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Bio:

Mortimer was born in Liverpool. He began his career with Coventry City, where he came through the ranks to make more than 200 first-team appearances as a midfielder. His displays for Coventry attracted the attention of several top clubs, and he joined Aston Villa for £175,000 on Christmas Eve 1975.

Mortimer captained Villa to the 1980–81 Football League championship, the club’s first League title for more than 70 years. He then led the team to victory in the 1982 European Cup Final; a 1–0 win against Bayern Munich in the De Kuip Stadium came courtesy of Peter Withe’s goal, and made it six years in a row that English teams had lifted the trophy. After the game, Mortimer swapped his match shirt with an unknown Bayern player and has since attempted to recover it.[6] From 1975 to 1985 he made 406 appearances for Villa scoring 36 goals.

After leaving Villa, Mortimer moved to Brighton & Hove Albion but was only there a year before returning to the Midlands with Birmingham City,[1] thereby breaking the second-city taboo by playing for City and Villa.

Mortimer was capped by England at youth[7] and under-23 level and captained England B, but was never capped for the full England team.

Factfile:

• Full Name: Dennis George Mortimer
• Position: Midfield
• Date of Birth: 05.04.1952
• Birthplace: Liverpool
• Nation: England
• Club Career: Aston Villa
  • Period: 1975-1985
  • League Games, 317
  • League Goals, 31
  • Previous Club: Coventry City
    • Transfer Fee: £175.000
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Bio:

Noble began his career with Consett where he combined a career in painting and decorating with football. After an impressive season with a record breaking Consett side he was signed for nearby giants Newcastle United where he made 25 appearances.

Noble signed for Swindon Town from Newcastle United in January 1968 for £8,000 and made his debut as a substitute in a 3–0 win over Walsall at the beginning of February.

In the following season he scored 16 league goals and was the club’s top scorer, but his main contribution was to the successful League Cup campaign. He played in every match en route to the Final. Noble scored four goals, including the extra time winner in the semi-final replay versus Burnley.[2] He only discovered five years later that he had suffered a broken shoulder blade in that game. In the final Swindon beat First Division giants Arsenal 3–1 in a great giant killing feat.

He was the club’s top scorer again in 1969/1970 with 12 goals and once more in 1971/1972, with 14. He also scored in both the 1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup Final and the 1970 Anglo-Italian Cup Final where he lined up against Roma and Fabio Capello. (The Italian later stated that the experience of playing and losing to Swindon led to his enduring respect for the English game and the beginning of a long-term ambition to manage the English national side). Noble left Swindon at the end of the 1972/1973 season, when Burnley paid £35,000 for his services.

Burnley originally played him in the fullback position before eventually moving him up into midfield, and he became their top scorer for three of the following four seasons. He also became the team’s penalty taker.[3] Noble was a favourite with the Turf Moor supporters with his commitment, drive and goal scoring. Noble scored 63 goals in 243 appearances and was club captain for much of his seven-year stay at the club.[citation needed]

In 1980, he moved to Blackpool where he continued a partnership with another ex-Burnley player, Paul Fletcher. At this time he also opened a sports shop in Burnley indoor market – Peter Noble Sport Ltd. – which he successfully ran with his family for nearly 20 years.

Noble ended his career having scored every penalty he took. This record of 28 consecutive penalties is widely believed to be a world record. In 1985 a question about Noble’s penalty kicks appeared in the first edition of the popular board game Trivial Pursuit.

Factfile:

• Full Name: Peter Noble
• Position: Forward
• Date of Birth: 19.08.1944
• Birthplace: Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Nation: England
• Club Career: Burnley
  • Period: 1973-1980
  • League Games, 243
  • League Goals, 63
  • Previous Club: Swindon Town
    • Transfer Fee: £35.000
• Collection
  • Amazon
• More Facts
  • Wikipedia
• Photo Gallery
  • Pinterest
• Category
  • Focus On – Vintage
• Video
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