Peter Withe
Encyclopedia
Peter Withe is a much-travelled English
footballer who played as a striker
, between 1971 and 1990. He has also worked as a manager, predominantly in south-east Asia.
The highlights of his career came at Aston Villa
, where he was a key player in the Football League
title triumph of 1980–81 and scored his side's only goal in their 1982 European Cup Final
victory.
His brother, Chris
, played for Bradford City
.
as a member of the expansion Portland Timbers
of the North American Soccer League (NASL)
. The lynchpin of a strong attack, the big Liverpudlian scored 17 goals and added 7 assists in 22 games to lead the Timbers to first place in their division and a tie for the best record in the league at 16–6. The Timbers played two home play-off games in front of more than 30,000 fans each, numbers unheard of for US soccer at the time. They advanced to Soccer Bowl '75
, the League Championship, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0.
Withe won the Football League First Division
championship with Nottingham Forest
but then left to join Newcastle United
, then in the Second Division
for a transfer fee of £200,000. The Magpies were Withe's ninth club in less than eight years.
Ron Saunders
took him to Aston Villa
on the eve of the 1980–81 season when the Midlands club forked out £500,000 on the 29-year old striker, the club's record signing at the time. Withe scored 20 times in 36 games to finish joint-top scorer in the league with Tottenham Hotspur's Steve Archibald
in that first season as Aston Villa went on to win the Football League title. Withe was also the scorer of Villa's winner against Bayern Munich in the European Cup
final of 1982
.
After five years, he eventually moved on to Sheffield United, in what he later described as "the biggest wrench of my career."
Capped by England
11 times, Withe scored once, and was also the first-ever English player representing Aston Villa to feature in a World Cup Finals squad (in España 82
).
towards some success, managed Indonesia
until 18 January 2007. He was sacked due to his side's inability to go past the first round of the ASEAN Football Championship
, the tournament which he previously won with Thailand in 2000 and 2002, then finished as the runner-up with Indonesia in 2004. He was given a brief touchline ban as manager of Thailand for wearing shorts during an international match against the United Arab Emirates
. The head of the Thai Football Association said he should be wearing a suit.
He had a brief spell as manager of Wimbledon
, being brought in from the position of reserve team coach at Aston Villa in October 1991 following Ray Harford
's resignation. Withe's time in charge was not at all successful, winning only one game out of thirteen in the league, and he was replaced after just 105 days at the helm by the club's youth team coach Joe Kinnear
, partly as a result of player complaints to the directors about Withe's style of man-management.
, Western Australia
. Peter plays a lot of golf
these days.
Peter has a son, Jason, who has followed in his father's footsteps by becoming Aldershot Town's
Head of Youth in the 2008–09 season. However, he left his post by mutual decision and is currently scouting for Norwich City FC
.
Finalist
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 who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, between 1971 and 1990. He has also worked as a manager, predominantly in south-east Asia.
The highlights of his career came at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, where he was a key player 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...
title triumph of 1980–81 and scored his side's only goal in their 1982 European Cup Final
1982 European Cup Final
The 1982 European Cup Final was played on 26 May 1982. English champions Aston Villa defeated West German league winners Bayern Munich 1–0 at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands to win the European Cup for the first time, and continue the streak of English teams winning the competition, being the...
victory.
His brother, Chris
Chris Withe
Chris Withe was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for seven clubs. He is the younger brother of the former Aston Villa and England striker Peter Withe.-Playing career:...
, played for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
.
Playing career
During the summer of 1975, Withe spent one season in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a member of the expansion Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
of the North American Soccer League (NASL)
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. The lynchpin of a strong attack, the big Liverpudlian scored 17 goals and added 7 assists in 22 games to lead the Timbers to first place in their division and a tie for the best record in the league at 16–6. The Timbers played two home play-off games in front of more than 30,000 fans each, numbers unheard of for US soccer at the time. They advanced to Soccer Bowl '75
Soccer Bowl
The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
, the League Championship, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0.
