Peter Cormack

This article is about the Scottish footballer born in 1946. For Peter Cormack Jr., see Peter Cormack (footballer, born 1974).
Peter Cormack
Personal information
Full name Peter Barr Cormack[1]
Date of birth (1946-07-17) 17 July 1946
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
Tynecastle Boys Club
1961–1962 Heart of Midlothian
1962–1963 Hibernian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1963–1970 Hibernian 182 (75)
1967 → Toronto City (guest) 11 (5)
1970–1972 Nottingham Forest 74 (15)
1972–1976 Liverpool 121 (21)
1976–1980 Bristol City 67 (15)
1980 Hibernian 20 (1)
1980 Partick Thistle 1 (0)
National team
1964–1968 Scotland U23[2] 5 (2)
1966–1971 Scotland 9 (0)
1966–1970 Scottish League XI 6 (3)
Teams managed
1980–1984 Partick Thistle
1985–1986 Anorthosis FC
1986–1987 Botswana
2000 Cowdenbeath
2000–2002 Greenock Morton

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Peter Barr Cormack (born 17 July 1946) is a Scottish former professional footballer and football manager who reached his peak as a player in the first great Liverpool side of the 1970s.

Life and playing career

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Cormack was a skilful midfield player who began his career with Hibernian, who he joined in 1962 having previously been on the groundstaff at local rivals Heart of Midlothian while playing for Tynecastle Boys Club.

Whilst at Hibs, won his first cap for Scotland on 25 June 1966 in a prestigious friendly with Brazil at Hampden Park. Brazil were warming up in readiness to play in the 1966 World Cup which was to be held in England. Cormack's debut was certainly a memorable occasion as the Scots held the reigning World Champions to a 1–1 draw. He also represented the Scottish League XI six times.[3] Cormack scored 75 goals in 182 games for Hibs.

In March 1970, Cormack was sold to Nottingham Forest for £85,000.[4] In his two seasons at the City Ground, he scored 15 times in 74 league games, 20 in 86 over all competitions. Forest were relegated from the top flight in 1972, as they finished second from bottom of the league. Cormack was signed by Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in July 1972 for a fee of £110,000.[4] He made his Reds debut on the 2 September 1972 in a league fixture at the Baseball Ground. It was not a dream start for Cormack, however, as Liverpool lost 2–1 to hosts Derby County. Cormack did not have to wait long for his first goal, however, as it came the following week at Anfield, in a 4–2 win against Wolves. Liverpool scored three times in the last 14 minutes, beginning with Cormack's goal in the 76th, followed by a Tommy Smith penalty (80th) and a Kevin Keegan strike (84th).

Cormack was an integral part of the Liverpool midfield as the Anfield club won their first trophies of the 1970s, a League championship and UEFA Cup double in 1973. He had more silverware to celebrate by the end of the following season, as he was part of the team which destroyed Newcastle United at Wembley in the 1974 FA Cup Final.

In 1976, Liverpool completed another League and UEFA Cup double. Unfortunately, an injury to Cormack in December led to him missing the rest of the season, including the UEFA Cup final. Furthermore, the conversion of Ray Kennedy from striker to midfielder by Bob Paisley would have dire consequences for Cormack. Kennedy shone in his new role, going on to represent England in the position. Now fit again, Cormack could not dislodge the elegant Kennedy to regain his place in the first team, and had become surplus to requirements.

In November 1976, Cormack left Liverpool and joined Alan Dicks' Bristol City for £50,000. Although not challenging for major honours, Cormack enjoyed yet another cup win, this time it was the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1978, City met St Mirren in the two-legged final, the first leg was at Love Street with City beating their hosts 2–1 with Cormack scoring the winner, the Saints could not beat City at Ashton Gate only managing a 1–1 draw, the draw meant that City's narrow victory in Scotland was enough to earn them a 3–2 aggregate win and, of course, the trophy.

After four years in Bristol, Cormack returned briefly to hometown club Hibernian, finishing his playing career with Partick Thistle where he became manager in 1980. He later took coaching roles in Cyprus and Botswana, including managing the Botswana national side, before returning to Hibernian as assistant manager under Alex Miller.

In December 2000 he had ten days as manager of Cowdenbeath, where he was sacked without the side playing a game. He also managed Greenock Morton between July 2001 and March 2002.

Following a number of years on the after-dinner speaking circuit, Cormack now spends much of his time playing in various celebrity golf events, working in his garden and helping with his six grandchildren who manage to keep him very busy.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ Peter Cormack, London Hearts.
  2. ↑ http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu23/player.php?playerid=110
  3. ↑ "Scotland FL Players by Appearances". Londonhearts.com (London Hearts Supporters' Club). Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Peter Cormack in a lightning transfer deal". Daily Mail. 14 July 1972. Retrieved 31 July 2013.

External links

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