Peterborough United F.C.
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| Full name | Peterborough United Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Posh | ||
| Founded | 1934 | ||
| Ground | London Road Stadium Peterborough | ||
| Capacity | 15,314 | ||
| Chairman |  Darragh MacAnthony | ||
| Player/Manager |  Darren Ferguson | ||
| League | League Two | ||
| 2005-06 | League Two, 9th | ||
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Peterborough United Football Club are an English football team currently playing in League Two for the 2006-07 season. The club was formed in 1934 and was first admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead F.C.. The side play at the London Road ground in Peterborough. The club nickname is The Posh. Opinion is split as to who Peterborough United's main local rivals are. Older fans tend to point to Northampton Town, a rivalry which has endured since the 1960s. However, many younger fans consider Cambridge United to be the club's main foes - this game is known as the Cambridgeshire derby.
Peterborough's greatest ever player is arguably Terry Bly. He scored 52 goals in the club's first season as a Football League club, as they sealed the Fourth Division championship.
The club also had a proud tradition of producing successful young players, either through the recently re-introduced youth academy or by taking a chance on other club's rejected youth players.
Those to have recently come through the youth academy have included Simon Davies (now at Fulham), Matthew Etherington (now at West Ham United) and Adam Drury (now at Norwich City).
Early history
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In their first season as a league club, they scored 134 goals, a record which has never been broken by an English football league club. A successful start to league football was dealt a blow when the club was relegated in 1968 for paying bonuses to players, a common practice in the modern game but outlawed at the time.
Peterborough United Football Club officially came into being on 17th May 1934 when a crowded meeting at the city's now long demolished Angel Hotel decided to go ahead with the formation of a professional club to fill a void left by the collapse of Peterborough and Fletton United some two years earlier. Local councillor Jack Swain, appointed acting chairman, told the gathering: 'I think that with the revival of old enthusiasm in the city, Peterborough will ultimately find a place in the Football League.' It took almost 40 years for that dream to come to fruition in 1960, a milestone which, in itself, was the start of a fresh roller coaster ride through every soccer experience from delight to despair
Recent history
During the 2005-06 season the club had three managers: team owner Barry Fry returned to management following former England international Mark Wright's sacking in January. Wright's assistant Steve Bleasdale was then appointed acting manager, but resigned in April following a row with Fry over tactics. He also objected to Ron Atkinson giving advice to the management while filming a programme (Big Ron Manager) for Sky One which was broadcast in April - September 2006. Keith Alexander joined as manager from Lincoln City for the 2006-07 season and, having initially installed himself as the Director of Football, Fry became chairman in August 2006.
In July 2006 the club sold defender Sean St Ledger to Football League Championship side Preston North End for a reported initial fee of £225,000.
On September 18th 2006 Peterborough United announced the "biggest signing in the clubs history", new chairman Darragh MacAnthony chairman of MRI Overseas Property. MacAnthony has purchased 200 shares in PUFC and has stated that his goal is to become the sole owner of the Club. As of yet, no more details have been announced. In its AGM of 05/09/2006 the Posh Supporters' Trust stated that it owned 1390 shares in PUFC. The deal was delayed as of November 2006 when the owners of the Ground Peterborough United Holdings Ltd (PUHL) refused to Accept the sale until they receive planning permission their proposed development of the Moys end Terrace and building of 135 Luxury flats. Despite this MacAnthony has said he will not walk away from the club.
With the prospect of rich new ownership a £1m bid for striker Izale McLeod was accepted by his club, MK Dons, but the player turned the move down. They have since signed George Boyd from Stevenage for a reported fee of around £260,000 http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=438532&CPID=12&clid=73&lid=&title=Posh+bag+duo , Aaron Mclean from Grays Athleticfor a figure expected to be around £150,000 http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=438600&CPID=12&clid=73&lid=&title=Morgan+completes+Posh+move and Josh Low from Leicester for a fee rising to £100,000 http://home.skysports.com/transferarticle.aspx?hlid=439398.
They have also signed 32 year old central midfielder Micah Hyde for £75,000 (raising to £100,000 if Peterborough get promotion) from Burnley and goalkeeper Shwan Jalal from Woking for an undisclosed fee to continue their bid spending.
While Alexander had some success in the role, leading the club to its best-ever start to a season and keeping them in the play-off positions for most of the 2006-07 season, he was nonetheless sacked in January due to a run of six defeats in a row, and his long-ball tactics met with disapproval among fans even when the club was near the top of the table. After a brief caretaker spell by Tommy Taylor, Darren Ferguson was installed as player-manager.
Ferguson had a good start to his managerial career, and was unlucky to only gain 1 point from his first 3 games after some good performances. Ironically, the first win in his managerial career was against his former club, Wrexham.
Ferguson appointed Kevin Russell as his assistant, and Ben MacKenzie as fitness coach.
Honours
- League One (including Second Division and (Old) Third Division)[1]
- Play-Off Winners: 1991/92.
- League Two (including Third Division and (Old) Fourth Division)[2]
- Winners: 1960/61, 1973/74.
- Play-Off Winners: 1999/00.
- Promoted: 1990/91.
Records
League records
- Most goals ever scored by an English club in a single season: 134 goals.
- Biggest away victory in Division 3: Barnet 1 Peterborough 9.
- Most division 4 goals in a season by one player: 52 (Terry Bly)
Player records
- Most league goals in a season: 52 Terry Bly (1960-61).
- Most league goals in total: 122 Jim Hall (1967-75).
- Most league appearances: 482 (42 as substitute) Tommy Robson (1968-81}.
Most appearances
Players in bold still playing for The Posh
- Tommy Robson 559
- Mark Tyler 431
- Jack Carmichael 420
- Noel Luke 346
- Mick Halsall 316
Current squad
As of 12th March 2007.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
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Mick Bodley
See Also: Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Team Managers
As of April 21, 2007. Only competitive matches are counted. Periods as caretaker manager are shown in italics
See Also: Category:Peterborough United F.C. managers
See also
External links
- Peterborough United F.C. on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures
- posh.net - the independent website by Posh supporters for Posh supporters
- The Posh Supporters' Trust
- The PLC - some Posh fans from up north
- Official Site
- UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database
- An early history of Peterborough United
- PISA 2000 - the Posh Independent Supporters Association
Notes
- ^ Up until 1992, the third division of English football was the Third Division. From 1992 to 2004 it was known as Second Division, and League One ever since.
- ^ Up until 1992, the fourth division of English football was the Fourth Division. From 1992 to 2004 it was known as Third Division, and League Two ever since.
- ^ In charge for a match as Martin Wilkinson was in hospital with appendicitis.