My Idol

I read this article in the Sun UK today about ManUnited stars naming their heroes. ManUnited present stars chose their footballing heroes ranging from Maradona to Peter Schmeichel to Robson and Roy Keane. But what surprised me was the fact that none of them mentioned and idolised George Best or even Bobby Charlton or Cantonna. Sir Alex Fergusson chose Dennis Law as the hero and inspirational guy in his footballing career (being a Scot himself, he has chosen another Scotsman!).

It was unbelievable needless to say that no one from the present United team had worshipped and idolised George Best. Man United was at its greatest time during the days of George Best. They won the European Cup then and he even won the prestigous European footballer of the year award!

And for them not chosing Cantonna is also dumbfounded!. Cantonna took and changed the United team and led United to its glory years and the present state. It was the buy of the century and the catch of the season when Fergusson bought Cantonna from Leeds. He had such an influential season with Leeds then and when Leeds agreed to let him go to United. that was the beginning of the end of Leeds United. Now that Man United has brought in Owen to Old Trafford. Will Fergusson be able to revive Owen's career and bring him back to thye England set up? God knows but I believed Fergusson may have just the right tonic and ways to tap Owen's flagging career!.

Like Giggs, I had always looked for left footed footballers as my idol. Players like Hoddle and Ricardo Villa (of course from Tottenham Hotspur), and Gascionne. My earlier idol was Revelino (Brazil), the footballer famous for his powerful left-foot shots and superb ability from free-kicks. Ever since he scored that goal in the 1970 World Cup from an indirect freekick, after a flicked by Pele, I have been worshipping Revelino like crazy. I used to practice his 'freekick' and try to emulate his style of play.

Then came Martin Peters. When Peters joined Spurs after the World Cup in 1966 from West Ham United, my love and support for Spurs grew stronger ever than before. To me, Peters was the perfect footballer, on and off the field. England won the 1966 World Cup and it was mainly due to England's midfield trio of Allan Ball, Bobby Charlton and of course, Martin Peters!. He truly inspired me!

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ALEX FERGUSON said: "Denis was my hero. I idolised him. When I first met him I was so excited. It was at a game in Paris, he had played in the first half and we went for a cup of tea afterwards. I thought, 'This is it, I've made it!'
"He epitomised everything a Scotsman is about. He was daring and courageous, he had that bravado about him and he had style. He was a truly fantastic footballer." More...

Martin Peters

Three footballers rank at the top of the football cards league ladder for appearances between 1965 and 1980: Alan Ball, Martin Peters and Bobby Moore. The themes which link them are obvious: (1) they were members of the 1966 England World Cup winning team, ensuring their appearance on many cards from 1966 onwards and (2) their careers continued on well into the 1970s, meaning that they continued to be featured on cards of that period too.

Martin Peters was born in Plaistow, London on November 8, 1943. He began his football career as an apprentice at West Ham United in 1959, before signing on as a professional in November 1960. This was an era when West Ham were considered to have, on paper, one of the best sides in the league but never quite seemed to challenge for the Division One titles.

Peters made his England debut in May 1966, which makes it more remarkable that he was chosen for, and played a key role in, the World Cup Final victory. The World Cup final was only his 8th cap for England, and he went on to earn 59 more after that.

Peters' first appearance on a football card during the period covered by this site was in 1965/66 when he was featured in the Barratt & Co. A13 series of Famous Footballers.

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