Player Profile

Peter DOWNSBOROUGH

Full name
Peter DOWNSBOROUGH

Date of birth
September 13th, 1943 - Halifax

First joined
August 21st, 1965 [transferred in]

First team debut
August 21st, 1965 vs. Oxford United (Home)

Last match played
April 24th, 1973 vs. Hull City (Home)

Podcast
Positions

GK
International eligibility
ENGLAND
No international caps.

Possibly the greatest keeper to play for Swindon, Downsborough was a hero of the 1969 League Cup Final win over Arsenal. After the match, it was written that "for quarter of an hour, it was Downsborough versus Arsenal, and Downsborough won".

Signed by Danny Williams, he made his debut for the Town on the opening day of the 1965/66 season, keeping a clean sheet versus local rivals Oxford. A firm fans' favourite, he stayed at the club for eight seasons, before asking for a transfer in November 1972, feeling that the club's long serving players were not being rewarded as well as the newcomers. This argument led manager Les Allen to drop Downsborough from the team - but a slump in results saw him recalled, and he kept six clean sheets in the last thirteen games of the season to save the Town from relegation. Nevertheless, his dispute with the club prompted his transfer to Bradford City in the close season.

Playing Record


Senior

Season LEAGUE FA CUP EFL CUP EUROPE TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1972/73 29 - - - 1 - - - 30 -
1971/72 31 - 1 - 1 - - - 33 -
1970/71 31 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 38 -
1969/70 42 - 4 - 2 - 3 - 51 -
1968/69 46 - 3 - 12 - - - 61 -
1967/68 27 - 4 - 2 - - - 33 -
1966/67 26 - 1 - 1 - - - 28 -
1965/66 42 - 3 - 1 - - - 46 -
TOTAL 274 - 18 - 21 - 7 - 320 -

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Season RES. LGE RES. LC TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1972/73 9 - - - 9 -
1971/72 - - - - - -
1970/71 6 - - - 6 -
1969/70 - - - - - -
1968/69 - - 1 - 1 -
1967/68 7 - - - 7 -
1966/67 4 - 2 - 6 -
1965/66 - - - - - -
TOTAL 26 - 3 - 29 -

Season NON-LGE OTHER TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1972/73 - - - - - -
1971/72 - - - - - -
1970/71 - - - - - -
1969/70 - - - - - -
1968/69 - - - - - -
1967/68 - - - - - -
1966/67 1 - - - 1 -
1965/66 - - - - - -
TOTAL 1 - - - 1 -

Career details


Club Details
Halifax Boys' Brigade

Halifax Boys' Brigade 		 (youth)
Siddall United

Siddall United 		 (youth)
Halifax Town

Halifax Town 		1960 (amateur)
September 1960 (signed professional contract); transferred out (August 21st, 1965)
Swindon Town

Swindon 		August 21st, 1965 (transferred in, exchange , £2,500 £2500 plus exchange for Bill Atkins); transferred out (August 23rd, 1973)
Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton 		August 23rd, 1973 (loan); expired (September 1973)
Bradford City

Bradford 		November 21st, 1973 (loan)
Bradford City

Bradford 		January 9th, 1974 (transferred in); retired (1977/8)