Bio:
Shilton was a 13-year-old pupil at King Richard III Boys School in Leicester, when he started training at schoolboy level with his local club Leicester City in 1963. He caught the eye of first-team goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who commented to the coach about how promising he was.
In May 1966, a 16-year-old Shilton made his debut for Leicester against Everton and his potential was quickly spotted to the extent that the Leicester City management sided with their teenage prodigy and soon sold World Cup winner Banks to Stoke City. Shilton settled into first team life thereafter, even managing to score a goal at The Dell against Southampton in October 1967 direct from a clearance at the opposite end of the pitch; the Southampton goalkeeper Campbell Forsyth misjudged Shilton’s long punt upfield, which, instead of splashing harmlessly in the mud, spun off the pitch and flew over Forsyth’s head into the goal. Leicester won the game 5–1.[9]
The following season Leicester had a mixed season, suffering relegation from the First Division (they were promoted back to the top tier as champions two seasons later) but reaching the FA Cup Final at Wembley; 19-year-old Shilton became one of the event’s youngest-ever goalkeepers. It did not go his way, however, as a single goal from Manchester City’s Neil Young early in the match was enough to win the game. Despite the many honours and accolades which were to come Shilton’s way, he would not appear in an FA Cup Final again. He reached the semi-finals with Leicester in 1974, but Liverpool won the match after a replay.
Factfile:
- Full Name: Peter Leslie Shilton
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Date of Birth: 18.09.1949
- Birthplace: Leicester
- Nation: England
- Full Caps: 125
- Major League Career
- 1966-74, Leicester City (286/1)
- 1974-77, Stoke City (110/0)
- 1977-82, Nottingham Forest (202/0)
- 1982-87, Southampton (188/0)
- 1987-92, Derby County (175/0)
- 1992-95, Plymouth Argyle (34/0)
- More Facts
- Photo Gallery
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