| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Sidney Peach | ||
| Date of birth | (1951-01-21)21 January 1951 (age 75) | ||
| Place of birth | Bedford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Full-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1966–1969 | Gillingham | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1974 | Gillingham | 187 | (30) |
| 1974–1980 | Southampton | 224 | (34) |
| 1980–1982 | Swindon Town | 53 | (2) |
| 1982–1983 | Leyton Orient | 47 | (6) |
| Total | 511 | (72) | |
| International career | |||
| 1977–1978 | England U21 | 8 | (1) |
| 1979 | England B | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| Wellworthy Athletic | |||
| Lymington Town | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
David Sidney Peach (born 21 January 1951)[1] is an English former professional footballer who played as afull-back. He appeared forSouthampton in theFA Cup final in 1976.
In 1969, he turned professional atGillingham. Peach spent five years at the club, before moving toSouthampton in 1974. During his time at Southampton, he won theFA Cup. He left to joinSwindon Town in 1980 before joiningLeyton Orient for a season in 1982.
Peach played briefly as an associate schoolboy forChelsea, before moving toGillingham as an apprentice in May 1966, turning pro in February 1969.[1] In 1972, he was sent off in successive seasons in matches atHartlepool United, a coincidence in an era when sendings-off were still very uncommon.[2] Peach was named in the1973–74 Fourth Division PFA Team of the Year.[3] He was rated the best player in the Fourth Division and came to the attention ofLawrie McMenemy who made him his first signing for Southampton in January 1974, for a reported fee of £50,000.[1]
He made his debut in a match that is memorable to Saints fans for all the wrong reasons as Southampton lost 7–0 away toIpswich.[4] Peach soon settled into the team initially in midfield before becoming an attacking left-back and the club's regular penalty taker.[1] His first penalty was probably the most famous, as he scored the second goal againstCrystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final on 3 April 1976.[5] Peach played in thefinal againstManchester United as Southampton won 1–0.[6] He was named in the1976–77 Second Division PFA Team of the Year.[3]
Peach also played in the1979 League Cup final, scoring the opening goal in a 3–2 loss toNottingham Forest.[7] He andNick Holmes are the only two players to have played in two cup finals for Southampton.[8][9]
On 18 August 1979, he became the highest scoring full-back in the history of the Football League when he scored a penalty against Manchester United.[9]
He was transferred toSwindon Town for £150,000 (then Swindon's record signing) in March 1980.[10] Signed byBobby Smith to replace Town legendJohn Trollope, circumstances were against Peach from the very moment he joined the club; his time at Swindon had the worst possible start – his debut coming in 6–2 defeat atMillwall.[10] That defeat, along with the size of the transfer fee, got Peach off to a terrible start with the fans – and he was never a popular player throughout his whole Town career.[11]
By March 1982, Swindon were in financial difficulties and Peach was released toLeyton Orient on a free transfer to reduce the club's wage bill, after a disappointing period at the County Ground.[10]
In moving to Orient, he swapped a team heading for relegation to Division 4 for one heading for relegation from Division 2.[12][13] While at Orient, he became the first player to have played on every Football League ground.[1]
He played several times for theEngland under-21 and 'B' teams. All eight of his under-21 caps were as an "overage player" whereby he was at least 26 in all those appearances[14] Peach was in theEngland squad on their tour of South America in June 1977, although he never played.[1]
After retiring from league football, Peach turned out for several Hampshire non-league clubs, including a spell as player-manager atWellworthy Athletic inLymington andLymington Town.[15] Initially "attached" to a fish business in Lymington that failed, Peach started working as alabourer whilst acquiring skills necessary to move into site-management.[1] Peach became assistant site-manager for A&B Homes in Southampton and later a site-manager withMiller Homes.[1] He has worked as a contracts manager for Hazely Developments inWinchester whilst continuing to live inMilford-on-Sea.[1]
Southampton
Individual