Darren Peacock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Darren Peacock | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Peacock | |
| Date of birth | February 3, 1968 | |
| Place of birth | Bristol, England | |
| Playing position | Defender (retired) | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 1984-1986 | Bristol Rovers | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1986-1989 1989-1990 1990-1994 1994-1998 1998-2000 2000 2000 |
Newport County Hereford United Queens Park Rangers Newcastle United Blackburn Rovers → West Ham United (loan) → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) Total |
28 (0) 59 (4) 126 (6) 133 (2) 47 (1) 0 (0) 4 (0) 397 (13) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Darren Peacock (born 3 February 1968 in Bristol), is a former English professional football player who played as a central defender, before being forced to retire at the age of 32.
After being rejected by Bristol Rovers, Peacock started his career in the lower leagues at Newport County, and when the club went bust he signed for Hereford United in 1989. In his first full season he was voted player of the year, featuring regularly in the team that went on to lift the Welsh Cup. His performances for Hereford earned him a move to top flight Queens Park Rangers in 1990 for £200,000. This remains the record fee that Hereford have received for a player, and more was to come due to a 10% sell on clause which netted the Bulls a total of £440,000.
Peacock was a member of the QPR team that beat Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford in front of a live TV audience on New Years Day 1992. He made over 100 league appearances while at Loftus Road and was purchased by Kevin Keegan of Newcastle United for £2.4 million, to strengthen their defence in their first season in the Premiership in 1994. He scored only two league goals for the Magpies, one of which was in the 5-0 defeat of Manchester United.
Peacock later played for Blackburn Rovers, where serious injury problems began.[1] He soon lost his place in the team and spent loan spells at West Ham and Wolves. While on loan at Wolves he collided with his own goalkeeper Michael Oakes in a match against Fulham, which resulted in damaged vertebrae in his neck and compression to his spine. He played on in the match despite being knocked unconscious, and it was only until he returned to Blackburn that the full extent of his injury came to light, having come close to paralysis.[2] He retired in December 2000.[3]
Peacock now lives in Portugal with his family.
