Peter Beagrie

Peter Sidney Beagrie (born 28 November 1965) is an English former professional footballer, sports television pundit and commentator.

As a player, he was a left-winger in a career that lasted from 1983 to 2006. He played for ten different clubs at professional level notably appearing in the Premier League with Everton, Manchester City and Bradford City. He also played in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Stoke City, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Scunthorpe United before ending his career in 2006 following a brief stint at Grimsby Town at the age of 40. Towards the end of his career, his five-year period at Scunthorpe yielded 172 appearances and 34 goals over a five-season stay, and was the most in both statistics for a single club during his career.

He was capped twice at England U21 level, before going on to win another two caps in 1989 for the England B team. He is well remembered for his somersault goal celebration.

Club career

Middlesbrough Born in Middlesbrough, Beagrie started his professional footballing career as an apprentice at Middlesbrough in 1983. Beagrie fell out of favour with the fans at Middlesbrough for being one of only two players (the other was then club captain Don O'Riordan) to cut ties with the club after liquidation in 1986. being signed by then manager Billy McEwan for a tribunal agreed fee of £35,000. Beagrie didn't disappoint but he was often too quick for his own teammates who would miss-time their runs. Whilst at Everton he spent time on loan with Sunderland in 1991. Beagrie played under Alan Ball and Brian Horton while at Maine Road but suffered relegation from the Premier League in the 1995–96 season. in 10 league appearances.

Scunthorpe United Beagrie left Bradford at the end of the 2000–01 season when City lost their Premier League status; he would then drop down three leagues to join Scunthorpe United. He was a regular in the Scunthorpe team for the duration of his stay with the Iron.

He was to make his final appearance for the Iron in a 1–1 away draw with Oldham Athletic on 6 May 2006. He was replaced in the 68th minute of the game by Steve Torpey and this would mark the end of an era for both player and club. In 2005, he was named as one of Scunthorpe's 'cult heroes' in a poll conducted by BBC Sport.

Grimsby Town Beagrie left Scunthorpe United in June 2006, supposedly to concentrate on his media involvement with Sky Sports which had increased in latter years – but on 11 July 2006, he signed a one-year deal with Scunthorpe's local rivals, Grimsby Town in a player–coach capacity. His job was to aid new manager Graham Rodger and his new assistant Stuart Watkiss at Blundell Park. He made his first appearance for the club in a 1–0 friendly win over Gainsborough Trinity in a game in which he set up the only goal of the game for his former Bradford teammate Isaiah Rankin. His league debut for the club was in a 3–2 win over Boston United on the opening day of the season. Grimsby struggled to make ground in the early stages of the season, and Beagrie often found himself playing a cameo role in the first team . In October 2006, Beagrie's contract was cancelled by mutual consent. Following this his retirement from football was announced during the You're on Sky Sports programme on 30 October 2006.

International career He made two appearances for the England B team and also played twice for the England under-21 side. Since 2010, he has done work for Norwegian TV2.

Personal life Beagrie lives in Harrogate, North Yorkshire with his son Sam and daughters, Rebecca and Charlotte. His wife Lynn died in 2015 after a five-year battle with cancer. In 1991, whilst playing for Everton, Beagrie was involved in a motorcycle crash during Everton's pre-season tour of Spain. Having left a bar, Beagrie flagged down a Spanish motorcyclist and convinced him to give him a lift to his hotel. Upon arriving at the hotel he did not wake the night porter. Beagrie then drove the motorcycle up the hotel steps and smashed right through the plate glass window. He required 50 stitches. He was drunk at the time.

On 16 August 2017 he was sacked by Sky Sports after being found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend. Beagrie who was drunk had also threatened to "rip the throat out" of his partner. Initially suspended by Sky he was sacked after the result of the court case.

Career statistics

A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs, and Full Members Cup.

Honours Individual PFA Team of the Year: 2001–02 Third Division, 2003–04 Third Division, 2004–05 Football League Two