546 Peter Fletcher

Biography

Young striker Peter Fletcher joined Hull City for a £30,000 fee in May 1974, part-payment for the £200,000 transfer of Stuart Pearson from City to Manchester United. He was introduced gently to the Tigers’ first team in his first season at Boothferry Park, making 12 appearances and scoring his first goal in the League Cup against Burnley in what was Terry Neill’s last game in charge.

In the 1975/76 season Fletcher was chosen more regularly by manager John Kaye as he filled in for an increasingly hobbled Ken Wagstaff up front. Fletcher’s last goal for City came in February 1976 during a 2-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion. He left City in the 1976 close season.

Peter Fletcher was born in Manchester and played for Manchester Boys as a youngster. He toured the United States in the summer of 1969 with Manchester Boys and showed impressive form that encouraged Manchester United to hand him an apprentice professional deal in September 1969. His progress continued at a good pace and he signed his first professional deal for Manchester United in December 1970. He made his first team debut in February 1973 in an Anglo-Italian Cup tie against Fiorentina and added his League debut two months later in April 1973 against Stoke City. In May 1973 he scored his only goal for the Red Devils, the second in a 4-1 victory over Hellas Verona in his fourth and last Anglo-Italian Cup appearance of the season.

Fletcher added five more senior appearances in the 1973/74 season, all in Division One fixtures as the Red Devils slumped to relegation from the top flight. His tally was one goal in 11 appearances for Manchester United when he joined the Tigers in May 1974.

Fletcher joined Division Four strugglers Stockport County in May 1976 and in two seasons he scored 15 goals in 59 appearances for the Hatters as they twice finished in mid-table positions.. Fletcher was a first team regular in his first season at Edgeley Park but used more sparingly in his second season.

Fletcher was transferred to Division Four rivals Huddersfield Town in July 1978 and he thrived at Leeds Road, scoring 31 goals in all competitions during his first two seasons. Spurred on by the Christmas signings of Steve Kindon and Andy Rankin, the Terriers lifted the Division Four title in May 1980 with Fletcher bagging 17 of the 101 league goals scored during the season. A back injury meant that Peter missed the entire 1980/81 season, when he was restored to fitness at the start of the 1981/82 season he announced his return by scoring five goals in his first four appearances. Peter scored 16 goals during the 1981/82 season including an FA Cup Third Round hattrick against Carlisle, which took his Huddersfield Town total to 46 goals in 115 appearances.

In the 1982 close season Fletcher was handed a free transfer by Huddersfield Town as he continued to struggle with his chronic back injuries, which led him to retire from the game – the Terriers played a testimonial match for him against Nottingham Forest in April 1983. He moved back to Manchester and worked as a security guard.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 2 December 1953, Manchester
Hull City First Game: 24 August 1974, West Bromwich Albion H (Division Two), 20 years, 265 days old
Hull City Final Game: 24 April 1976, Southampton A (Division Two), 22 years, 144 days old

Clubs

Manchester United (1970-1974), Hull City (1974-1976), Stockport County (1976-1978), Huddersfield Town (1978-1982)

Hull City Record

Career: 44 apps, 8 goals

Peter Fletcher
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1974/756 (3)11 (1)11 (0)1
1975/7620 (7)41 (0)01 (0)03 (0)1

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