Peter Downsborough

Maybe a little clip of past film/stills of Peter when he was at our club, as the club did with regards the late great Bobby Campbell.

 

City's signing of Peter Downsborough was at the start of my incredible journey with the Bantams. What a goalkeeper he was (and we've had some good ones with the likes of Paul Tomlinson and Gary Walsh).
In my view he has to be the best of the lot, especially when you take into account other things. He wasn't very tall, the balls were heavier in those days (or certainly seemed to be) and quite often were covered in mud. Also not been the tallest of keepers was a problem because keepers didn't get the protection from referees that they do today.
He was from Halifax and started his career with Halifax Town, making his debut at the age of 16!
He also had Wembley League Cup Winners Medal from when he played for Swindon Town against Arsenal in 1969.
And who do City play in the first home game after he passed away? Swindon Town. Spooky.

RIP Peter.

 

The club website managed to even get part of Peter Downsborough's club record wrong. They said he played in all of City's games in the 1975/6 FA Cup run. That's correct, however they said we were eliminated from the competition at Norwich. I was at that game on a memorable night when we won 2:1 thanks to goals scored by Don Hutchins and Billy McGinley (Martin Peters scored for Norwich) in a game where we must have spent 88 minutes defending. I could make you the team from memory but I won't bore you.
We went out to a controversial free kick in the quarter final on March Of The Day to the eventual winners Southampton.

 

Billy 'Golden boots' McGinley i'll have you know......

 

I am a long time Swindon fan. Peter was the best goalie we've ever had and I'm not surprised to see so many Bantams fans sharing that view. He was such a modest and unassuming man but what an incredibly agile and brave goalie. He played some blinders for us and none of us fans could ever understand how we let him go. Our loss was your gain. There was a match against the Bantams at Swindon in the mid 70's where he made one incredible save after another and stopped Swindon scoring. Such was the esteem he was held in that the whole Swindon crowd started singing "One Peter Downsborough".
I sincerely hope there will be a tribute to him when we play you on Saturday. A total legend for both our clubs.
I hope Stephen Derby is getting on OK. Smashing lad and everyone at Swindon was devastated by the news of his illness. It puts football rivalry into perspective. May the best team win on Saturday. Apologies for coming on here but I wanted to see the Bantams fans tributes. Cheers.

 

A pleasure to have you on here Red Phil. A legend for both our clubs. Us City fans of a certain age are trying to organise a minute's applause before kick off Saturday. Not sure if it's going to happen but it certainly would be appreciated. I hope both chairmen can get it sorted. Would be a fitting tribute to a total legend of our clubs and should happen. Anyway hope you and your fellow fans have a great day out at Bradford, we are a friendly bunch you will see. Hope to toast with your fans the greatest goalie ever to wear both our shirts. Looking forward to our biggest test of the season, but a great game and whatever the result either way would be a great testament to the best keeper both our clubs ever had . And the link with Darbs as well is very fitting. Both are gentlemen. All the best on your visit Phil. Your welcome anywhere as far as 99.9 percent of us City fans are concerned to raise a glass to him.

 

Minutes silence for Peter has been announced...

 

Nice one Phil, it was very sad news.

 

It wasn't a contoversial goal.

It was an illegal goal and should have been disallowed.

 

Yeah, sorry, that would be more appropriate, died from stomach and lung cancer apparently...

 

I can't believe you have uttered Paul Tomlinson and Gary Walsh in the same sentence

 

Peter was before my time but his name is obviously familiar after all these years, and only ever heard positive things about him from long standing fans.

He played most of his games for Swindon and City, so quite fitting that we play each other on Saturday. Maybe it will be a game of two goalies? 0-0 draw all over it!!

 

Great keeper, best I've seen at VP
RIP Peter Rest Easy

 

I was talking with a friend of mine last night about Peter and whilst it’s difficult to judge a keeper against outfield players. We think not only is he our best ever keeper but the best player in the over sixty years we have followed the club

 

Details of his service next Friday...



Would be good to see some Claret & Amber there. Will be going.

 

A snippet of the great man and how even as a goal keeper you had seven bells knocked out of you.

 

Typical, a great goalkeeper, a great man..........

 

Not sure if everybody could read it due to my super duper photography skills but here it is from T&A website:

DOWNSBOROUGH Peter On September 26, 2019 peacefully at his home in Stainland, Peter, aged 76 years. Beloved husband of Denise, much loved dad of David and Julie and a devoted grandad of Isaiah, Isaac, Aaron, Miles, Ruby and Abbie. A celebration of Peter's life will be held at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland on Friday, October 11 at 10.30am. Family flowers only please by request, donations in lieu if so desired may be given to Yorkshire Cancer Research c/o Simpson's Funeral Service, South Lane, Elland HX5 0HQ. Will friends please accept this intimation and meet at the crematorium.

 

I was there at Wembley and although everyone thinks of Don Rogers goals that day, it was Peter Downsborough that won it for us. World class save after world class save. Gould fouled him continuously trying to crock him throughout the game but Peter just got on with his job. What a great man.