Peter Gelson

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Peter Gelson
Personal information
Full name Peter William John Gelson[1]
Date of birth (1941-10-18) 18 October 1941 (age 82)
Place of birth Hammersmith, England
Position(s) Centre back, wing half
Youth career
1958–1960 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1975 Brentford 471 (17)
1974–1977 Hillingdon Borough
1977 Hounslow
1977–1978 Hillingdon Borough
1978–1979 Walton & Hersham
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Peter William John Gelson (born 18 October 1941) is a retired English football centre back and wing half who played in the Football League for Brentford. A cult hero amongst the club's supporters, he is third on the all-time Brentford appearances list with 516. In 2013, Gelson placed second in a Football League 125th Anniversary poll of Brentford's all-time fan favourites and was inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in November 2014.[2][3]

Career

Brentford

Joining Brentford at a young age, Gelson progressed through the club's youth, 'A' and reserve teams before making his professional debut at age 19 in a 2–0 Division Three defeat to Halifax Town on 22 August 1961.[4] Despite still being a part-time player,[5] Gelson quickly established himself in the first team as a wing half, making 28 appearances during the 1961–62 season, a campaign which saw Brentford relegated to Division Four.[6]

Gelson was a key player in Brentford's 1962–63 Division Four title-winning campaign, making 32 appearances.[6] He was known for his long-range goals, scoring three times from behind the halfway line.[7] A "hard man" as a player, in 1970 Gelson ended the career of Colchester United's Bobby Howlett in a challenge which resulted in a broken leg for the Us defender.[8] Gelson would go on to be a fixture at centre back until his final appearance for the club in September 1974.[9] He left Brentford shortly after, having made 516 appearances in all competitions for the club.[6] In recognition of his service to the club, Gelson was awarded two testimonials,[5][10] earning him £3,630.[11]

Non-league football

After his departure from Brentford, Gelson played on in non-league football, appearing for Hillingdon Borough (two spells), Hounslow and Walton & Hersham.[7]

Personal life

In his early days as a part-time player at Brentford, Gelson worked as a Post Office engineer.[12] After retiring from football, Gelson found work at Heathrow Airport, working in security with British Airways and Qatar Airways.

Honours

As a player

Brentford

As an individual

References

  1. ^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Peter Gelson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. ^ The Football League. "Brentford - Football League 125". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b Chris Wickham. "Bob Booker, Peter Gelson, Keith Millen, Alan Nelmes and Danis Salman honoured at Brentford FC 125 Year Anniversary Dinner". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 22 August 1961. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. ^ a b c "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  7. ^ a b Official Matchday Magazine Of Brentford Football Club versus Oldham Athletic 14/08/99. Blackheath: Morganprint. 1999. p. 41.
  8. ^ "Brentford 2-0 Colchester Utd - Player Match List - Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 16 September 1974. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Peter Gelson Testimonial Brentford WHU 1970 Benefit Match 70 : ♥ Football Zone UK ♥ Football Programmes Football Memorabilia, Football Programmes Football Memorabilia". Footballzone.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  11. ^ Griffin Gazette: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Crewe Alexandra 06/04/96. Quay Design of Poole. 1996. p. 20.
  12. ^ TW8 Matchday versus Oldham Athletic 25/08/03. London: The Yellow Printing Company Limited. p. 32.
  13. ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 387. ISBN 0951526200.
  14. ^ White 1989, p. 391.
  15. ^ a b Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the 70s. Legends Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 978-1906796709.


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