Peter Fox (footballer)

Peter Fox (born 5 July 1957) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Barnsley, Exeter City, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City.[1]

Peter Fox
Personal information
Full name Peter David Fox[1]
Date of birth (1957-07-05) 5 July 1957[1]
Place of birth Scunthorpe, England[1]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1978 Sheffield Wednesday 49 (0)
1977 → Barnsley (loan) 1 (0)
1977 → Team Hawaii (loan) 25 (0)
1978–1993 Stoke City 409 (0)
1992 → Linfield (loan)
1993 → Wrexham (loan) 0 (0)
1993–1999 Exeter City 108 (0)
Total 592 (0)
Teams managed
1995–2000 Exeter City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Fox was born in Scunthorpe and began his career with Sheffield Wednesday, making his debut aged just 15 years 8 months, a club record in a 2–0 victory over Leyton Orient. Unfortunately for Fox he broke his toe that day and lost his place to another younger keeper, Chris Turner. Following the arrival of Jack Charlton as manager in October 1977, Fox found himself in the reserves, Charlton liked big keepers who could kick the ball long into the opponents half. After spending time out on loan at Barnsley and a summer in the NASL with Team Hawaii, Stoke City paid £15,000 to sign Fox.[1]

After spending the 1978–79 season in the reserves, Fox took over from Roger Jones as number 1 in April 1980 as Stoke battled against relegation. He kept two clean sheets in the final two games which City won to stay up. Taking advice from the experienced Denis Smith Fox was ever present for Stoke in 1980–81 and 1983–84 as he won the player of the year award in 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1989–90. Throughout his 15 years at the Victoria Ground Fox had to fight off competition and almost quit football after he felt he had been branded a cheat after being sent-off for handling outside of his area against Luton Town in September 1982. He was out injured for most of the awful 1984–85 season which saw Stoke relegated with a record low points tally. He was given a testimonial against Everton in 1989 and was appointed captain by Alan Ball in early 1990.[1]

He lost his place under new manager Lou Macari in 1991–92 with Jason Kearton and Ronnie Sinclair being preferred. However, with both being cup-tied, Fox played in the 1992 Football League Trophy Final as Stoke beat Stockport County 1–0. He spent the autumn of 1992 on loan at Northern Irish club Linfield.[1] He was recalled in October 1992 and made his long-awaited 400th league appearance for Stoke. Fox joined Wrexham on loan, but didn't make an appearance as he was again recalled by Stoke to play in the last few matches of the 1992–93 promotion campaign.[1] He was released on a free after making 477 appearances for Stoke and joined Alan Ball at Exeter City.[1]

Managerial career

Following his release aged 36, he joined Exeter City, initially as player-coach, being made manager in 1995 after the departure of Terry Cooper. His time at the helm at Exeter was one of consistent mid-table mediocrity. The club was never in any serious relegation danger, however. He left St James Park in January 2000, replaced by his assistant Noel Blake.

Personal life

His son, David Fox, is also a professional footballer. Fox was taken to court in July 2015 by former Stoke youth-team player George Blackstock who alleged that in the 1980s Fox assaulted and humiliated him in 'dressing-room pranks'.[2] Fox was cleared of the claims in October 2015.[3]

Career statistics

As a player

Source:[4]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield Wednesday 1972–73 Second Division 1000000010
1973–74 Second Division 0000000000
1974–75 Third Division 200100000210
1975–76 Third Division 270200000290
1976–77 Third Division 1000000010
1977–78 Third Division 0000000000
Total 490300000520
Barnsley (loan) 1977–78 Fourth Division 1000000010
Team Hawaii (loan) 1977 NASL 250———250
Stoke City 1978–79 Second Division 1000000010
1979–80 First Division 230101000250
1980–81 First Division 420202000460
1981–82 First Division 380102000410
1982–83 First Division 350301000390
1983–84 First Division 420105000480
1984–85 First Division 140002000160
1985–86 Second Division 370103030440
1986–87 Second Division 390502010470
1987–88 Second Division 170003010210
1988–89 Second Division 290201000320
1989–90 Second Division 380102020430
1990–91 Third Division 440304020530
1991–92 Third Division 00204050110
1992–93 Second Division 100000000100
Total 40902203201404770
Exeter City 1993–94 Second Division 260404000340
1994–95 Third Division 310101020350
1995–96 Third Division 460102020510
1996–97 Third Division 5000001060
Total 10806070501260
Career Total 59203103801906800
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Full Members Cup and Football League Trophy.

As a manager
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Exeter City 4 August 1995 9 January 2000 235 69 70 96 029.36

Honours
Stoke City
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References
  1. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  2. "Stoke City legend Peter Fox 'humiliated' ex-player with Deep Heat assault, a court heard". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  3. "Former Stoke City goalie Peter Fox cleared of assaulting apprentice". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  4. Peter Fox at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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