Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton

Peter Leslie Shilton OBE is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for the England men’s team than anyone else, earning 125 caps. He also holds the all-time record for the most competitive appearances in world football – 1,390. His 30-year career included spells at 11 clubs and he had the distinction of playing over 100 league games for five clubs.

About Peter Shilton in brief

Summary Peter ShiltonPeter Leslie Shilton OBE is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for the England men’s team than anyone else, earning 125 caps. He also holds the all-time record for the most competitive appearances in world football – 1,390. His 30-year career included spells at 11 clubs and he had the distinction of playing over 100 league games for five clubs. During his time at Nottingham Forest, Shilton won many honours, including the First Division championship, two European Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, and the Football League Cup. Shilton did not make his World Cup finals debut until the age of 32, but he played in 17 finals matches and shares the record of 10 clean sheets in World Cup Finals matches with French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. He was awarded an OBE for his services to football in 2000. He has also been awarded a knighthood for services to the game of football. He is also a member of the Football Association’s Hall of Fame, having played for Leicester City, Stoke City, Manchester United, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion. He won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, voted for by his fellow professionals, in 1979 – the third consecutive year he had been voted for. He made his debut for Leicester against Everton in May 1966 and his potential was spotted to the extent that the Leicester City management sided with their teenage prodigy and soon sold World Cup winner Banks, to Stoke City. He scored a goal at The Dell against Southampton in October 1967 direct from a clearance at the opposite end of the pitch, which, instead of splashing harmlessly in the mud, spun off the pitch and flew over Forsyth’s head into the goal.

The following season Leicester reached the FA Cup final at Wembley and a 19-year-old Shilton became one of the event’s youngest-ever goalkeepers. He played in 26 matches for Stoke in 1974–75 as they narrowly missed out on the league title. The summer of 1976 saw Manchester United lodge a bid for Shilton, but they could not agree on Shilton’s wage demands, which would have made him the highest paid player at the club. He remained with Stoke in 1976–77 and a young and inexperienced side suffered relegation to the Second Division. In September 1977 he signed for Nottingham Forest for £250,000 and Shilton signed a month into the new season. During the season Forest conceded just 18 goals in 37 league appearances, and won the League title in their first season back in the first division. In 1979 Forest reached a third consecutive League Cup final, with Shilton playing in the final against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley – this time they defeated Southampton 3–2 at Wembley. There was no third successive victory, however, as a communication error between Shilton and defender David Needham resulted in a collision on the edge of the penalty area – Andy Needham leaving the pitch. In 1981 Forest reached the European Cup final where a Trevor Francis goal was enough to beat Malmö.