Martin Peters
The most versatile and, it is generally accepted,
naturally talented of the famous World Cup-winning trio of '66,
albeit the least famous, Martin is another product of Hammers' famous
youth academy.
Made his debut at home against Cardiff City in
1962 and went on to play in every position, including one appearance
in goal In only his third senior appearance, as cover for injured
'keeper Brian Rhodes at Cardiff!
But it was as an attacking,
creative midfielder that Martin truly made his mark on the English
game. Tall, lean and blessed with great timing, Peters would often
ghost, unmarked, into forward positions to get on the end of crosses.
Excellent with either foot, he also scored many goals with his head
and, as England manager Alf Ramsey famously once said in 1966, was
'10 years ahead of his time'.
Martin made the first of his 67
senior England debut against Yugoslavia just weeks before the start
of that unforgettable World Cup tournament, where he enhanced his
world class credentials with consistent performances and the
important second goal in the final against West Germany. The goal, a
clean, right-footed strike from penalty spot range, in many ways
typified Peters' sense of anticipation in the opponents' box.
He
was disappointed to be left out of the 1964 FA Cup final starting
line-up in favour of the more combative Eddie Bovington, but was in
the side to collect a European Cup Winners' Cup medal at Wembley a
year later.
It was a shame for West Ham that Martin was, and
still is, often referred to as the 'third' member of the World Cup
triumvirate. It was this feeling of being slightly in the shadow of
Moore and Hurst that prompted his expensive £200,000 transfer
to London rivals Spurs in March 1970 - the first of the trio to leave
the club they joined as schoolboys.
However, it turned out to
be a good move for Peters, who featured in Tottenham's League Cup
successes in 1971 and '73 (the latter as skipper) and, more
prestigiously, won a UEFA Cup winners' medal in '72. Between 1970 and
'75 he made 287 league and cup appearances for Spurs and a little
more for his next club, Norwich City, whom he joined in a £50,000
deal.
The complete midfielder, Peters passed the ball well
with either foot, was good in the air and difficult to mark because
of his excellent movement. He firmly established himself as one of
England's all-time greats. Played in the 1970 World Cup tournament,
scoring in the ill-fated quarter-final 3-2 defeat by West
Germany.
Martin ended his playing days with Sheffield United,
where he was player/manager, in 1981.
He worked for
Motorplan, a car insurance company, where he was reunited with Hurst,
and combines after-dinner speaking with his role as non-executive
director at Tottenham Hotspur.
Click here to enquire about Martin.
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