Slater Family

Professional football player (Liverpool FC & England)

When a sprightly, if rather distant championship challenge withered in
April 1963 - the Reds first spring in the top flight for 9 years - Bill
Shankly made a momentous decision. He earmarked Peter Thompson as the one
crucial ingredient missing from his title-winning recipe and signed the
Preston winger, in the face of opposition from Juventus, Everton, and
Wolves, for a club record fee of £40,000. A year later Bill’s mission
was accomplished and the new man had played a thrilling part in the 1st of
many triumphs before his Anfield days were done.

Peter Thompson was a soccer sorcerer, a pleaser of crowds and a teaser of
full backs. On his day he brought to the game a dancers grace and the
daring of a matador, but when the Muse was not with him he was prone to
over -elaboration and could be the most frustrating man on the park. Unlike
certain other gifted players, however, he offered no hint of the ‘prima
donna’ and he was never afraid of hard graft.

Despite being right footed, Peter came into the side of the left flank
where Alan A’Court and Kevin Lewis had both been judged deficient during
the previous campaign. He made an eye catching debut at Ewood Park, running
at the Blackburn defenders, making them twist and turn in their efforts to
stay with their elusive opponent, and rendering the offside trap too
perilous to contemplate. As autumn turned to winter and the points piled
up, Peter and Ian Callaghan, whose more direct approach was in marked
contrast to Thompson’s jinking and swaying, became the most formidable
wing partnership in British football.

The Deepdale man’s impact at Anfield could hardly have been greater,
though there were those who said he should have scored more goals and that
his final pass too often went astray. The fact was that his fierce shot
could be a wayward weapon but his crosses, while not always matching the
brilliance of his approach play, were as reliable as those of his
contemporaries. There was also a theory that Peter should switch to the
right to encourage him to reach the byline and cross with his favoured
right foot instead of being forced infield as he was on the left, but such
a scheme took no account of the excellent Callaghan.

The nitpickers were predictably notable by their silence when Peter capped
his 1st richly rewarding term as a Red with his most devastating display to
date. He scored twice and turned the Arsenal defence inside out as
Liverpool made certain of the title, drubbing the Gunners 5-0 in front of
an ecstatic Kop.

Peters progress continued as Shankly’s men lifted the FA cup in 1965. His
personal highlight was waltzing past John Hollins and Marvin Hinton to grab
the 1st goal in the semi final against Chelsea with a fearsome left footed
drive between Peter Bonetti and his near post. A 2nd championship medal
soon followed but the nearest Peter came to further cup success was in 1971
when he came on as a substitute to breathe life into a hitherto dull final
which Arsenal won to clinch the double. By then he was plagued by knee
trouble and after alot of time on the treatment table he moved to Bolton in
November 1973. Surprisingly in view of past injuries, he was able to put in
four spirited years before retiring.

One perennial gripe of Liverpool fans was Peters banishment for long
periods to the international wilderness. After starring in Brazil in 1964
his appearances were cruelly curtailed by Alf Ramsey’s decision to do
without wingers, though he did represent his country as late as 1970. But
in the final analysis, it is in the Red shirt that Peter Thompson will be
remembered by fans. As an entertainer, a showman, and one of the finest of
his time.

Shanks once said “if your feeling tired Boys, pass the ball to Peter and
let him go for a run with it”. Peter was a man who could dribble for 90
minutes, and still have enough left in the tank for more. As most of you
will know dribbling is an artform, and a very tiring one at that. Jinking
left and right, stepping over the ball, and changing pace and direction can
be an extremely tiring excersise. Peter was born to do it, and love it.

A true Liverpool Great….

Games - 404 (8)
Goals - 54
16 England Caps.