started the first match against West Ham United, and scored his first goal of the season against Oxford United after coming on for Solomon Taiwo.

On 26 August, Peter Whittingham signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2014.

Peter Whittingham was voted the best player outside the Premier League in FourFourTwo magazine.

Peter Whittingham then won his second Cardiff City player of the year award at the end of the season.

Peter Whittingham was later named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Championship.

Peter Whittingham then scored his fourth during the following match, converting a penalty against Leeds United, his 350th career appearance.

Peter Whittingham scored his first Premier League goal in nine years against Hull City.

In July 2014, Peter Whittingham signed a new three-year deal keeping him till in the Welsh capital until 2017.

Peter Whittingham played less frequently for Cardiff after Neil Warnock was appointed manager in October 2016.

On 13 June 2017, Peter Whittingham joined newly relegated League One club Blackburn Rovers on a two-year contract effective from the expiration of his Cardiff contract in July.

Peter Whittingham had his contract with Blackburn terminated by mutual consent on 31 August 2018.

Peter Whittingham was an England under-21 international, making his debut against the Netherlands in 2004 and was part of the squad that competed in the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship held in the Netherlands.

Peter Whittingham scored his first two in a match against Wales before scoring his last goal in a match against Norway in February 2006.

On 18 March 2020, South Wales Police confirmed that Peter Whittingham was in hospital after suffering head injuries as a result of an accidental fall at a pub in Barry on 7 March.

In March 2021, Pontypridd Coroner's Court recorded a verdict of accidental death, concluding that Peter Whittingham was intoxicated and engaged in "horseplay" with friends before falling through a fire door and down a flight of stairs.