Peterborough United F.C.

History

Peterborough United was formed in 1934 at Peterborough's Angel Hotel to provide a replacement for Peterborough & Fletton United, who had folded two years previously. The Posh played in the old Midland League. They won this league on six occasions, including five seasons in a row from 1956 to 1960. The Posh were elected to The Football League for the beginning of the 1960–61 season, winning Division Four.

Following the Fourth Division Championship success in 1960–61, The Posh spent seven seasons in the 3rd Division. They reached the quarter-finals of the F. A. Cup in 1964–65, beating Arsenal and Swansea Town along the way before going out to Chelsea. They were relegated back to the 4th Division for financial irregularities in the summer of 1968. The club took six seasons to return to Division 3, winning the 4th Division championship.

In 1977–78 the club threatened to go one better until they narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 2 when they drew the last game of the season at champions Wrexham (0–0) when a win was needed to go up. The game was notable for the fact that over 2,000 Preston North End fans travelled to Wrexham to watch the game and cheer on the home side – Preston were the club who went up because Peterborough did not win. The Wrexham defeat cast a long shadow over the club and it fell into a long decline. Relegation followed in 1979 and Posh subsequently spent 12 years back in the 4th division. The 1980s was a long story of mismanagement and false dawns, punctuated by the odd cup run.

In January 1991, Chris Turner, who had played in the 1974 Fourth division championship team took over as manager and the team embarked on a run of 13 unbeaten games that propelled them into the top four. Six players were signed on transfer deadline day, which at the time was a record for the number of players signed by one club on a single day. On the final day of the season, Posh travelled to Chesterfield needing a win to seal promotion. Despite going two goals down in the first ten minutes, the team rallied and drew level with goals from David Robinson and George Berry. However, Posh's closest rivals, Blackpool lost at Walsall and promotion was achieved.

The following season arguably remains the most successful in the club's history. After an inconsistent start the team hit form during the Autumn when they knocked Wimbledon and Newcastle United out of the League Cup. The reward was a home tie with a Liverpool team containing Bruce Grobbelaar, Jan Mølby, Steve McManaman, Dean Saunders and Mark Wright. Garry Kimble scored the only goal after 19 minutes prompting wild celebrations and a place in the quarter-finals. In the league, the team went from strength to strength and surged up the table. Middlesbrough ended the League Cup run after a replay and there was further disappointment when the team missed out on a trip to Wembley in the Football League Trophy when they lost to Stoke City over two legs in the area final.

Progress continued in the league and a play-off place was clinched on the last day of the season despite a 1–0 defeat to champions Brentford. The following week, Huddersfield Town came to London Road for the first leg of the Semi-final. Captain Mick Halsall's last minute equaliser levelled the score at 2–2. Three days later, the supporters travelled north more in hope than expectation but they were rewarded when the team came from a goal down to win 2–1 with Worrell Sterling and Steve Cooper scoring the goals. On 24 May 1992, Peterborough United played at Wembley for the first time, against Stockport County in the Third Division playoff final. With Posh winning 2–1 and gaining promotion to the new First division. They played in Football League Division One between 1992 and 1994 and finished 10th, their highest ever league finish, in 1992–93 season.

During the 2005–06 season the club had three managers: Team owner Barry Fry returned to management following former England international Mark Wright's sacking in January 2006. Wright's assistant Steve Bleasdale was then appointed acting manager, but resigned in April. Keith Alexander joined as manager from Lincoln City for 2006–07 but was sacked in January 2007 after a run of poor form and was replaced by Darren Ferguson. He led the club to back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship in his two full seasons in charge. By November 2009 Posh were bottom of the Championship and Ferguson left the club, to be replaced by Mark Cooper. In February 2010, after only 13 games in charge, Cooper also left the club and Jim Gannon was appointed in his place. Following confirmation of relegation from the Championship after a 2–2 draw at Barnsley, Gannon was replaced by Gary Johnson.

Gary Johnson left the club on 10 January 2011 due to policy disagreement. Two days after Johnson's departure, Darren Ferguson returned to the club on a four and a half-year contract. Peterborough finally finished 4th in 2010-11 Football League One with one of the worse defensive records in the third tier, conceding over 70 goals, but scoring 106; the most for anybody in the Football League that season. Peterborough beat Milton Keynes Dons in the playoff semi-finals. They defeated Huddersfield Town in the Final with a 3–0 victory, and gained promotion back to the Championship.

