Peter Osgood facts for kids
Statue of Peter Osgood outside Stamford Bridge
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Leslie Osgood | ||
| Date of birth | 20 February 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Clewer, Berkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 1 March 2006 (aged 59) | ||
| Place of death | Slough, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Chelsea | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964–1974 | Chelsea | 279 | (103) |
| 1974–1977 | Southampton | 126 | (28) |
| 1976–1977 | → Norwich City (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 1977–1978 | Philadelphia Fury | 22 | (1) |
| 1978–1979 | Chelsea | 10 | (2) |
| Total | 440 | (134) | |
| National team | |||
| 1970–1973 | England | 4 | (0) |
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Peter Leslie Osgood (born 20 February 1947 – died 1 March 2006) was a famous English footballer. He played during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for playing as a striker for Chelsea and Southampton. Peter Osgood also played four times for the England national team.
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Peter Osgood's Early Life and Family
Peter Osgood was born in Clewer, Windsor, Berkshire. He went to Clewer Green primary school and Dedworth secondary school. Peter said he was very active and loved sports. He was often the captain of his school sports teams. Before becoming a professional footballer, he worked as a bricklayer. He also played football for a local team called Windsor. His uncle helped him get a trial with Chelsea.
Peter Osgood was married three times and had three children. His first marriage was to Rosemary Heather Snow in 1964. They had two sons, Anthony and Mark. On the day he got married, he played for Chelsea and scored three goals! Later, he married Philippa Cooke-Smith in 1980. His third marriage was to Lynette Ann Finlay in 1987, and they had a son named Darren.
Peter Osgood's Football Career
Peter Osgood had a trial with Arsenal before joining Chelsea. However, he preferred to stay in Windsor and work as a bricklayer. He signed with Chelsea in February 1964 as a junior player.
Playing for Chelsea Football Club
Peter Osgood made his first team debut for Chelsea when he was just 17. This was in a League Cup match on 16 December 1964. He scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Workington AFC. People were already excited about his goalscoring skills. He had scored 30 goals in 20 games for the club's reserve team. He quickly became a regular player for the first team.
After a tour of Australia where he scored 12 goals in eight games, Peter played against AS Roma in the Inter-City Fairs Cup. He scored seven goals in the league, including one amazing goal where he ran 60 yards past several Burnley players.
Many thought he might be chosen for the 1966 World Cup squad. He was in the first 40-man squad, but he didn't make the final team.
In October 1966, Peter suffered a serious broken leg injury. This happened during a League Cup game against Blackpool. Because of this injury, he missed Chelsea's first-ever FA Cup final at Wembley in 1967. Chelsea lost that game to Tottenham Hotspur.
After his injury, Peter Osgood returned to play. His new manager, Dave Sexton, sometimes played him as a midfielder. However, Peter is best remembered as a goal-scoring striker. Fans gave him the nickname "the Wizard of Os."
In total, Peter Osgood played 289 games for Chelsea and scored 105 goals. He is one of only nine players to score in every round of the FA Cup. He helped Chelsea win the FA Cup in 1970 against Leeds United. He scored Chelsea's equalizing goal in the second game with a diving header. Chelsea eventually won the final 2–1.
In 1971, Peter was part of the Chelsea team that won the European Cup Winners' Cup. They beat Real Madrid 2–1 in a replay in Athens. Peter scored Chelsea's goal in the first game and another goal in the replay. In 1972, he scored in another major cup final, the League Cup. However, Chelsea lost that final to Stoke City.
Chelsea's performance declined after that, but Peter continued to score goals. His amazing [volley] goal against Arsenal in 1973 was voted BBC goal of the season. As a young player, Peter enjoyed the life of a famous footballer.
Playing for Southampton and Norwich
Peter Osgood had some disagreements with his manager, Dave Sexton. Because of this, he was put on the transfer list. In March 1974, he was sold to Southampton for a club-record fee of £275,000.
While playing for Southampton, he won the FA Cup again in 1976. Southampton beat Manchester United 1–0 in the final. He left Southampton in November 1977. He scored 36 goals in 161 games for Southampton. Towards the end of his career, he also played a short time on loan for Norwich City.
Return to Chelsea
Peter Osgood signed a contract to play for the Philadelphia Fury in the United States in December 1977. He returned to Chelsea in December 1978. When he came back to Stamford Bridge, the club was struggling. He scored a goal on his return debut, but Chelsea still lost 7–2 to Middlesbrough. He stayed with Chelsea for the rest of that season before retiring in December 1979.
Playing for England
Peter Osgood played for the England national team four times. He made his England debut in February 1970 in a 3–1 win against Belgium. He was part of the 1970 World Cup squad. He played in two games as a substitute against Czechoslovakia and Romania. He did not score any goals for England.
Peter Osgood's Retirement and Legacy
After retiring from football in 1981, Peter Osgood opened a pub in Windsor with his old teammate Ian Hutchinson. In the 1990s, he had some disagreements with Chelsea's chairman, Ken Bates. However, he returned to the club in 2003 to work as a hospitality host on matchdays.
Peter Osgood was often called "Ossie" by his fans. He also earned the nickname "The King of Stamford Bridge" because of his amazing skills and personality. His autobiography, 'Ossie – King of Stamford Bridge', was released in 2003. In 2004, he appeared in a small role in the British film The Football Factory.
Peter Osgood passed away suddenly on 1 March 2006. Before he died, he worked in football media and was a popular after dinner speaker. Just three weeks before his death, he received a standing ovation from the fans at Stamford Bridge during a match.
At Chelsea's first home game after his death, fans paid many tributes to Peter Osgood. There was a minute of applause, and many of his former teammates were there. Chelsea won the game 2–1. Fans sang a special chant in his honor.
On 1 October 2006, Peter Osgood's ashes were buried under the penalty spot at the Shed End of Stamford Bridge. Over 2,700 fans attended the memorial service. In December 2007, Andriy Shevchenko scored the first penalty kick at that spot since Osgood's ashes were buried there.
On 24 September 2010, Chelsea announced that a statue of Peter Osgood had been completed. It was placed outside the West Stand at Stamford Bridge. A private unveiling was held for his friends and family, and then the statue was opened for public viewing.
Peter Osgood's Honours
As a player
Southampton
- FA Cup: 1976
Chelsea
- FA Cup: 1970
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1970–71
