Peter Bonetti
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Peter Philip Bonetti[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [2] | 27 September 1941||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Putney, England | ||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 12 April 2020 | (aged 78)||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.77 m)[3][4][5] | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
Worthing | |||||||||||||||||
Reading | |||||||||||||||||
Chelsea | |||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
1959–1975 | Chelsea | 495 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
1975 | St. Louis Stars | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
1976–1979 | Chelsea | 105 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
1979 | Dundee United | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
1986 | Woking | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Total | 628 | (0) | |||||||||||||||
International career | |||||||||||||||||
1966–1970 | England | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Peter Philip Bonetti (27 September 1941 – 12 April 2020) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England. He was known for his safe handling, lightning reflexes and his graceful style, for which he was given the nickname "The Cat". He was one of several goalkeepers (Gordon West of Everton was another) who specialised in a one-armed throw which could achieve a similar distance to a drop kick.
Bonetti played seven times for England, but mainly served the team as a back-up to
Early life
Bonetti was born in
Club career
Chelsea
Chelsea signed him from the
Chelsea were relegated in Bonetti's second full season, which saw the appointment of Tommy Docherty as manager. Bonetti emerged as a key figure in a talented young team which included Bobby Tambling, Terry Venables, John Hollins and Barry Bridges.[10] The team went into the penultimate match of the season needing to beat promotion rivals Sunderland to have a chance of going up. Chelsea won 1–0, with Bonetti making a brilliant last minute save to deny George Mulhall and maintain his team's promotion chances; a 7–0 win over Portsmouth secured instant promotion back to the First Division.[11]
The new Chelsea team challenged for honours during the 1960s, with Bonetti a key figure throughout, although more often than not the team narrowly missed out. The club won the
Bonetti played in every match of Chelsea's
That was the closest he came to winning another trophy with Chelsea until 1970, by which time Docherty had been succeeded by
A year later, the team added the
That was his last trophy with the club, although they narrowly missed out on more in the following years, losing in the 1972 League Cup final to Stoke City and in the semi-final of the same competition to Norwich City a year later.[10] Financial and disciplinary problems within the club prevented them from building on their success.[16]
St Louis Stars
Bonetti left on a
Return to Chelsea
He then returned to Chelsea, where his experience proved invaluable in helping new manager
International career
Bonetti earned seven
Bonetti's England career is largely remembered for one match – the
In the
Retirement
After leaving Chelsea, Bonetti moved to the Isle of Mull where he ran a guesthouse and became a postman.[19] While living in Scotland, he briefly came out of retirement to make several appearances for Dundee United as understudy to Hamish McAlpine. Following his retirement from playing, Bonetti moved into coaching and had spells with Chelsea and the England national team, as well as working with Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United, Fulham and Manchester City.[20]
During his time as a Chelsea coach, he was persuaded to play two matches for
Since 2005, Bonetti made several appearances for an Old England XI in various charity matches, notably against celebrity teams, usually coming on for the last 10 minutes of each match.[citation needed]
Bonetti died on 12 April 2020, aged 78, following a long illness.[21]
Career statistics
- Source:[22]
Club performance | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
1959–60 |
Chelsea | First Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
1960–61 |
36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
1961–62 |
33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
1962–63 |
Second Division | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
1963–64 |
First Division | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
1964–65 |
41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 0 | ||
1965–66 |
38 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 56 | 0 | ||
1966–67 |
38 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
1967–68 |
40 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
1968–69 |
41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
1969–70 |
36 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
1970–71 |
28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
1971–72 |
33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
1972–73 |
23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
1973–74 |
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
1974–75 |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
USA | League | U.S. Open Cup | League Cup | North America | Total | |||||||
1975 | St. Louis Stars |
North American Soccer League | 21 | 0 | ||||||||
England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
1975–76 |
Chelsea | Second Division | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
1976–77 |
31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
1977–78 |
First Division | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
1978–79 |
16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
Scotland | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
1979–80 |
Dundee United | Scottish Premier Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
1986–87 |
Woking | Isthmian League Second Division | 2 | 0 | ||||||||
Total | England | 602 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 731 | 0 | |
USA | 21 | 0 | ||||||||||
Scotland | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
Career total | 628 | 0 |
Totals include one Charity Shield appearance in 1970–71.
Honours
Chelsea
St. Louis Stars
- North American Soccer League Central Division: 1975[7]
England
Individual
References
- ^ a b c "Peter Bonetti". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "Peter Bonetti". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Peter Bonetti (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ Andrews, Neil (20 May 2015). "In praise of short(er) goalkeepers". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ Watson, Ian (6 July 2018). "The shortlist: five diddy keepers who did just fine..." Football365. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ Glanville, Brian (12 April 2020). "Peter Bonetti obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Peter Bonetti". England Football Online. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "An A-Z of Peter Bonetti's career | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club". ChelseaFC. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Celebrating 60 years of Croydon FC". Croydon Advertiser. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d "'Peter Bonetti – Chelsea's 'cat' with brilliant athleticism and flamboyance'". BBC Sport. 12 April 2020.
- ^ "My Blue Days: John Boyle". Chelsea F.C.
- ^ "Burnley v Chelsea - 24/04/1965 | Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC". www.stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Jimmy Greaves: Tottenham Hotspur and England legend's life in pictures". Sky News. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Peter Bonetti 1941-2020 | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club". ChelseaFC.
- ISBN 978-1-4481-4253-8.
- ^ Jensen, Neil Fredrik (8 December 2021). "Chelsea: Half a century of Europe's bravest football stand". GAME OF THE PEOPLE. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ a b "World Cup 1966 winners honoured". BBC Sport. 10 June 2009.
- ^ Burnton, Simon (25 May 2018). "World Cup stunning moments: Gordon Banks is stricken". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Peter Bonetti: The Chelsea great who became an England scapegoat". Press Association. 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Petr's the greatest: Bonetti". London Evening Standard. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ "Peter Bonetti: Former Chelsea and England goalkeeper dies aged 78". BBC Sport. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Players Appearances Bm-Bo". bounder.friardale.co.uk.
- ^ "World Cup 1966 winners honoured". BBC Sport. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "for the record: NASL All-Star team". St. Petersburg Times. 20 August 1975. p. 2C. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
External links
- Peter Bonetti at National-Football-Teams.com
- Peter Bonetti at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database