20 years; 20 Players: No.5 Peter Shirtliff
The continuation of my 20 Players to salute my 20 Years of Blogging.
No order, no preference, just 20 Charlton Players that I will remember with a smile on my face, and a knowing nod. No. 5 is Peter Shirtliff.
That game at St. Andrews. That is almost enough for Peter Shirtliff to make it on my list alone. It was the 37-year anniversary of that play-off replay a few weeks ago, and although we were the better team throughout, when John Sheridan’s free kick went in most teams would have buckled, but not Lennie Lawrence’s side led by a giant of a man in Peter Shirtliff.
It wasn’t just that Leeds game of course, Shirtliff was almost peerless for three seasons for us, and I remember his towering displays fondly. I wrote to him once when I was planning on writing an article about him, he duly responded within a week.
The year he left us to go back to Sheffield Wednesday we actually got relegated from the top tier. So did Wednesday though.
Shirtliff has come back into our lives in recent seasons as a match analyzer on Charlton Athletic TV whenever his schedule works when we are playing in the north.
His summaries are forthright, natural and insightful. Just like his performances were in a red shirt back in the late 80’s
In my mind Peter Shirtliff has been one of the best leaders of Charlton Athletic in the last half a century.
Appearances 103, Goals 7 (1986 – 1989)
Got to agree. Shirtliffe is my first choice at no 5, despite some decent rivals for the shirt. What a player.
Cant disagree with that choice. A giant for Charlton. As you say if it were only for that day at St Andrews but of course he was much more than that.
I think he only left after his marriage broke down and he had to leave London for personal reasons.
He was a big transfer at the time and one of the first that Lenny signed when we were promoted replacing Les Berry at centre-back.
Regarding that game at St Andrew’s I’ll always remember the Yorkshire TV commentator asking him after the match how he felt at scoring two goals against a team from Yorkshire “‘Appens I play for Charlton” was his forthright reply.
Peter Shirtliff for Les Berry. Now, there’s an upgrade!
I didn’t know that about his marriage.
Also have very fond memories of Peter Shirtliff’s time at Charlton, CA. His co-commentary work on Charlton TV last season was also excellent as you say.