At his peak the undisputed master of the sliding tackle, Peter already an established Welsh international right-back, with additional experience in Cardiff’s initial Cup Winners’ forays, wehn he became a New Year’s Eve signing for City at the new record fee of £42 500.
Thereafter his pace, overlapping inclinations and that trademark method of dispossession brought a new dimension to received notions of Filbert Street full-back play, and his City career would surely have stretched much further had it not been for the exciting emerge of Steve Whitworth.
Only one sad incident, a missed close range goal chance in the 1969 FA Cup Final remotely shadowed Peter’s stay at Leicester, but he firmly obliterated that particular Wembley memory when, after being freed by the Owls and having won the last of his 40 caps, he skippered underdogs Southampton to FA Cup victory over Manchester United in 1976.
Peter has subsequently busted himself as the landlord of pubs in Hampshire and Carmarthen, and with coaching such local outfits as Telephone Sports, Braishfield, Romsey Town and Blackfield & Langley, as well as holidaying schoolkids at Tenby Soccer Schools.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Peter Joseph Rodrigues
- Position: Defender
- Date of Birth: 21.01.1944
- Birthplace: Cardiff
- Nation: Wales
- Full Caps: 40, Debut: 1965 v. N Ireland
- U.23 Caps: 5, Debut: 1964 v. Scotland
- Major League Career:
- 1961-75, Cardiff City (85/2)
- 1965-70, Leicester City (140/6)
- 1970-75, Sheffield Wednesday (162/2)
- 1975-77, Southampton (55/3)
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