Peter Houghton (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Houghton is a former English
footballer. He played in The Football League
for four clubs from 1978 to 1988.
were elected to The Football League
in 1978. He had joined the Latics a few months earlier from South Liverpool
, after an earlier spell with Prescot Town
where he won a Mid–Cheshire League championship. He had the honour of scoring Wigan's final goal as a non–league club against Matlock Town
and helped them win the Lancashire Junior Cup against Chorley
. He finished the 1977–78 season
with nine goals in 17 league appearances.
Houghton had a goal disallowed on his Football League debut against Hereford United
, but ended the season with 13 league goals to his name. He managed to score double figures in four of his five full seasons with Wigan, including 1981–82
when the club won promotion from Division Four. In October 1983 he joined Preston North End
, where he spent two years (including a loan spell with Wrexham
) before switching to Chester City
ahead of 1985–86
.
His first season at Chester saw him score 10 times in 37 league appearances to help the Blues to promotion. He remained a regular the following season but was injured for much of 1987–88
. This was to be his final season with the club, with his last appearance coming in a 0–0 draw at Chesterfield
on April 30, 1988.
After leaving Chester, Houghton dropped into non–league football with Runcorn in the GM Vauxhall Conference
and also later played for Warrington Town
.
Wigan Athletic
Chester City
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer. He played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for four clubs from 1978 to 1988.
Playing career
A forward, Houghton made his breakthrough into professional football at 23 when Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
were elected to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1978. He had joined the Latics a few months earlier from South Liverpool
South Liverpool F.C.
South Liverpool F.C. are a football club from Liverpool, England. They are currently in the West Cheshire Amateur Football League and play their home matches at Jericho Lane. The club's colours are white shirts, black shorts and red socks.-First incarnation:...
, after an earlier spell with Prescot Town
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
where he won a Mid–Cheshire League championship. He had the honour of scoring Wigan's final goal as a non–league club against Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
and helped them win the Lancashire Junior Cup against Chorley
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
. He finished the 1977–78 season
1977-78 in English football
The 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month...
with nine goals in 17 league appearances.
Houghton had a goal disallowed on his Football League debut against Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, but ended the season with 13 league goals to his name. He managed to score double figures in four of his five full seasons with Wigan, including 1981–82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
when the club won promotion from Division Four. In October 1983 he joined Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, where he spent two years (including a loan spell with Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
) before switching to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
ahead of 1985–86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
.
His first season at Chester saw him score 10 times in 37 league appearances to help the Blues to promotion. He remained a regular the following season but was injured for much of 1987–88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
. This was to be his final season with the club, with his last appearance coming in a 0–0 draw at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on April 30, 1988.
After leaving Chester, Houghton dropped into non–league football with Runcorn in the GM Vauxhall Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
and also later played for Warrington Town
Warrington Town F.C.
Warrington Town F.C. are a football club based in Warrington, Cheshire, England. They were established in 1949 under the name of Stockton Heath Albion. In 1961, they changed to their present name...
.
Honours
Prescot Town- Mid–Cheshire League champions: 1976–771976-77 in English footballThe 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
Wigan Athletic
- Lancashire Junior CupLancashire FA Challenge TrophyThe Lancashire Football Association Challenge Trophy is an English football competition for senior non-league clubs who are members of the Lancashire County Football Association. The trophy was first played for in 1885, when it was known as the Lancashire Junior Cup. It is currently sponsored by...
winners: 1977–781977-78 in English footballThe 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month...
- Football League Division Four promotion: 1981–821981-82 in English footballThe 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
Chester City
- Football League Division Four runners–up: 1985–861985-86 in English footballThe 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...