Peter Dobing
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Dobing[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 December 1938[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 26 October 2026 (aged 87) | ||
| Position | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1961 | Blackburn Rovers | 179 | (88) |
| 1961–1963 | Manchester City | 82 | (31) |
| 1963–1973 | Stoke City | 307 | (82) |
| 1967 | → Cleveland Stokers (loan) | 8 | (7) |
| Total | 576 | (208) | |
| International career | |||
| 1959–1961 | England U23 | 8 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Peter Dobing (1 December 1938 – 26 October 2026) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Stoke City.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Dobing was born in Manchester and came from a sporting family, his father playing rugby league for Salford.[3] At first Dobing chose to play as an amateur footballer, which allowed him to play for more than one club.[2] This backfired on him as he signed for both Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers and was selected by each club for the upcoming 'A' team game.[2] He resolved the situation by signing a professional contract with Blackburn in December 1955.[2]
In 1957–58, Dobing scored 20 league goals as Blackburn gained promotion to the First Division, including four in one match against Bristol City. The following season he scored 24 league goals, the highest figure of his career. In 1959–60 Dobing played a large part in Blackburn's FA Cup run which saw them reach the final, scoring five goals during the cup run. However, Rovers were soundly beaten 3–0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final. In 1961 he moved to Manchester City for £37,500.[3]
Manchester City signed Dobing as a replacement for Denis Law, who had departed for Italian side Torino. He made his Manchester City debut in the opening match of the 1961–62 season, a 3–1 win against Leicester City. He started all but one of Manchester City's matches that season, finishing the season as the club's top scorer with 22 goals. The following season was less successful; Dobing scored 10 goals in 50 appearances in a year which ended in relegation. In the close season Dobing was sold to newly promoted Stoke City.[4]
Stoke manager Tony Waddington broke the club's record transfer fee, paying Man City £37,500 for Dobing's services as Stoke looked to establish themselves back in the First Division.[2] In Dobing's first season at Stoke, he scored 19 goals as the club reached the final of the League Cup, but were beaten 4–3 on aggregate by Leicester City.[2] He suffered a broken leg against West Bromwich Albion in January 1965, ending his season. During his recovery, he spent time fishing for trout in Market Drayton and was a keen clay pigeon shooter. He was also a pipe smoker and became known as 'the pipe-smoking gentleman of English football'.[2] However, his relationship with the fans was not that good as, after his recovery, he refused to re-sign for the 1965–66 season wanting a pay increase, and finally accepted Stoke's offer three weeks later.[2] He won the fans over with a brilliant individual performance against Leeds United in April 1968, scoring a hat-trick against England international defender Jack Charlton.[2] With the 1960s coming to an end, Waddington decided to move the ageing Dobing into a midfield position alongside George Eastham, and this duo's passing ability improved Stoke's attacking play as the side went on to win their first major trophy, the League Cup in 1972. Dobing captained the side as Stoke beat Chelsea 2–1.[2]
Dobing was known for his short temper on the pitch, which once resulted in him receiving a nine-week suspension.[5] His playing career ended due to a broken leg sustained in 1973. He then worked in the Staffordshire pottery industry.[6]
Death
[edit]Career statistics
[edit]| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 1956–57 | Second Division | 25 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 8 | ||
| 1957–58 | Second Division | 34 | 20 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 40 | 25 | |||
| 1958–59 | First Division | 40 | 24 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 42 | 26 | |||
| 1959–60 | First Division | 40 | 18 | 8 | 5 | — | — | 48 | 23 | |||
| 1960–61 | First Division | 40 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 49 | 22 | ||
| Total | 179 | 88 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 0 | — | 205 | 104 | |||
| Manchester City | 1961–62 | First Division | 41 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 44 | 22 | |
| 1962–63 | First Division | 41 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 50 | 10 | ||
| Total | 82 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 94 | 32 | |||
| Stoke City | 1963–64 | First Division | 39 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | — | 50 | 19 | |
| 1964–65 | First Division | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 28 | 5 | ||
| 1965–66 | First Division | 38 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 44 | 13 | ||
| 1966–67 | First Division | 41 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 19 | ||
| 1967–68 | First Division | 37 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 43 | 15 | ||
| 1968–69 | First Division | 40 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 46 | 10 | ||
| 1969–70 | First Division | 40 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 44 | 6 | ||
| 1970–71 | First Division | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 15 | 2 | |
| 1971–72 | First Division | 28 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 6[b] | 1 | 53 | 6 | |
| 1972–73 | First Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 307 | 82 | 22 | 3 | 40 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 377 | 95 | ||
| Cleveland Stokers (loan) | 1967 | United Soccer Association | 8 | 7 | — | — | — | 8 | 7 | |||
| Career total | 576 | 208 | 49 | 19 | 51 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 684 | 238 | ||
- ↑ Appearances in Texaco Cup
- ↑ Four appearances and goal in Anglo-Italian Cup and two appearances in Texaco Cup
Honours
[edit]Blackburn Rovers
- Football League Second Division runner-up: 1957–58
- FA Cup runner-up: 1959–60[11]
Stoke City
- Football League Cup: 1971–72;[12] runner-up: 1963–64[13]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
- 1 2 "Dobing's long-running success". Nobok. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
- ↑ James, Gary (2006). Manchester City – The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0. p391
- ↑ "Heads Go Up". BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
- ↑ "Where Are They Now?". Bob and 1970–71 Footballers. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
- ↑ "Peter Dobing: 1938–2026". Stoke City F.C. 27 October 2026. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- ↑ "Peter Dobing 1938-2026". Blackburn Rovers. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
- ↑ "Peter Dobing, footballer who led Stoke City to the only major silverware in their history". The Telegraph. 29 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
- ↑ Peter Dobing at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ↑ Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 490. ISBN 0354-09018-6.
- ↑ "Chelsea v Stoke City, 04 March 1972". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Leicester City v Stoke City, 22 April 1964". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
External links
[edit]- USA stats at NASL Jerseys
- 1938 births
- 2026 deaths
- 20th-century English sportsmen
- English men's footballers
- Footballers from Manchester
- Men's association football inside forwards
- England men's under-23 international footballers
- English Football League players
- English Football League representative players
- United Soccer Association players
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- Manchester City F.C. players
- Stoke City F.C. players
- Cleveland Stokers players
- English expatriate men's footballers
- English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States