Brian Peterson (footballer)

Brian Peterson (28 October 1936 – 21 September 2020) is a South African professional footballer. He spent six years at Blackpool in the 1950s and 1960s, making over 100 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a forward.

Brian Peterson
Personal information
Date of birth (1936-10-28)28 October 1936
Place of birth Victoria, South Africa
Date of death 21 September 2020(2020-09-21) (aged 83)
Place of death South Africa
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1953–1956 Berea ? (?)
1956–1962 Blackpool 103 (16)
1962–1968 Durban United 172 (71)
1969 Durban City 21 (2)
1970 Durban Spurs United 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Peterson signed for Joe Smith's Blackpool from South African club Berea Park in 1956. He made his debut for the club late in the 1956–57 season, in single-goal victory over Chelsea at Bloomfield Road on 13 April. He went on to make four further league appearances before the end of the campaign.[1]

The following season, 1957–58, Peterson made 25 league appearances and scored four goals, including two in a 5–1 win against Leicester City at Bloomfield Road on Christmas Day. His other two goals also came in victories. He also made his debut in the FA Cup, in Blackpool's third-round exit at West Ham on 5 January.[2]

In the summer of 1958, Joe Smith retired after 23 years as Blackpool manager. He was succeeded by former Seasiders player Ron Suart. Under Suart in the 1958–59 season, Peterson made thirteen league appearances, scoring once.[3]

He made eighteen league appearances in 1959–60, scoring twice.[4]

Sixteen league appearances followed in 1960–61, along with two more goals. He also made one appearance in the new League Cup competition, at Leeds United in a second-round replay.[5]

Peterson appeared in over half of Blackpool's 52 league and cup games of 1961–62, his final season with the club. He scored seven league goals in 24 appearances. He also played his part in Blackpool's run to the semi-finals of the League Cup, making four appearances and scoring one goal in the competition. Indeed, his final appearance for the club was in the first semi-final tie, the game in which he scored, at Norwich City on 11 April.[6]

After leaving Blackpool, Peterson returned to South Africa to play for Durban United and Durban City.

Death

Peterson died on 21 September 2020, at the age of 83.[7]

Notes
  1. Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 289
  2. Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 290
  3. Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 292
  4. Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 294
  5. Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 296
  6. Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 298
  7. "Brian Peterson, dies aged 83" – Blackpool Gazette, 24 September 2020

References
  • Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
  • Peterson's stats at Blackpool

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