Bertie Peacock
Encyclopedia
John Robert "Bertie" Peacock, MBE
(29 September 1928 – 22 July 2004) was a Northern Ireland
international footballer and manager who played for Celtic
.
After starting his career with local side Coleraine F.C.
, Peacock moved on to Belfast club Glentoran
in 1947. After two years he was signed by Glasgow
club, Celtic
, where he would go on to become captain and a club legend. During his time at the club he won one league title
, two Scottish Cup
s and two Scottish League Cup
s.
Peacock won 31 caps for Northern Ireland
. He featured alongside Harry Gregg
, Danny Blanchflower
and Billy Bingham
in the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup
, the country's joint best result to date - they reached the equivalent of the quarter finals in 1982. He became Northern Ireland manager a year after his retirement as a footballer in 1961, giving George Best
his first start. In the 1960s Peacock returned to Coleraine, winning the Irish League title in 1974.
He was also assistant manager to Billy Bingham during Northern Ireland's 1982 World Cup
campaign, where they famously knocked out hosts Spain
in Valencia
.
Alongside Jim Weir and Victor Leonard, Peacock was one of the founders of the Milk Cup
. Held in his native Coleraine, the youth football competition started with sixteen teams in 1982 and rose to become one of the most respected tournaments in the world.
In 1986 He was awarded the MBE
for his services to football. He died in 2004, aged 76.
In June 2006 a statue of Peacock was commissioned. The memorial stands in Coleraine and was unveiled in July 2007, at the opening of the 25th Milk Cup.
Also in 2006, a youth football club was formed in honour of Bertie, Bertie Peacocks Youths. This club has a range of teams from under 9 to under 14. In only 2 years, the teams have been very successful - the under 11's in particular, winning the Down and Connor League, the Down and Connor Knock-Out Cup and becoming Northern Ireland Boys Champions all in the 2008 season. This club has had much encouragement from the wide supporters of Bertie Peacock.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(29 September 1928 – 22 July 2004) was a Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international footballer and manager who played for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
.
After starting his career with local side Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
, Peacock moved on to Belfast club Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
in 1947. After two years he was signed by Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
club, Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, where he would go on to become captain and a club legend. During his time at the club he won one league title
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
, two Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
s and two Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
s.
Peacock won 31 caps for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. He featured alongside Harry Gregg
Harry Gregg
Henry "Harry" Gregg, MBE is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He played 25 times for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper and played for Manchester United during the reign of Sir Matt Busby with a total of 210 appearances.-Playing career:Gregg started his career with...
, Danny Blanchflower
Danny Blanchflower
Robert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower was a former Northern Ireland international footballer and football manager, and journalist who captained Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during its double-winning season of 1961. He was ranked as the greatest player in Spurs history by The Times in 2009...
and Billy Bingham
Billy Bingham
William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....
in the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, the country's joint best result to date - they reached the equivalent of the quarter finals in 1982. He became Northern Ireland manager a year after his retirement as a footballer in 1961, giving George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
his first start. In the 1960s Peacock returned to Coleraine, winning the Irish League title in 1974.
He was also assistant manager to Billy Bingham during Northern Ireland's 1982 World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
campaign, where they famously knocked out hosts Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
in Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
.
Alongside Jim Weir and Victor Leonard, Peacock was one of the founders of the Milk Cup
Milk Cup
The Milk Cup is an international youth football tournament held annually in Northern Ireland. The cup matches are mainly played in the North Coast area of Northern Ireland, with matches taking place in the towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena and...
. Held in his native Coleraine, the youth football competition started with sixteen teams in 1982 and rose to become one of the most respected tournaments in the world.
In 1986 He was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for his services to football. He died in 2004, aged 76.
In June 2006 a statue of Peacock was commissioned. The memorial stands in Coleraine and was unveiled in July 2007, at the opening of the 25th Milk Cup.
Also in 2006, a youth football club was formed in honour of Bertie, Bertie Peacocks Youths. This club has a range of teams from under 9 to under 14. In only 2 years, the teams have been very successful - the under 11's in particular, winning the Down and Connor League, the Down and Connor Knock-Out Cup and becoming Northern Ireland Boys Champions all in the 2008 season. This club has had much encouragement from the wide supporters of Bertie Peacock.