January 2001

Malcolm MacDonald (Luton Town) Thanks to Colin Pharoah who tells me that Malcolm is a commentator on Century radio in Newcastle.

Peter Eustace (West Ham United) The following is a photo and article that appear in the January 2001 edition of 'Hammers News' the Official Magazine of West Ham United (Volume 7, issue 5) pp 42-45. The words and picture is by Neale Harvey, and particularly excellent it all is, too. The Official version of this article (with much better pictures) appears at Hammers News - Vintage Claret - Peter Eustace

Peter was not a success at West Ham and will more likely remembered by Sheffield Wednesday fans, though West Ham was his team in the 70-71 season following a record deal between the clubs in 1970 ... read on ....

Bobby Gould, Peter Eustace and Frank Lampard

Peter Eustace always did get on well with Harry Redknapp, particularly so after he once came to the rescue of the 'Gaffer' while on a house-hunting expedition not long after Ron Greenwood had signed him from Sheffield Wednesday for a record 90,000 pounds in January 1970. Peter had been living in digs in Forest Gate and was desperate to move.

Harry, then 23, offered to show him around the suburbs, but the future Hammers boss got more than he bargained for when the pair visited one particular property in Woodford Green. "We arrived at this house and the girl asked us to wait while she put the dog away," recalled Peter. "Anyway, five minutes later she's come back and let me in while Harry stayed outside to look around.

"She showed me around downstairs, then I've gone upstairs and looked out of the bedroom window into the back garden and couldn't believe what I saw. Harry was pinned down on the floor with a Great Dane standing on top of him! I don't know how it got him on the floor, but Harry was making frantic signs to come and get it off him. I found it quite funny, but I don't think Harry was too amused!"

A creative wing-half who had been on the verge of international honours at Wednesday, Peter was renowned as a good passer of the ball and was seen by many as a replacement for Martin Peters. In fact, when Peter signed he was unaware of Martin's impending switch to Tottenham Hotspur just two months later and admits he was disappointed that Ron Greenwood allowed the England man to move on.

"Sheffield at that time was a football club that was in disarray because we'd lost a very good manager in Alan Brown and they were getting rid of their better players. The decline was setting in and they were soon relegated twice and ended up in the old Third Division. Ever since I played for Wednesday people used to call me a West Ham type of player. I think that meant I could pass the ball pretty well well and was composed on the ball - all the things West Ham stand for.

"There was a tendency to try and play football at all times - sometimes possibly too much - but it was the right time to go to a place like West Ham because they played the kind of football I liked. I wasn't a replacement for Martin Peters. That's one of the things I said when I moved down there, that I didn't want good players to be moving on because I had just left a club where that was happening. Unfortunately for me, Martin did leave for Tottenham. People might say I was naive not to understand that was going to happen, but I wasn't told.

Peter made his Upton Park debut in a goal less draw with Manchester United, but ironically, played his first away match at Sheffield Wednesday, where he had spent 10 years and played for the Owls in the 3-2 FA Cup final defeat by Everton in 1966. Despite making a mistake that allowed Wednesday to score with 20 minutes remaining because he was "showing off a little too much", two goals from Martin Peters secured an important away victory.

For Stocksbridge-born Peter, however, London life was a far cry from the farming communities he was accustomed to in the Peak District. He admits that despite the camaraderie between the players at the club he found it very difficult to adapt and this contributed to him not achieving his full potential at a time when the Hammers were struggling against relegation.

"I could never settle in London at that time. I came from a village surrounded by farms and, although I tried, could never adapt. "I was in digs at Forest Gate for six months which was a million miles away from what I was used to. The landlady, Mrs Gladstone, was marvellous but I just couldn't get used to that kind of existence. I regretted that I didn't do a lot better at West Ham than I did, but that's life.

"Also, compared to Sheffield where we had a fantastic stadium and a big pitch, the first impression of West Ham was of a small pitch, with small surrounds where everything was quite close to you. I found it a little difficult actually getting used to the size of the pitch.

