September 30, 1983

Peter first arrived at Newcastle United in September of 1983 from Canada, where he had been playing football with Vancouver Whitecaps. Rejection by Gillingham, Cambridge and Burnley as a teenager saw him embark on a career sweeping floors at a local valve production factory on Tyneside. This was in spite of recommendations from Wallsend Boys’ Club’s Peter Kirkley. ”He was 11 when I first saw him”, Peter Kirkley said. “He was the most skilful player I’d ever seen at that time.” Young Beardsley had apparently been obsessive about football. He slept with a football beside his bed and played four... Read More