Peter Hucker

Peter Hucker (born 28 October 1959 in Hampstead) is an English former professional football player who played as a goalkeeper in The Football League during the 1980s.

He joined Queens Park Rangers as a schoolboy in December 1974, signed apprentice forms in July 1976 and turned professional in July 1977, making his league debut against Shrewsbury Town in 1981. Hucker had been at the club since he was a junior but had played very few games.He had seen a succession of managers bring their own preferred goalkeepers in while he bided his time in the reserves.

He got his big chance in a 3rd round FA Cup tie at Loftus Road in 1982 against Middlesbrough. The first choice keeper at the time, John Burridge, was injured but was also not very keen on playing on the synthetic playing surface that Loftus Road had at the time. Hucker played very well in the cup tie and retained his place for the remainder of the season including in the 1982 FA Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur in which he was voted the 'Man Of The Match' for his performance in the first game in which he played extremely well despite being injured.

Peter was to play a key role the following season as well as QPR stormed to the Second Division title and then the following year as Rangers finished top London club in the 1983-84 season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Like many of the talented players of that team his form suffered as Terry Venables left the club in 1984 to be replaced by Alan Mullery. He lost his place during the 1985-86 season (to Paul Barron and he transferred to Oxford United in February 1987. Peter played 154 league games for QPR.

He finished his career in non-league football and went on to establish a successful goalkeeping coaching school after retiring from the game.

References

• Peter Hucker, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database