"As a passer, at Wednesday there was bags of room to knock the ball around whereas at Upton Park it was quite small. The crowd was right on top of you but I liked that part of it and the atmosphere. Even though I didn't do myself justice down there, I can never remember any time when the crowd turned against me."

Despite problems settling in London, Peter made a good impression with his team-mates and hit it off immediately with the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Ronnie Boyce and the others. Although the Hammers were struggling in the league Peter insists there were some great players at the club and, as someone who is still heavily involved in the game, he is far from convinced that general playing standards are better nowadays.

"The lads were brilliant and I remember the first day after training Bobby Moore came up and said the lads usually had a little drink - and we certainly did have a drink. I remember that afternoon very well! I liked Bob and he was a nice fella. I'd played against him maybe a dozen times, but I got on very well with him and we used to share a room on occasions.

"He wasn't what people anticipated him being like. He was quiet and unassuming - a really good lad and, of course, a great footballer. "I got on well with everyone. Harry used to look after me, and Hurstie and Alan Stephenson lived close by. I always thought Ronnie Boyce was a great lad as well as a good footballer and Bobby Ferguson became a great friend of mine.

"Brian Dear and Harry were jokers and to a Yorkshire lad they sounded funny right away, To go into a dressing room like that, it was' 'Ello my saaarn' and all that. I just couldn't understand them and it took a few weeks to catch on. We all used to drink together. That was the way it was in those days and it's a little more professional now. It has to be and people eat a lot better and don't consume the alcohol we used to drink. They're a lot fitter now, but whether they can play football better I don't know. I've got my doubts."

After almost 25 years of coaching, managing and scouting at various levels since he gave up playing, Peter is well qualified to offer an opinion and outlined his concerns about what he perceives to be a worrying decline in the quantity and quality of young players emerging nowadays. "We played with some wonderful footballers in the 60s and I've never seen anybody since then who's even come near Bobby Charlton not even at Manchester United, his own club.

"Moore, Martin Peters, Harry Redknapp, Johnny Sissons and people like that were all really good footballers and the thing that stood out was what good ball strikers they were. Because the ball's so light these days lads only have to flick the ball, but when it was a wet afternoon and you were playing in four inches of mud, you had to strike the ball very well otherwise you hurt your foot, simple as that. Also, pitches are so good now that it should make the players better technicians.

"What we used to have in the 60s was that each team would have three or four exceptional players, but nowadays that doesn't happen. You might have six or seven exceptional players with the top teams, whereas the others have players who do okay but you wouldn't necessarily go and see them.Good footballers in England are becoming fewer and fewer because there are too many other things for kids to do these days. I didn't have television at home until I was 11, so I spent all my hours playing football or cricket, These days lads have TVs and computers and many other options so they don't spend any time with a ball."

Having narrowly avoided relegation to the old Second Division at the end of Peter's first season, 1970- 71 was a nightmare for the Hammers from almost start to finish. Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst had returned depressed from Mexico following England's World Cup quarter-final defeat by West Germany and the Hammers soon found themselves third from bottom, without a win after 10 matches, Then came the infamous Blackpool incident in January when four players - Jimmy Greaves, Brian Dear, Bobby Moore and Clyde Best were caught out late at a nightclub on the eve of a disastrous 4-0 FA Cup third round drubbing by the Tangerines.

The arrival of 'Pop' Robson from Newcastle United finally lifted the gloom in February and Hammers did just enough to avoid the drop before Greaves announced his retirement that summer. Peter, meanwhile, was still struggling and was destined to seek pastures new. but not before he played a part in the infamous League Cup semi-final defeat by Stoke City in January 1972 that was eventually decided in a second replay after the initial home and away legs had ended tied at 2-2.

The Hammers won the first leg 2-1 at Stoke. but trailed 1-0 at Upton Park when they were awarded a potential match-winning penalty in the last minute. But Hurst's blast was magnificently saved by his England team-mate Gordon Banks and the teams headed for Hillsborough where they played out a goal less draw.

