Peter Nicholas (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Nicholas | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales | ||
| Playing position | Defensive Midfield | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Crystal Palace | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1976–1981 | Crystal Palace | 127 | (7) |
| 1981–1983 | Arsenal | 60 | (1) |
| 1983–1985 | Crystal Palace | 47 | (7) |
| 1985–1987 | Luton Town | 102 | (1) |
| 1987–1988 | Aberdeen | 39 | (3) |
| 1988–1991 | Chelsea | 80 | (2) |
| 1991–1993 | Watford | 40 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 1979–1992 | Wales | 73 | (2) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2000–2001 | Barry Town | ||
| 2002–2004 | Newport County | ||
| 2005–2009 | Llanelli | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Peter Nicholas (born 10 November 1959) is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international, now football manager.
He was capped 73 times at senior level for Wales between 1979 and 1991.
Nicholas was born in Newport and his first professional club was Crystal Palace, with whom he began in 1976 as a youth player. He spent five seasons at Selhurst Park, and played over 150 matches for the Eagles, picking up the Second Division title up in 1978-79. In the meantime he had made his debut for Wales, and would go on to win 73 caps for his country, scoring 2 goals. Originally a centre half, he was later moved into midfield and became known as a tough-tackling and uncompromising defensive midfielder.
However, despite his best efforts the Eagles could not sustain their place in the top flight and Nicholas was sold to Arsenal in March 1981 for £500,000, shortly before Palace's relegation back to the Second Division. At Arsenal, Nicholas went straight into the first team and didn't finish on a losing side for the rest of the 1980-81 season. He made 41 appearances the next season, and became captain of Wales as well. However, a series of injuries in the 1982-83 season meant his place in the Arsenal side became uncertain. In all, he played 80 matches for Arsenal, scoring three goals. His goals came in the league against Ipswich Town in April 1981 and he scored further goals in the League Cup; one against Norwich City in the 1981-82 season and one against Manchester United in the semi final (first leg) of the 1982-83 League Cup. He is also remembered for going in goal in an FA Cup tie against rivals Tottenham Hotspur in January 1982 after Pat Jennings was injured.
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