Peter Griffiths (footballer, born 1957)

Peter James Griffiths (born 14 August 1957) is an English former footballer who made 98 league appearances on the right-wing in the English Football League for Stoke City, Bradford City, and Port Vale in the 1980s. He also played non-league football for Bideford, Salisbury United (Australia), Newcastle KB United (Australia), Stafford Rangers, Northwich Victoria, Matlock Town and Milton United. He played in the First Division for Stoke, and helped Port Vale to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1985–86.

Peter Griffiths
Personal information
Full name Peter James Griffiths[1]
Date of birth (1957-08-14) 14 August 1957[1]
Place of birth Barnstaple, England[1]
Playing position(s) Right winger
Youth career
Pilton Centre
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1980 Bideford
1980–1984 Stoke City 60 (5)
1984 → Bradford City (loan) 2 (0)
1984–1986 Port Vale 36 (4)
Salisbury United
Newcastle KB United
Stafford Rangers
Northwich Victoria
Matlock Town
Milton United
Total 98+ (9+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Stoke City

Griffiths moved from Bideford (Western League) to Alan Durban's Stoke City for a £15,000 fee after a successful trial in November 1980, giving up his job as a self-employed panel beater in the process.[2] He scored his first goal at the Victoria Ground on 27 December 1980, in a 2–2 draw with Coventry City; this was his only goal in five starts and five substitute appearances in the 1980–81 season. Everton made a £150,000 offer for Griffiths, which was rejected by the Stoke board.[2] He scored three goals in 33 games in the 1981–82 season, finding the net against Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Swansea City early on in the campaign. He soon fell out of the first team picture under Richie Barker, and made just 11 First Division starts in the 1982–83 campaign, finding the net once in a 4–1 win over Birmingham City at St Andrew's on 4 September. He featured just five times for the "Potters" in the 1983–84 season, and was loaned out to Bradford City. He played two Third Division games for Trevor Cherry's "Bantams", in a brief stay at Valley Parade.

Port Vale

Griffiths was signed by Stoke's rivals Port Vale in July 1984.[1] He played regular football in the 1984–85 season, scoring four goals in 39 games, until tearing a groin muscle in April 1985.[1] Upon his recovery he failed to gain his first team spot back at Vale Park, and featured just nine times in the 1985–86 Fourth Division promotion winning campaign.[1] "Valiants" manager John Rudge handed him a free transfer in May 1986.[1]

Later career

He emigrated to Australia to play for Salisbury United, and then National Soccer League side Newcastle KB United, before returning to Staffordshire to play for Conference club Stafford Rangers.[1] After leaving Rangers he played for Northwich Victoria, Matlock Town (Northern Premier League) and Milton United.[1]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1980–81 First Division 101000000101
1981–82 First Division 313101000333
1982–83 First Division 151001000161
1983–84 First Division 4000100050
Total 605103000645
Bradford City (loan) 1983–84 Third Division 2000001030
Port Vale 1984–85 Fourth Division 313214020394
1985–86 Fourth Division 5100103091
Total 364215050485
Career total 98931806011510
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Honours
Port Vale
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 120. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "Peter Griffiths to Stoke City". angelfire.com/super2/unofficialbiddy. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. Peter Griffiths at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  4. Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
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