During the second replay at Old Trafford. Hammers 'keeper Bobby Ferguson was injured and Moore took over temporarily. Mooro saved a penalty, but could do nothing to stop Mike Bernard converting the rebound before goals by Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking appeared to put the Hammers in command. Ferguson returned to goal, but could not prevent Peter Dobing from equalising before Terry Conroy fired in the winner. Peter was on the bench during all four games but came on for Redknapp in the last of them and recollects the desolation he felt after defeat robbed the Hammers of a place at Wembley.

"Even when Banksey saved the penalty in the second game we still thought we were going to win the tie, but Stoke City had four or five very good players like Dobing, Jimmy Greenhoff. George Eastham and Conroy. Losing a semi-final is the most difficult thing. I played in the 1966 FA Cup final for Wednesday and people ask what it's like to lose a final? I'd rather lose a final than a semi-final any day. It's a lot worse in the semi because you've got so close and nobody remembers you afterwards."

That defeat spelt the beginning of the end of Peter's Hammers career as Ron Greenwood embarked on a summer clear out in 1972 that also saw Hurst move to Stoke City of all places, and Redknapp go south to Bournemouth. Peter moved to Rotherham United on loan in March, a move that enabled him to return to the Sheffield area, before eventually being sold back to Sheffield Wednesday by Greenwood during the summer.

Peter is reluctant to criticise a Hammers legend but, clearly, his relationship with Greenwood had been less than harmonious. Although he accepts an ample share of the blame, Peter still feels that had matters been dealt with differently and had he received a little more care, Hammers supporters might have seen the best of him.

"Myself and Mr Greenwood got to a point where we didn't get on very well and I think we realised the best thing I could do was get away.Our relationship never gelled, which I think was 60, or even 70 per cent my fault and I look back with a lot of regret that things didn't work out better because I know I was a lot better player than people remember.Not being able to settle was a major factor. Looking back now, it seems the simplest thing in the world to go down, join in and carry on playing good football.

"But from my point of view, not enjoying life or where I was living was hard. It's not as easy as people think for a player coming into a football club and if a player's not happy it's very difficult for him to be himself on the field. Looking back and knowing what I do now, if I'd been at the club as a coach and I'd had a player of my ability who was having a difficult time, I think I'd have done things a little differently. Maybe Mr Greenwood feels the same."

Peter's second spell at Wednesday lasted four years before an injury to his right ankle, that required three operations and still troubles him 24 years on, ended his career in 1976 at the age of 32. After 12 months out of the game he worked as a coach under Ken Knighton and then Alan Durban at Sunderland before returning for another stint at Wednesday when he coached under Howard Wilkinson.

When Wilkinson moved to Leeds United in 1988, Peter assumed the hot-seat at Hillsborough, but lasted only eight months as Wednesday battled against relegation.\par Peter returned to London as assistant to Frank Clark at Leyton Orient and managed the O's from 1991 to 1994 after Clark left.

After returning north, Peter, 56, is now settled with wife Amanda in the village of Bamford which lies in the picturesque Hope Valley, 15 miles from Sheffield. He was delighted to receive the call from Harry last year and Peter has since been clocking up the miles, as well as the air-miles, as the Hammers cast their net wide in search of fresh home-grown and foreign talent to entice to Upton Park.

When a new player joins the Hammers the chances are Peter Eustace will have watched him. "It's been a great move for me. Basically, my remit is to bring players to the club that I'd be happy to deal with as a manager myself. It's pretty easy to bring players to a club these days but the important thing is to bring players who are going to be of benefit to West Ham and improve the football club.

"Obviously, the main thing is that they can play football. But the other thing is finding out about them, looking at their background and generally trying to bring a good person as well as a good player to the club.I like to watch our reserves as often as I can to see what the standard is, so that when I go to other matches I can see what is going to be an improvement. We've just been up to look at a player who I recommended, so let's hope something comes of that.

"Every week I go to four or five matches. Two weeks ago I went to Ireland, the week before I was in France and before that I went to South Africa of all places. I'm going to Belgium this week, so I do get about a bit. I'm very happy with what I'm doing at the moment but, yes, if I got the chance I'd like to have another stab at managing a team of my own."

