For the latest in our ongoing series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former player who became a fans favourite.
Following on from those already covered – John Moore, David Preece, Mal Donaghy, Brian Lewis, Bruce Rioch, Fred Jardine, Brian Horton, Kevin Nicholls, Tony Read and Steve Foster, Mike Keen, Ian Buxton and Lars Elstrup
The latest Hatter to be featured is Peter Anderson, as suggested by David Gadsden, quite an iconic choice considering the Hatters are set to face another club Anderson played for and managed during his career, Millwall, this week.
Peter Anderson, a midfielder in the same mould as Bryan Robson, West Bromwich and Manchester United, joined the Hatters, from Hendon Town, in 1971.
His all-action, box-to-box style instantly made him a fans favourite with Peter always liable to chip in with a goal or two.
Indeed, in 181 league appearances, Anderson scored 34 league goals, a decent return for a midfielder.
But Peter was to, unfortunately, only stay with the Hatters until 1975.
The Hatters, in 1975, were in a dire financial situation and had to generate funds quickly, much to the dismay of the support, Anderson was sold to the Belgian club, Royal Antwerp, in order for Luton to stave off bankruptcy.
I’ve never been sure how Anderson felt about the sale but I, for one, will always be grateful that his move, basically, saved our club.
Later in his career, after playing for a couple of American clubs, Anderson returned to England to play for Sheffield United and Millwall, a club he was to later manage.
I often wonder if Luton didn’t have to sell Anderson how his career with us would have panned out, could he have gone on to become a one-club man or would the ‘bigger’ clubs have snapped up a midfielder who had so much talent?
I guess we’ll never know.
Please feel free to click on the link below, compiled by LUTON VIDS which provides a wonderful montage of Peter’s career:
Peter Anderson – Mini Fact File
Name – Peter Thomas Anderson
Date of Birth – 31 May 1949
Place of Birth – Hendon, Middlesex, England
Position – Midfielder
Youth Career – Hendon
Career – Hendon, Luton Town, Royal Antwerp, San Diego Sockers, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Sheffield United (loan), Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor), Millwall, Hendon
Managerial Career – Millwall
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Peter Anderson, please feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.
If you can think of anyone who deserves nominating for coverage in this ongoing series, please drop their name into the comment facility beneath this article.
My thanks go to those who have already nominated faces from the past, they will all be covered, in time.
Next up in the series will be – Graham French suggested by David Howard
COYH’s
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Luton – The Legends Series – Lars Elstrup