Withe won the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
but then left to join Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, then in the Second Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for a transfer fee of £200,000. The Magpies were Withe's ninth club in less than eight years.
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders is a retired English football player and former successful manager. He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, normally bitter rivals....
took him to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
on the eve of the 1980–81 season when the Midlands club forked out £500,000 on the 29-year old striker, the club's record signing at the time. Withe scored 20 times in 36 games to finish joint-top scorer in the league with Tottenham Hotspur's Steve Archibald
Steve Archibald
Steven Archibald is a former Scottish football player and manager.- Club career :He first came to prominence playing in midfield for Scottish First Division side Clyde, but was converted to striker when he signed for Aberdeen, forging a prolific partnership with Joe Harper...
in that first season as Aston Villa went on to win the Football League title. Withe was also the scorer of Villa's winner against Bayern Munich in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
final of 1982
1982 European Cup Final
The 1982 European Cup Final was played on 26 May 1982. English champions Aston Villa defeated West German league winners Bayern Munich 1–0 at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands to win the European Cup for the first time, and continue the streak of English teams winning the competition, being the...
.
After five years, he eventually moved on to Sheffield United, in what he later described as "the biggest wrench of my career."
Capped by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
11 times, Withe scored once, and was also the first-ever English player representing Aston Villa to feature in a World Cup Finals squad (in España 82
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:...
).
Managerial career
Withe went into management and, after propelling the Thailand national teamThailand national football team
The Thailand national football team represents Thailand in international football competition and is governed by the Football Association of Thailand. The team has a history of success in Southeast Asian competition, with three ASEAN Football Championship titles and nine senior-level Southeast...
towards some success, managed Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
until 18 January 2007. He was sacked due to his side's inability to go past the first round of the ASEAN Football Championship
Tiger Cup
The ASEAN Football Championship , is a biennial international association football competition organized by the ASEAN Football Federation , contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia...
, the tournament which he previously won with Thailand in 2000 and 2002, then finished as the runner-up with Indonesia in 2004. He was given a brief touchline ban as manager of Thailand for wearing shorts during an international match against the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates national football team
The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
. The head of the Thai Football Association said he should be wearing a suit.
He had a brief spell as manager of Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, being brought in from the position of reserve team coach at Aston Villa in October 1991 following Ray Harford
Ray Harford
Raymond Thomas Harford was an English footballer, better known for his successes as a coach and manager than as a player. He is considered to have been one of the top coaches of his generation.-Playing career:...
's resignation. Withe's time in charge was not at all successful, winning only one game out of thirteen in the league, and he was replaced after just 105 days at the helm by the club's youth team coach Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
, partly as a result of player complaints to the directors about Withe's style of man-management.
Present day
Peter currently lives in a house built on the Joondalup Golf Resort in Joondalup, PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Peter plays a lot of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
these days.
Peter has a son, Jason, who has followed in his father's footsteps by becoming Aldershot Town's
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
Head of Youth in the 2008–09 season. However, he left his post by mutual decision and is currently scouting for Norwich City FC
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
Portland Timbers USA
Winner- 1975 North American Soccer League
Finalist
- 1975 USA Lost 0 – 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Aston Villa
Winner- 1980/81 League Championship
- 1981/82 European Cup
- 1982/83 European Super Cup
Thailand
- ASEAN Football Championship
- Winners (2): 20002000 Tiger CupThe 2000 Tiger Cup was held in Thailand from 5 November to 18 November 2000.- Teams :No qualification was required for this edition of the tournament and national teams from nine of the ten member associations of the ASEAN Football Federation have entered...
, 20022002 Tiger CupThe 2002 Tiger Cup was co-hosted by Indonesia and Singapore from 15 December to 29 December 2002 and participated by all national teams of the member associations of the ASEAN Football Federation entered except for...
Indonesia
- ASEAN Football Championship
- Runners-up (1): 20042004 Tiger CupThe 2004 Tiger Cup was jointly hosted by Vietnam and Malaysia from 7 December to 16 January 2005 and participated by the national football teams of Southeast Asia....