Alan Peacock facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 October 1937 | ||
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | c.29 June 2025 (aged 87) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1954–1964 | Middlesbrough | 218 | (125) |
| 1964–1967 | Leeds United | 54 | (27) |
| 1967–1968 | Plymouth Argyle | 11 | (1) |
| Total | 283 | (153) | |
| International career | |||
| 1962–1965 | England | 6 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alan Peacock (born October 29, 1937 – died June 29, 2025) was a fantastic English footballer. He played as a forward, which means he was usually at the front of the team, trying to score goals! Alan was known for his powerful shots and for being a great goal-scorer throughout his career.
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Alan Peacock's Football Journey
Alan Peacock spent most of his football career playing for three different clubs. He started at Middlesbrough, then moved to Leeds United, and finished his playing days at Plymouth Argyle. Let's learn more about his time with each team.
Playing for Middlesbrough
Alan joined his hometown club, Middlesbrough, in 1954. By 1958, he became a regular player in the team. He often played alongside another famous footballer, Brian Clough. Alan was known for being very unselfish on the field. This meant he would often help his teammates score, even if it meant he didn't get the goal himself. When Brian Clough left the team in 1961, Alan really stepped up. The very next season, he scored an amazing 24 goals in just 34 games!
Time at Leeds United
In 1964, Alan moved to Leeds United. This was a big move for him, costing £55,000, which was a lot of money back then! He joined the team to help them get promoted to a higher league, and they succeeded that season. Alan scored 8 goals in 14 games, helping Leeds achieve their goal. He stayed with Leeds for three more seasons, scoring a total of 30 goals in 65 games.
Final Club: Plymouth Argyle
Unfortunately, Alan started to get more injuries while playing for Leeds. Because of these injuries, he was sold to Plymouth Argyle in 1967 for £10,000. He only played for one season there. Sadly, his injuries became too much, and he had to retire from playing football in 1968. He was only 30 years old when he stopped playing professionally.
Representing England
Alan's excellent goal-scoring skills caught the attention of the national team coaches. His high number of goals earned him a spot in the 1962 World Cup England squad. This was a huge honor for him!
He made his very first international appearance for England during the World Cup. This happened in a game where England won against Argentina. It's quite rare for a player to make their national team debut in a World Cup match. In fact, since Alan, only one other player, Allan Clarke in 1970, has done the same. In total, Alan played 6 games for England and scored 3 goals. Two of those goals came in a fantastic 4–0 victory over Wales in November 1962.
Life After Football
After retiring from his football career, Alan Peacock returned to live in his hometown of Middlesbrough. He was a well-known figure in the community. For forty years, he owned and ran a newsagents shop in Ormesby, Middlesbrough. This shows he was not only a great footballer but also a dedicated businessman in his local area.
Alan Peacock passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025, at the age of 87. He will always be remembered as a talented forward and a respected person in his community.
Achievements and Legacy
Alan Peacock achieved some notable things during his career, especially with Leeds United.
Leeds United
- FA Cup runner-up: 1964–65
- Being a "runner-up" means his team made it to the final game of the FA Cup, but they didn't win the trophy. It's still a big achievement to reach the final!
