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In a playing career spanning 20 years, Newcastle born Peter Beardsley
played almost 900 games for ten different clubs. Having started at
Carlisle as an 18 year-old in 1979, Beardsley's best playing years were
undoubtedly spent in the colours of Newcastle United and Liverpool where
he spent twelve of fourteen seasons from 1983/84. By the time he became
a loan player (from Bolton Wanderers) at Maine Road on February 17th
1998 it would not be too unfair to say that he was in the twilight of
his career. Having said that though even if he had lost some of his old
speed and stamina, City fans could see what a marvellous player he had
been. He'd always had a terrific footballing brain, the ability to kick
with both feet and was still capable of defence-splitting passes. Capped
59 times for England (including the World Cups of Mexico '86 and Italia
'90), Beardsley's arrival in Moss Side coincided with a desperate
battle against relegation to the Second Division. It was a battle doomed
to ultimate failure and perhaps not even one that a Beardsley in his
prime could have prevented. Following his debut in a 2-1 home defeat by
Ipswich on February 18th, Beardsley then replaced Georgi Kinkladze at
half-time as the Blues won 3-1 at Swindon. A 3-0 defeat at Reading was
followed by back-to-back wins against West Bromwich Albion (1-0 at home)
and Huddersfield Town (3-1 away). Four days later, City lost 2-0 at
home to Oxford, a game that sent them to 20th in the Division and marked
the last of Beardsley's 5/1 appearances for City. The programme notes
for the game with West Brom claimed Peter was 'on a mission to keep City
in the First Division'. Even though the Blues won 5-2 at Stoke on the
last day of the season, they still failed in Beardsley's mission and the
likeable Geordie was still a loan player - this time with Fulham. (Ian
Penney - author of The Legends of Manchester City)
1979–1982 Carlisle United 104 (22)
1982 Vancouver Whitecaps 48 (20)
1982–1983 Manchester United 0 (0)
1983 Vancouver Whitecaps 25 (8)
1983–1987 Newcastle United 147 (61)
1987–1991 Liverpool 131 (46)
1991–1993 Everton 81 (25)
1993–1997 Newcastle United 129 (47)
1997–1998 Bolton Wanderers 17 (2)
1998 Manchester City (loan) 6 (0)
1998 Fulham 21 (4)
1998–1999 Hartlepool United 22 (2)
1999 Melbourne Knights 2 (0)
Total 755 (237)
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