Peter Zelem
Encyclopedia
Peter Zelem is a former English
professional footballer who played as a defender
. He played in The Football League
for four clubs during the 1980s.
on schoolboy forms but was released and joined Chester
as an apprentice. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over Carlisle United
in August 1980, one of six first-team appearances he made during the 1980–81 season
. His first goal arrived on the opening day of the following season against Bristol Rovers
and he became a regular over the next few years. By the start of 1984–85
he was the longest serving player at Chester, but he moved midway through the season to Wolverhampton Wanderers
for £12,500. Although this initially gave Zelem the chance to play in the Second Division
, the club were rapidly sliding downwards and were in Division Four
by the time he linked up with former Chester manager John McGrath at Preston North End
in March 1987.
He helped Preston to promotion before joining Burnley
in the summer of 1987. After an injury hit two years at Turf Moor
, Zelem left the club and joined non-league side Winsford United
. He then moved on to Ashton United
, but injury forced him to retire from playing. Away from football he has worked as a contract cleaner with his twin brother Alan (a former goalkeeper
with Macclesfield Town
).
Zelem was the first post-war Football League
player to have a surname beginning with a Z, first appearing the season before Romeo Zondervan
joined Ipswich Town
.
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...
professional footballer who played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He 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...
for four clubs during the 1980s.
Playing career
Zelem began with BlackpoolBlackpool 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...
on schoolboy forms but was released and joined Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
as an apprentice. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over 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....
in August 1980, one of six first-team appearances he made during the 1980–81 season
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...
. His first goal arrived on the opening day of the following season against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
and he became a regular over the next few years. By the start of 1984–85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
he was the longest serving player at Chester, but he moved midway through the season to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton 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...
for £12,500. Although this initially gave Zelem the chance to play in the 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...
, the club were rapidly sliding downwards and were in Division Four
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...
by the time he linked up with former Chester manager John McGrath at 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...
in March 1987.
He helped Preston to promotion before joining Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in the summer of 1987. After an injury hit two years at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
, Zelem left the club and joined non-league side Winsford United
Winsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
. He then moved on to Ashton United
Ashton United F.C.
Ashton United Football Club is an English football club, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.-History:The club was originally founded in 1878 as Hurst F.C. and the earliest known match report dates back to March 1879. By 1880 the club were playing at Hurst Cross, their current ground....
, but injury forced him to retire from playing. Away from football he has worked as a contract cleaner with his twin brother Alan (a former goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
with Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
).
Zelem was the first post-war 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...
player to have a surname beginning with a Z, first appearing the season before Romeo Zondervan
Romeo Zondervan
Romeo Zondervan is a former professional Dutch footballer. He was born in Paramaribo in Suriname, and played his early football with Den Haag and Twente Enschede before joining West Bromwich Albion, for whom he made 84 appearances...
joined Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Honours
Preston North End- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe 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...
runners-up: 1986–871986-87 in English footballThe 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
(6 apps, 1 goal).