Peter Sillett
Encyclopedia
Peter Richard Tudor Sillett (1 February 1933 – 13 March 1998) was an England footballer. He played for Chelsea
and Southampton
as a right-back, and made three appearances for England
.
He was the older brother of John Sillett
, who managed Coventry City
to FA Cup
success in 1987. Sir Stanley Matthews once said that Sillett was the best full-back he ever played against.
(who was a full-back with Southampton from 1931 to 1938) and inherited his father’s skills. He joined the Saints in January 1949 and soon afterwards gained England Youth recognition.
Extremely well-built, weighing over 13 stone when only 18, Sillett matured quickly into a full-back of some distinction.
In 1953, while he was doing his National Service
in the RAF
he came up against Stanley Matthews when Saints took Blackpool
, the eventual winners, to an FA Cup
replay.
Unfortunately, Southampton were facing mounting debts and, with this fact known to many of the country's top clubs, it wasn't too long before Sillett, together with his younger brother John
, was "induced" to join Ted Drake
's Chelsea, for a fee of £12,000.
In his two seasons at The Dell
, he made 64 appearances and scored 4 goals.
on Easter Saturday 1955 in front of a crowd of 75,043, Chelsea were awarded a penalty with that game at 0–0 after Wolves captain Billy Wright had handled the ball in the penalty area
. Sillett stepped up to take it and nervelessly smashed the ball past goalkeeper Bert Williams
to give Chelsea a 1–0 win and complete a league double over Wolves, one of five goals he netted in the run-in. Chelsea went on to wrap up the title in their next home game, against Sheffield Wednesday.
Playing in London, Peter continued to attract rave notices and England Under-23 caps were followed by his first full international against France in May 1955. He also turned out for the representative London XI
in the 1955-58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
alongside Chelsea team mates Ken Armstrong, Derek Saunders
and Jim Lewis
, during which the side reached the final, though they lost on aggregate to FC Barcelona
He remained with Chelsea until June 1962, when new manager Tommy Docherty
made a series of sweeping changes to the playing squad, and made a total 288 appearances for Chelsea.
.
in 1962 and from 1965 to 1973 was player-manager at Ashford Town
before arthritis forced him to quit the game, although he continued as manager/coach for various clubs until 1987.
In 1998, he died aged 65 after a long battle against cancer.
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...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as a right-back, and made three appearances for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
He was the older brother of John Sillett
John Sillett
John Charles Sillett is a former football player and manager.His father Charlie Sillett was a footballer with Southampton between 1931 and 1938. He is the younger brother of Peter Sillett, also a footballer.Sillett played for Chelsea, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle...
, who managed Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
to FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
success in 1987. Sir Stanley Matthews once said that Sillett was the best full-back he ever played against.
Southampton
Peter was the son of Charlie SillettCharlie Sillett
Charles Thomas "Charlie" Sillett was an English professional footballer who played as a full back for Southampton in the 1930s...
(who was a full-back with Southampton from 1931 to 1938) and inherited his father’s skills. He joined the Saints in January 1949 and soon afterwards gained England Youth recognition.
Extremely well-built, weighing over 13 stone when only 18, Sillett matured quickly into a full-back of some distinction.
In 1953, while he was doing his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
he came up against Stanley Matthews when Saints took Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, the eventual winners, to an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
replay.
Unfortunately, Southampton were facing mounting debts and, with this fact known to many of the country's top clubs, it wasn't too long before Sillett, together with his younger brother John
John Sillett
John Charles Sillett is a former football player and manager.His father Charlie Sillett was a footballer with Southampton between 1931 and 1938. He is the younger brother of Peter Sillett, also a footballer.Sillett played for Chelsea, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle...
, was "induced" to join Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
's Chelsea, for a fee of £12,000.
In his two seasons at The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
, he made 64 appearances and scored 4 goals.
Chelsea
Sillett signed for Chelsea in 1953 and became club's established full-back when fit. A strong defender with a powerful shot, he scored 34 goals for Chelsea, an unusually high tally for a full-back in that era, and is acclaimed for scoring what is widely perceived as the 1954–55 title-winning goal. During a match against Chelsea's principal rivals, WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on Easter Saturday 1955 in front of a crowd of 75,043, Chelsea were awarded a penalty with that game at 0–0 after Wolves captain Billy Wright had handled the ball in the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
. Sillett stepped up to take it and nervelessly smashed the ball past goalkeeper Bert Williams
Bert Williams
Egbert Austin "Bert" Williams was one of the preeminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920...
to give Chelsea a 1–0 win and complete a league double over Wolves, one of five goals he netted in the run-in. Chelsea went on to wrap up the title in their next home game, against Sheffield Wednesday.
Playing in London, Peter continued to attract rave notices and England Under-23 caps were followed by his first full international against France in May 1955. He also turned out for the representative London XI
London XI
The London XI was an association football representative team, specially created to take part in the 1955-58 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor of today's UEFA Europa League although not recognized by UEFA....
in the 1955-58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1955-58
The first Inter-Cities Fairs Cup took place over three seasons from 1955 to 1958. The competition began with a group stage with each team playing home and away against each other. Due to the competition rules which stated only one side from each city was allowed to compete, many cities with several...
alongside Chelsea team mates Ken Armstrong, Derek Saunders
Derek Saunders
Derek Saunders is a retired English footballer who played most notably for Chelsea during the 1950s.Born in Ware, Saunders played primarily as a wing-half and started his career with amateur side Walthamstow Avenue, who he captained in their 1952 FA Amateur Cup Final win...
and Jim Lewis
Jim Lewis (footballer)
James "Jim" Lewis was an English footballer. He was one of the most successful amateur footballers of his generation....
, during which the side reached the final, though they lost on aggregate to FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
He remained with Chelsea until June 1962, when new manager Tommy Docherty
Tommy Docherty
Thomas Henderson "Tommy" Docherty , commonly known as "The Doc", is a Scottish former footballer and football manager.-Playing career:...
made a series of sweeping changes to the playing squad, and made a total 288 appearances for Chelsea.
England
Sillett was also an England international, winning three caps, and was in England's squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
.
Later career
He moved to Guildford CityGuildford City F.C.
Guildford City Football Club is a football club based in Guildford, Surrey, England. The club was originally established in 1921, folded in 1974 and were reformed in 1996...
in 1962 and from 1965 to 1973 was player-manager at Ashford Town
Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)
Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 . Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration...
before arthritis forced him to quit the game, although he continued as manager/coach for various clubs until 1987.
In 1998, he died aged 65 after a long battle against cancer.
Honours
ChelseaChelsea 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...
- First Division championshipFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
: 1954–55 - FA Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
: 1955