CandH blogger Allen Cummings pays a wonderful tribute to the magnificent Hammer Martin Peters
I always felt just a little bit sorry for Martin Peters. He was forever the third name in the West Ham trio of players, known collectively as Moore, Hurst and Peters, who inspired a club and thrilled a nation.
Bobby Moore the impeccable captain, Geoff Hurst the incredible goal scorer and Martin Peters, the player who almost went unnoticed. Ironically, it was that very ability, to ‘ghost’ around a football field, under the radar of opposition defences, that helped to make Martin the special player he was.
His first autobiography, aptly titled ‘The Ghost of 66’ summed him up perfectly. A footballer who could suddenly materialise from nowhere and strike with devastating effect.
The son of a Thames lighterman, Martin didn’t do as so many sons had done before, follow in his father’s footsteps into a life on the water. What was the River Thames’ loss soon became West Ham, England and football’s gain.
A graduate of the famous Upton Park football academy, Peters epitomised the footballing philosophy of Ron Greenwood, manager of that famous side of the 60’s. A young man who oozed style and elegance in all he did. But Martin had an added ingredient that made a special talent EXTRA special. The ability to score goals out of nothing.
His partnership with Geoff Hurst was simply telepathic. They were able to seek each other out with radar-like precision and amazing regularity. A special partnership that developed and flourished at West Ham – and continued to even greater heights with England.
Reaching the very pinnacle of every footballer’s career in that never-to-be-forgotten World Cup Final. While Hurst’s three goals will always take centre stage on that day, it was Martin’s strike that crucially restored England’s lead, and would have been England’s winner, had Wolfgang Weber not scored that late, late equaliser.
That Martin Peters’ goal is in fact the one I shall personally always remember – simply because on that special day it was the only goal I was able to see ‘live’. I was off on holiday, travelling to Italy by coach, and after crossing the channel we stopped briefly in a café in Ostend, where the television was on.
In the short time we were there I was able to see Martin score – and resumed my journey believing that Peters goal would be our winner!
Martin Peters was a consummate professional. Three of the game’s greatest managers, Ron Greenwood, Bill Nicholson and Alf Ramsey were unanimous in that he was the ‘complete’ footballer.
Martin was a true West Ham legend. An unforgettable England hero. But most of all he was a gentleman of the game!
RIP Martin. God bless you!
R I P Martin Peters you will be sadly missed