Peter Gelson

Peter Gelson
Personal information
Date of birth18 October 1941
Place of birthHammersmith, England
Playing positionCentre back, wing half
Youth career
1958–1960Brentford
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1960–1975Brentford471(17)
1974–1977Hillingdon Borough
1977Hounslow
1977–1978Hillingdon Borough
1978–1979Walton & Hersham
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Peter Gelson is a retired English football centre back and wing half who played in the Football League for Brentford. A cult hero amongst the club's supporters, he is third on the all-time Brentford appearances list with 516. In 2013, Gelson placed second in a Football League 125th Anniversary poll of Brentford's all-time fan favourites and was inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in November 2014.[1][2]

Career

Brentford

Joining Brentford at a young age, Gelson progressed through the club's youth, 'A' and reserve teams before making his professional debut at age 19 in a 2-0 Division Three defeat to Halifax Town on 22 August 1961.[3] Despite still being a part-time player,[4] Gelson quickly established himself in the first team as a wing half, making 28 appearances during the 1961/62 season, a campaign which saw Brentford relegated to Division Four.[5]

Gelson was a key player in Brentford's 1962/63 Division Four title-winning campaign, making 32 appearances.[5] He was known for his long-range goals, scoring three times from behind the halfway line.[6] A "hard man" as a player, in 1970 Gelson ended the career of Colchester United's Bobby Howlett in a challenge which resulted in a broken leg for the Us defender. Gelson would go on to be a fixture at centre back until his final appearance for the club in September 1974.[7] He left Brentford shortly after, having made 516 appearances in all competitions for the club.[5] In recognition of his service to the club, Gelson was awarded two testimonials,[4][8] earning him £3630.[9]

Non-league football

After his departure from Brentford, Gelson played on in non-league football, appearing for Hillingdon Borough (two spells), Hounslow and Walton & Hersham.[6]

Personal life

In his early days as a part-time player at Brentford, Gelson worked as a Post Office engineer.[10] After retiring from football, Gelson found work at Heathrow Airport, working in security with British Airways and Qatar Airways.

Honours

As a player

Brentford

As an individual

References

  1. ↑ The Football League. "Brentford - Football League 125". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Chris Wickham. "Bob Booker, Peter Gelson, Keith Millen, Alan Nelmes and Danis Salman honoured at Brentford FC 125 Year Anniversary Dinner". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 1961-08-22. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Official Matchday Magazine Of Brentford Football Club versus Oldham Athletic 14/08/99. Blackheath: Morganprint. 1999. p. 41.
  7. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 1974-09-16. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  8. ↑ "Peter Gelson Testimonial Brentford WHU 1970 Benefit Match 70 : ♥ Football Zone UK ♥ Football Programmes Football Memorabilia, Football Programmes Football Memorabilia". Footballzone.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  9. ↑ Griffin Gazette: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Crewe Alexandra 06/04/96. Quay Design of Poole. 1996. p. 20.
  10. ↑ TW8 Matchday versus Oldham Athletic 25/08/03. London: The Yellow Printing Company Limited. p. 32.