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Keith Peacock

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Keith Peacock
Peacock in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (1945-05-02) 2 May 1945 (age 81)
Place of birth Barnehurst Kent, England
Position Midfielder
Youth career
Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1979 Charlton Athletic[1] 532 (92)
1979 Columbus Magic
1979–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) 2 (0)
Managerial career
1979–1982 Tampa Bay Rowdies (assistant)
1981–1987 Gillingham
1989–1991 Maidstone United
2011 Charlton Athletic (caretaker)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Keith Peacock (born 2 May 1945) is an English former footballer and manager. A midfielder, he was the first player to come on as a substitute in the Football League.

Early life

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Peacock was born in Barnehurst,[1] and educated at Erith Grammar School.

Playing career

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Peacock played his entire professional career for Charlton Athletic, making over 500 Football League appearances between 1962 and 1979.[2] In May 1963, he scored in a 2–1 victory at Walsall on the last day of the season that kept Charlton in the second tier and relegated Walsall.[3] On 21 August 1965, Peacock became the first substitute in Football League history when he replaced injured goalkeeper Mick Rose after 11 minutes of an away match against Bolton Wanderers.[4][5]

He played for the Columbus Magic of the ASL before joining his old friend Gordon Jago as his assistant manager and player at the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League until 1982.[6] Peacock's last appearance as a player for the Rowdies was during the 1980–81 indoor season.

Managerial career

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Peacock was manager of Gillingham between 1981 and 1987 and then Maidstone United between 1989 and 1991. He later served as assistant manager at Charlton Athletic before stepping down after the resignation of Alan Curbishley in 2006. He moved to West Ham United where he first became a scout and then assistant manager under Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishley. He ended this role at the end of the 2006–07 season.[7]

In September 2007, Peacock returned to Charlton in the role of honorary associate director.[8]

On 4 January 2011, Peacock was appointed caretaker manager of Charlton, following the departure of Phil Parkinson.[9][10] He took charge of Charlton for their FA Cup visit to White Hart Lane, where they lost 3–0 to Tottenham Hotspur,[11] and their 2–2 League One draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Another club legend, Chris Powell was appointed as manager, to end Peacock's tenure.[12] After which, Peacock was appointed technical director of the club.[13]

Personal life

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Peacock married Lesley and has a son, Gavin (born 1967), who also became a professional footballer. He also has a daughter called Lauren[14] and four grandchildren.[15] In 2004, his autobiography No Substitute was published by Charlton Athletic.[16] In 2013, he was inducted into the Charlton Athletic Hall of Fame.

References

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  1. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J. (1984). Canon League Football Players' Records 1946-1984. Newnes Books. p. 374. ISBN 0-6003-7318-5.
  2. ↑ Charlton Athletic post-war player statistics
  3. ↑ Halford, Brian (13 October 2012). "Walsall's game with Charlton brings back memories of the cruellest of relegation campaigns". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Ingle, Sean (25 July 2001). "What ever happened to Len Shackleton's old club?". The Guardian.
  5. ↑ Green, Paul (3 June 2015). "Addicks legend Peacock recalls becoming football's first ever substitute". News Shopper.
  6. ↑ Rowdie, Tb (28 October 2008). "TAMPA BAY ROWDIES APPRECIATION BLOG (1975 to 1993): Keith Peacock 1981 (id); Assistant Coach 1979 - 1982".
  7. ↑ "Latest | West Ham United". whufc.com.
  8. ↑ "Peacock announced as Addicks ambassador". Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2007.
  9. ↑ "Charlton appoint Keith Peacock". Kent Online. 4 January 2011.
  10. ↑ Football, Mirror (4 January 2011). "Charlton install Peacock as caretaker manager". The Mirror.
  11. ↑ Ronay, Barney (9 January 2011). "Luka Modric provides spur as Tottenham brush Charlton aside". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Happe, Liam (15 January 2011). "Peacock: Powell's the right man for the job". News Shopper. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Charlton name Dyer as assistant". BBC Sport. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "- The official web site of Gavin Peacock - OfficialPlayerSites.com". officialplayersites.com.
  15. ↑ Cascarino, Tony (31 May 2008). "Gavin Peacock convinced God is on his side". The Times. London. Retrieved 31 May 2008.[dead link]
  16. ↑ Connelly, Charlie (18 November 2001). "Many Miles" – via Amazon.
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