Peter Gordon (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter John Gordon was an English association footballer. He played as an inside forward
in the Football League for Norwich City
, Watford
, Exeter City
and Newport County
. After retiring as a player, he coached at several Football League clubs.
in December 1949. He spent much of his career at Norwich, who at the time were competing in the Football League Third Division South
. After 160 league appearances and 34 goals, Gordon joined Watford
for the start of the 1958–59 season.
After failing to score in his first 11 Watford starts, Gordon's goalscoring rate improved, to the extent that he finished the 1958–59 season as the club's joint-top scorer with 13 goals. However, his place in the Watford first-team was taken by new arrival Dennis Uphill
for the 1959–60 season; Gordon made only 5 appearances as Watford secured promotion from the Fourth Division
.
In search of first-team football, Gordon left Watford to join Exeter City
. Over the following two seasons he made 67 appearances and scored 11 goals, before finishing his career at Newport County
and Poole Town
. After retirement, Gordon had brief coaching spells at Hartlepools United, Southend United and Northampton Town. He died one day after his 58th birthday, in Claydon, Suffolk
.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
in the Football League for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
and Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. After retiring as a player, he coached at several Football League clubs.
Career
Born in Northampton, Gordon started his career at Northampton amateurs, before turning professional with Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in December 1949. He spent much of his career at Norwich, who at the time were competing in the Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
. After 160 league appearances and 34 goals, Gordon joined Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
for the start of the 1958–59 season.
After failing to score in his first 11 Watford starts, Gordon's goalscoring rate improved, to the extent that he finished the 1958–59 season as the club's joint-top scorer with 13 goals. However, his place in the Watford first-team was taken by new arrival Dennis Uphill
Dennis Uphill
Dennis Uphill was an English professional footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur, Reading, Coventry City, Mansfield Town, Watford and Crystal Palace.- Football career :...
for the 1959–60 season; Gordon made only 5 appearances as Watford secured promotion from the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
.
In search of first-team football, Gordon left Watford to join Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. Over the following two seasons he made 67 appearances and scored 11 goals, before finishing his career at Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and Poole Town
Poole Town F.C.
Poole Town F.C. is a football club based in Poole, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Western League Division Two in 1930. They won the Western League title in 1957 and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup four times in their history. They are currently members of the...
. After retirement, Gordon had brief coaching spells at Hartlepools United, Southend United and Northampton Town. He died one day after his 58th birthday, in Claydon, Suffolk
Claydon, Suffolk
Claydon is a small village just north of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The meaning of the name is 'clay-on-the-hill', though it is not much of a hill....
.