Peter Fitzgerald (footballer)

Peter Joseph Fitzgerald (16 June 1937 – 29 June 2013) was an Irish professional footballer.

Peter Fitzgerald
Personal information
Full name Peter Joseph Fitzgerald
Date of birth (1937-06-16)16 June 1937
Place of birth Waterford, Ireland
Date of death 29 June 2013(2013-06-29) (aged 76)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
–1959 Waterford Bohemians
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1956–1959 Waterford 41 (25)
1959—1960 Sparta Rotterdam 14 (7)
1960—1961 Leeds United 8 (0)
1961—1963 Chester 80 (12)
1963–1967 Waterford 50 (10)
1965 → Cork Hibernians (loan) 6 (0)
National team
1960–1961 Republic of Ireland 5 (2)
1963–1964 League of Ireland XI 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A centre forward Fitzgerald was one of the famous six Waterford brothers who played for the Waterford Blues. Tommy, Jack, Ned, Denny and Paul were the others. Along with Alfie Hale he made a scoring League of Ireland debut at Kilcohan Park on St Patrick's Day 1957 in a 3–1 win over Bohemians. His brother Jack setting up his goal which Peter finished with a grand header [1]

Along with two of his brothers Peter played in the 1959 FAI Cup Final against St Patrick's Athletic.[2] He scored in the first game at Dalymount Park and in the replay which the Blues lost 2-1 [3]

In May 1959 Fitzgerald was signed by Dutch Champions Sparta Rotterdam.[4] In the 1959–60 European Cup Fitzgerald played against Rangers in the quarter finals where they were eliminated after a playoff at Highbury Stadium.

He was signed by Leeds Manager Jack Taylor as his final signing before the start of the 1960–61 season. He was in the first-ever team selected by Don Revie. On 18 March 1961, Fitzgerald was at inside right, with Jack Charlton the emergency centre forward, in a 3–1 loss to Portsmouth.

Fitzgerald moved on to Chester City F.C. for a fee of £5,500 in July 1961. After a good two years, scoring 12 goals in 80 games, he returned home to Ireland in September 1963 to play for Waterford.[5]

The following month Fitzgerald made his debut for the League of Ireland XI. In what was one of the greatest results for a League of Ireland selection they beat their English counterparts, who included Bobby Moore, 2–1 in front of 25,000 at Dalymount [6]

In August 1967 Fitzgerald had his testimonial game against Leeds [7]

Fitzgerald later had a spell as caretaker manager of Waterford United at the end of the 1995–96 League of Ireland season.

He also played five times for the Republic of Ireland national football team, scoring twice in his second appearance, against Norway.[8]

His brother Jack scored 130 League of Ireland goals [9] and his father Michael was Chairman of Waterford.

Honours

References
  8. "Statistics: Republic of Ireland [Powered by tplSoccerStats]". Soccerscene.ie. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  9. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html
  • Peter Fitzgerald, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
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