David Burnside (Plymouth Argyle)

David Burnside

A recent look at the official site for Bristol City revealed that David, who moved to Bristol City from Plymouth Argyle in December 1971, is now back at Bristol City as their Technical Advisor. Though he only played one game for them, David moved on for a further season at Colchester United. Overall, David had a 13 year League career with West Brom, Southampton, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers, before going on to Plymouth. David also had England Youth experience and played once for the England Under-23s.

David went on to be player-manager of Bath City, assistant manager of Walsall, Regional Director to the Football Association, and had ten years as England's Youth Team Manager, before joining Bristol City as Director of Youth in January 1997.He has been in the role of Technical Advisor since November 2000. See http--www.bcfc.co.uk-academy-teambehind.html which is providing the picture above.

Len Bond (Bristol City) Also from the officail Bristol City site, I see that Len Bond , who made his debut for Bristol City as a 17 year old on the last day of the 70-71 season, is now back at the club as Goalkeeping Coach. Len signed professional forms for the next season but played only 30 League games for the club before going on to play for Brentford and Exeter City. Len also played a number of loan games whilst on Bristol City's books at Exeter City, Torquay United, Scunthorpe United and Colchester United. See http--www.bcfc.co.uk-academy-teambehind.html

Sven-Göran Eriksson (Karlskoga) The following profile of Erik appeared after his resignation from Lazio at BBC SPORT FOOTBALL Man with the Midas touch

BBC Sport Online profiles Sven-Göran Eriksson - the first foreigner ever to take charge of the England football team. Swede Sven-Göran Eriksson has won a reputation as one of the most progressive coaches in world football. And despite being forced to stand down as boss of Italian champions Lazio because of a run of poor results, he is highly regarded for his tactical acumen and attention to detail.

He has long been linked with posts in Britain after making his name as coach of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica and Sampdoria before moving to Rome. He signed a contract to take over at Blackburn in 1997 before reneging; has expressed an interest in the Manchester United job when Sir Alex Ferguson retires; and was also linked with the Celtic manager's job.

A Serie A title with Lazio changed his mind, adding to a list of honours including the Super Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup (with Lazio), Uefa Cup (IFK Gothenburg), three Portuguese titles (Benfica) and the Swedish title (Gothenburg).

Sven-Göran Eriksson 1948 Born Torsby, Sweden, Feb 5

1975 Ends playing career with Degerfors

1981 Wins Swedish title with IFK Gothenburg

1983 Wins Portuguese league and cup double at Benfica

1984 Second Portuguese title

1986 Takes Roma to Italian Cup victory

1991 Third championship in Portugal, back at Benfica

1994 At Sampdoria, wins Italian Cup

1998 Italian Cup victory with Lazio

1999 Wins European Cup Winners Cup and Uefa Super Cup

2000 Clinches Serie A title and Italian Cup for Lazio

2000 31 October - Named by FA as England boss

2001 9 January- Resigns as coach of Lazio

With that record of success and his tactical nous, the multi-lingual Swede was regarded by many as an ideal candidate to take England, and the English game, forward. Others, though, will find it hard to look past the fact he would be the country's first foreign manager. Eriksson boasts an excellent track record, winning five championships in three different countries, his native Sweden and in Portugal, before giving Lazio only their second Serie A title in Italy last season.

Before the shortlist was drawn up for the England job, he was not well known in Britain, but elsewhere was regarded as one of the most knowledgeable coaches in world football. Pressure He agreed to take over at Ewood Park in 1997, publicly announced he was "honoured" to accept Jack Walker's offer of the Rovers job, then back-tracked on the deal.

Eriksson may have the ability to handle the massive pressure which goes with the England post, and is remarkably dignified. Quietly-spoken and not given to showing too much of the strain that comes with the territory, he is single-minded in the extreme. One ex-player claims he never raised his voice but exercised remarkable control, and he should have no language problems. At the age of 52, he may well regard England as his last big challenge.

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Bob Dunning

4 February 2003

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