Peter Litchfield
Encyclopedia
Peter Litchfield is an English
former professional
footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He started his career with Droylsden
and played in The Football League
with Preston North End
, Bradford City
, Oldham Athletic
and Scunthorpe United
.
, England
, Litchfield started his career with local non-league side Droylsden
. In January 1979, he was signed by Football League Second Division
-side Preston North End
for £3,000. He waited two years to replace first-choice goalkeeper Roy Tunks
for his Preston debut, which came on 28 February 1981 against Chelsea
, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory and earning The Sun
newspaper's man of the match award. His prize was a £1,000 charity cheque, which he donated to a motor neurone disease
cause, in memory of former Preston player Mel Holden
, who had died from the disease. He made another two appearances in the Second Division, as the club were relegated
in the 1980–81
season, and went on to play a total of 107 league appearances with Preston, winning the club's player of the year
in the 1983–84
season. His Preston career ended with relegation to the Fourth Division
.
In June 1985, he joined Bradford City
on a free transfer, following their promotion into the Second Division. He replaced Eric McManus
, who had been injured in pre-season. After making his debut on 17 August 1985 in a 2–1 victory at Carlisle United
, he went onto be an ever-present in his first season with City. He played another 39 games the following season, but in June 1987, City signed Paul Tomlinson
from Sheffield United
for a club record fee of £47,500. Litchfield played only five more league games for City, and following a loan spell with Oldham Athletic
in October 1988, he joined Scunthorpe United
in June 1989 as competition for Paul Musselwhite
.
Litchfield played 25 league games for Scunthorpe in the Fourth Division but a knee problem limited his appearances during the 1990–91
season, which brought about his retirement at the age of 34.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He started his career with Droylsden
Droylsden F.C.
Droylsden F.C. is an English football club based in Droylsden, near Manchester. As of the 2011–12 season, they play in the Conference North.-History:...
and played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
.
Career
Born in 1956 in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Litchfield started his career with local non-league side Droylsden
Droylsden F.C.
Droylsden F.C. is an English football club based in Droylsden, near Manchester. As of the 2011–12 season, they play in the Conference North.-History:...
. In January 1979, he was signed by Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
-side Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
for £3,000. He waited two years to replace first-choice goalkeeper Roy Tunks
Roy Tunks
Roy William Tunks is a German-born English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made over 850 appearances in a playing career spanning over twenty years....
for his Preston debut, which came on 28 February 1981 against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory and earning The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper's man of the match award. His prize was a £1,000 charity cheque, which he donated to a motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
cause, in memory of former Preston player Mel Holden
Mel Holden
Melville George "Mel" Holden was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward. Active in both England and the Netherlands, Holden made nearly 150 career League appearances, scoring nearly 50 goals....
, who had died from the disease. He made another two appearances in the Second Division, as the club were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
in the 1980–81
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
season, and went on to play a total of 107 league appearances with Preston, winning the club's player of the year
Preston North End Player of the Year Award Winners
Winners of the official Preston North End F.C. Player of the Year Award since its inception in 1967–68:...
in the 1983–84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
season. His Preston career ended with relegation to 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 June 1985, he joined Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on a free transfer, following their promotion into the Second Division. He replaced Eric McManus
Eric McManus
Eric McManus is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played for Coleraine, Coventry City, Notts County, Stoke City, Lincoln City, Bradford City, Middlesbrough, Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers and Boston United....
, who had been injured in pre-season. After making his debut on 17 August 1985 in a 2–1 victory at Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, he went onto be an ever-present in his first season with City. He played another 39 games the following season, but in June 1987, City signed Paul Tomlinson
Paul Tomlinson
Paul A. Tomlinson is a retired English football player who played as a goalkeeper for Sheffield United, Birmingham City on loan and Bradford City....
from Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for a club record fee of £47,500. Litchfield played only five more league games for City, and following a loan spell with Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in October 1988, he joined Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
in June 1989 as competition for Paul Musselwhite
Paul Musselwhite
Paul Stephen Musselwhite is an English footballer who plays for York City as a goalkeeper, where he is also the club's Goalkeeping Coach....
.
Litchfield played 25 league games for Scunthorpe in the Fourth Division but a knee problem limited his appearances during the 1990–91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
season, which brought about his retirement at the age of 34.
Honours
Individual honours- Preston North End player of the seasonPreston North End Player of the Year Award WinnersWinners of the official Preston North End F.C. Player of the Year Award since its inception in 1967–68:...
: 1983–841983-84 in English footballThe 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...