A Sandgrounder before a Lion: Peter Withe

Peter was perhaps best described as one of football’s journeymen, who played and managed more clubs than Tiger Wood’s has in his golf bag. The incredible part of his story was his journey in what he achieved, who and for whom he played.

As a 19-year-old trialist, Alex Parker Southport’s manager signed him as a noncontract player, initially as a regular in our reserves. Making his league debut in Dec 1970 against Scunthorpe he was only to make 2 further appearances before his last game in Oct 1971 at Grimsby. Having declined the offer to turn semi – pro by the then manager Jimmy Meadows Peter left the club. He was then to play in Preston reserves before playing once for Barrow in 1972 against us.

Peter then played in South Africa before joining Wolves in 1973. His next move was to Portland Timbers in America as “soccer” started to develop there and played in 1975 Championship final to lose 2-1 to Tampa Bay Rowdies. He returned to the Midlands for the 1975/6 season with Birmingham City.

Brian Clough took the now 25-year-old Withe to second division Notts Forest in 1976/7. Forming a partnership with Tony Woodcock helping them to win promotion. In the following season 19777/8, Forest won the First Division Championship, and he picked up more silverware by winning the League Cup.

Having played a role in winning the Charity Shield in 1978 a month later Forest sold him for a then record transfer fee for a second division player moving to Newcastle Utd for £225,000. Withe played 2 seasons for the Magpies.

At the start of the 1980-1 season, he was to become Aston Villa’s biggest ever signing for £500,000. Here he again linked up with another sharp and quick partner in Gary Shaw to make another formidable partnership. Which led to Peter winning his second First Division Championship.

He became a Lion in May 1981 making his England debut against Brazil. And was their 951st legacy player. Peter was part of the 22man squad for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Though he didn’t play in the tournament he went on to represent his country a further 10 times scoring once.

Probably his greatest achievement came in Aston Villa’s 1 -0 win over Bayern Munich in the European Cup Final in May 1982 with him scoring the only goal. He then added a European Super Cup winners medal in Dec 1982 after Villa beat Barcelona 3-1 on aggregate.

He remained at Villa until 1985 having made over 200 appearances and scoring 90 goals. His career then started to go backwards playing for Sheffield United and Huddersfield. After his playing days where over he went into management, having a brief spell at Wimbledon. Before spending 15 years in Asia managing before the national teams of Thailand and Indonesia as well as local club sides.

From his 3 appearances as a Sandgrounder, I doubt whether any ex-player has gone on and achieved as much as Peter has done from the game. Winning topflight domestic and European medals, as well as 11 England caps.

This article was first included in The Sandgrounder match day programme and is reproduced with kind permission of the author, Kim Wood.