GoS-DB Players

PETER ANDERSON

Note: (1) Many publications state that Peter Anderson played for Astor Institute before signing on with Argyle. This is not correct; he played for Oak Villa. In his book "Thanks for the Memory" (ISBN 978-0-9562482-0-6), Steve Rhodes recalls his interview with Anderson: 'He laughed as he told me, "I have never known where the connection with Astor Institute came from. I used to read it in the away programmes and the Argyle handbook and wonder where they got that idea. I can say categorically I never went near the place." (2) Match reports for the game at Ipswich on 28 Nov 1959 gave Argyle's first goal to Ronnie Waldock. The Sunday Independent on 6 Dec 1959 issued a correction; it should have been Peter Anderson. The totals for each player are therefore different from those in many record books.

Born: 11 September 1932

Came from: Trainee Went to: Torquay United

First game: 11 April 1953 Last game: 26 September 1962

Appearances: 258 (258/0) Goals: 47

Born in Plymouth in 1932, Anderson rose through the ranks to become one of the finest local players the club has ever produced. He made his debut in April 1953, playing the final four games of a season in which the club finished fourth in the old Second Division. His career stalled in 1955 when he suffered a broken leg in a home fixture with Stoke City. After battling back to fitness, he went on to play a key role in the 58-59 promotion side.

A genuinely two-footed player, Anderson was an elegant runner who liked to weave his way down the wing before delivering pin-point crosses for the centre-forward. He continued to play regularly and was part of the 1961-62 Ellis Stuttard side that swept aside West Ham in an FA Cup Third Round tie, before losing to the eventual winners Tottenham in the next round. That season the team finished fifth in the Second Division, making Anderson unique in that he played a part in both of the sides that secured the highest post-war finishes in the club's history.

In 1962 Anderson was surprisingly released and signed for Torquay United. Afterwards he played non-league for Bideford where in 1966 another broken leg forced him to retire from football. He was also a fine golfer, having at one time played off 4.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

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By Brian Knight* in Cheltenham on 07/12/2013 ...

Peter Anderson played in the same Plymouth Schoolboys side as Reg Wyatt and joined the Argyle two years after Wyatt. In those days he was mainly a left winger but also had the ability to switch to the other flank. He soon made his mark with the Reserve team but, if his promise was enough to influence Argyle to transfer Alex Govan to Birmingham City, he was by no means thrust into League football. Indeed, Anderson had to wait a full season to win the place vacated by Govan. Although a broken leg in the 1955-6 season threatened his career, he re-established his place in the following ... More

From John Pickford in Sainghin-en-Melantois, France on 21/04/2016 ...

Season 1961-2 was the season when it almost happened until one draw from the final six games saw Argyle finish a respectable fifth. In the end they were effectively seven points short since their goal average did them no favours - a great attack, but a sketchy defence for a potential promotion team. There were two memorable cup ties at Home Park - West Ham and double winning Spurs visited in rounds 3 and 4 respectively. I was one of the 40,040 lucky ones who saw the Spurs game - Peter Anderson scored from a Johnny Newman rebound - Argyle were well beaten but not disgraced and until that end ... More

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.