Versatile and cerebral midfielder who scored in the 1966 World Cup final and was famously described by Alf Ramsey as 'ten years ahead of his time'.
Martin Stanford Peters was born in Plaistow, London on 8 November 1943. He came through West Ham's academy alongside Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst, and his intelligent movement and goalscoring ability from midfield made him a unique talent. He scored England's second goal in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany. Alf Ramsey famously described him as 'ten years ahead of his time' for his ability to read the game and find space. He made 364 appearances for West Ham before a then-British record £200,000 move to Tottenham in 1970, where he won two League Cups and the UEFA Cup in 1972. He earned 67 caps and scored 20 goals for England. He later played for Norwich City. Peters sadly passed away in December 2019.
Scoring England's second goal in the 1966 World Cup final
England manager Alf Ramsey described him as 'ten years ahead of his time' — one of the most famous quotes in English football.
Did You Know?How They Played
Versatile attacking midfielder with excellent technical ability, vision and an eye for goal
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of England's finest midfielders and a key figure in the 1966 World Cup triumph
Career Honours
- World Cup 1966
- UEFA Cup 1972
- League Cup 2x
- League Cup 1971
- League Cup 1973
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich City | 1975–1980 | — | 205 | 73 | #9 |
| West Ham United | 1959–1970 | — | 364 | 81 | #10 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1970–1975 | £200,000 | 189 | 46 | #9 |
| Sheffield United | 1980–1981 | — | 24 | 4 | #9 |
 England | — | — | 67 | 20 | — |