Peter Thompson

Peter Thompson (27 November 1942 – 30 December 2018) was an English professional footballer. Thompson was known for his speedy and electric style of play. Signed by Bill Shankly who placed him "up among the all-time greats", Thompson spent ten years at Liverpool where he won two league titles and the FA Cup.

Thompson made 560 appearances in the English Football League, playing for Preston North End F.C, Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers. Thompson played as an outside left for Liverpool, and was capped 16 times for England.

Life and career Preston North End

Thompson started his football career playing for the Petteril Bank Primary School before moving to Harraby Secondary school in Carlisle. He played inside forward for England. On graduation, Thompson was recruited by 17 professional football clubs. He decided to join Preston North End F.C.

At Preston, Thompson became a regular First division player at age 17, making his debut against Arsenal F.C. on 30 August 1960. In describing Thompson, Chairman Nat Buck said. "I've lost the number of clubs who want him, but how could we sell?" Preston even turned down a bid from Juventus.

Bill Shankly had been impressed by the speed and trickery of the young winger during a marathon 5th round FA cup tie between Liverpool F.C. and Preston in February 1962. It went to a second replay at Old Trafford before the deadlock was finally broken by Thompson.

In 1961, after 121 League games and 20 League goals for Preston and relegation to 2nd Division, Thompson moved to Liverpool for £37,000.

Liverpool quote="I have no hesitation in placing Peter up among the all-time greats – alongside such players as Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews and George Best. They say he didn’t score enough goals, they said his final pass wasn’t telling enough. Well, if he had scored goals as well as everything else he did, he would have been in the same category as Jesus Christ!" — —Bill Shankly writing in the Liverpool F.C. programme for Thompson’s testimonial.

After football After retiring in 1978, Thompson ran a caravan park for seven years in Knott End-on-Sea in Lancashire. He then ran a pub and inn in Bowland Bridge in the Lake District and a hotel in Harrogate.

Honours Preston North End FA Youth Cup runner-up: 1959-60

Liverpool Football League First Division: 1963–64, 1965–66 FA Cup: 1964–65; runner-up: 1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1965–66 FA Charity Shield: 1964 (shared), 1965, 1966

Bolton Wanderers Football League Second Division: 1977–78