Darren Ferguson led the team to safety in its first season back in the Championship, leading to a finish in 18th. However, the Posh were relegated back the following season, after losing to Crystal Palace 3–2 on 4 May 2013, the final match of the season.

Darren Ferguson ended his time as Peterborough United manager on 21 February 2015, following a 3–0 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons.

In December 2016, as the United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal expanded, it was revealed that alleged abuser Bob Higgins worked as a youth coach at Peterborough from May 1995 to April 1996. He was investigated as part of a 1997 Channel 4 Dispatches investigation, when he denied allegations of abuse, claiming he was a faith healer and born again Christian. On 27 January 2017, it was reported that a second former Peterborough coach had been arrested; Michael Sean ‘Kit’ Carson, 73, academy director at Peterborough from 1993 to 2001 (overlapping with Bob Higgins for almost a year) was held in Cambridge on suspicion of indecency with children and indecent assault; he was released on bail the following day.

Nickname

Peterborough United are nicknamed "The Posh", a moniker coined in 1921, after Pat Tirrell, manager of Fletton United, was reported to say he was "Looking for posh players for a posh new team". When Fletton United looked to join the Southern League in 1923 they added Peterborough to their name to form Peterborough & Fletton United, in an attempt to gain the backing of businesses in Peterborough. Peterborough & Fletton United went bankrupt in October 1932 so the current club is the third to be known as The Posh. However, the term "posh" was as a derogatory term for the club by the press.

Peterborough & Fletton United were also commonly called "the brickies" in reference to the large brick industry in Peterborough, however the nickname was dropped when the club went bankrupt.

In 2002 Victoria Beckham filed a claim with the UK Patent Office over the club's use of the name "Posh". The former Spice Girl, who was known in the group as "Posh Spice", claimed the "nickname 'Posh' has become synonymous with her on a worldwide basis". She was unsuccessful in her suit.

Stadium

Since their formation Peterborough United have played their home games at London Road Stadium. The stand behind the London Road End is terraced while the Moy's End, is a rebuilt all-seater stand, and now known as the Motorpoint Stand. A 20,000 all-seater stadium to replace London Road has been proposed. The record attendance at the stadium is 30,096, achieved on 20 February 1965 in an FA Cup fifth round game against Swansea Town.

The ground was re-named as the ABAX Stadium in November 2014 as part of a five year sponsorship deal with Norwegian company ABAX. The first game at the re-named ground was against Bristol City, which Bristol won 3–0.

Rivals

According to the Football Fans Census, Cambridge United were considered to be the club's main rival. The Cambridge rivalry has been fought very evenly over the years; both clubs winning 14 games, with Peterborough netting 51 times and Cambridge 52 in the 38 competitive matches they have played each other. However, the two sides have not met since 2001. The rivalry with Cambridge lessened after Peterborough hooligan Anu Elanchenny stabbed Cambridge fan Richard Ives. Both sets of fans came together during a memorial game and both clubs helped found the Richard Ives Foundation in 1998.

Northampton Town are the traditional rival, dating back to when both sides were lower league, and as the city of Peterborough is historically part of Northamptonshire. As of 2016 both teams compete in the EFL League One.

More recently, Posh fans have begun to view Leicester City and the MK Dons as rivals, partly due to the geographic location.

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

As of 26 June 2012. Only competitive matches are counted. Periods as caretaker manager are shown in italics

Notable former players

For a list of notable Peterborough United players in sortable-table format see List of Peterborough United F.C. players.

Honours

Individual records

Most League Appearances: Tommy Robson – 482 (440 starts and 42 as a substitute): 1968–1981

Most Consecutive Appearances: Eric Steele – 148 (124 League, 24 Cup): 1973–1977

Most League Goals: Jim Hall (footballer born 1945) – 122 1967–75

Most League goals in one season: Terry Bly – 52 : 1960–1961 (also an all-time Fourth Division record)

Record transfers

Highest Transfer Fee Received – £5.5m (rising to £8m) from Nottingham Forest for Britt Assombalonga, August 2014

Highest Transfer Fee Paid – £1.25m + add ons to Watford for Britt Assombalonga, July 2013