View source for Peter Osgood

{{Short description|English footballer (1947–2006)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2009}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Peter Osgood
| image          =
| caption        = Osgood at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]]
| fullname       = Peter Leslie Osgood
| height         = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| birth_date     = {{birth date|df=y|1947|2|20}}
| birth_place    = [[Clewer]], [[Berkshire]], England
| death_date     = {{death date and age|df=y|2006|3|1|1947|2|20}}
| death_place    = [[Slough]], England
| position       = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1    = |youthclubs1 = [[Chelsea F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Chelsea]]
| years1         = 1964–1974 
| clubs1         = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] 
| caps1          = 279 | goals1 = 103
| years2         = 1974–1977
| clubs2         = [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] 
| caps2          = 126 | goals2 = 28
| years3         = 1976–1977 
| clubs3         = → [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] (loan) 
| caps3          = 3 | goals3 = 0
| years4         = 1977–1978 
| clubs4         = [[Philadelphia Fury (1978–80)|Philadelphia Fury]] 
| caps4          = 22 | goals4 = 1
| years5         = 1978–1979
| clubs5         = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps5          = 10 | goals5 = 2
| totalcaps      = 440 | totalgoals = 134
| nationalyears1 = 1967–1970
| nationalteam1  = [[England national under-21 football team|England U23]]
| nationalcaps1  = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 1970–1973
| nationalteam2  = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps2  = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
'''Peter Leslie Osgood''' (20 February 1947 – 1 March 2006) was an English [[Association football|footballer]] who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best remembered for representing [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] at club level, winning the [[FA Cup]] with each, and was also [[Cap (sport)|capped]] four times by [[England national football team|England]] in the early 1970s.

== Personal life==
Osgood was born at 26 East Crescent, [[Clewer]], Windsor, Berkshire to Leslie Frank Herbert and Ivy Lilian (née Comley). He attended Clewer Green primary school in Hatch Lane, Windsor, and Dedworth secondary modern school.<ref name="englandfootballonline">{{cite web |title=England players: Peter Osgood| url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersO/BioOsgoodPL.html|website=englandfootballonline|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref> Osgood described himself as a tearaway and as not the brainiest kid at school (although he was captain at most sports) and was working as a bricklayer and playing football for Windsor when his uncle wrote to Chelsea on his behalf to secure a trial.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Marks|first=Cordell|date=20 January 1979|title=What it's like to drop feet first into a stream of endless money|journal=TV Times}}</ref>

Osgood was married three times: 
*to Rosemary Heather Snow on 19 December 1964, with whom he had two children, Anthony and Mark. They married in Windsor Registry Office on a wintry Saturday morning. On the same afternoon he played for Chelsea against Peterborough, scoring a hat-trick in a 6–1 victory.<ref name=":0" />
*to Philippa Cooke-Smith on 17 October 1980.
*to Lynette Ann Finlay on 1 June 1987, with whom he had one son, Darren.<ref name="englandfootballonline" />

==Playing career==
===Chelsea===
Osgood had a previous trial with Arsenal, but said that he tore the papers up because he was happy playing for Windsor and working on building sites, and didn't fancy the travel.<ref name=":0" /> Osgood was signed in February 1964 by [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] as a junior and made his debut as a 17-year-old in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]], scoring both goals in a 2–0 win against [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington AFC]] on 16 December 1964. The buzz surrounding the tall, skilful teenager's goalscoring for the club's reserves – 30 goals in 20 games going into that month – was already immense, and he soon became a regular first-teamer.

Following an end-of-season tour of Australia during which Osgood scored 12 times in eight games, the centre-forward's next senior match was the 22 September 1965 4–1 victory over [[AS Roma]] in the [[UEFA Cup|Inter-City Fairs Cup]] (a violent encounter dubbed "the Battle of the Bridge"). A run in the league followed, bringing seven goals, including one involving a 60-yard run past a number of [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] players.

The teenager was soon hailed as a possible late call-up for [[Alf Ramsey]]'s [[1966 World Cup]] squad, having been included in the original 40-man squad announced in April 1966, but he was not included in the final 22.

A broken leg suffered in a challenge by [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]'s [[Emlyn Hughes]] in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] on 5 October 1966 seriously curtailed his progress, and he missed Chelsea's first-ever [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] [[FA Cup]] final on 20 May 1967. Chelsea lost to Tottenham Hotspur 2–1. This was a major disappointment for Osgood, but after he returned from the injury his abilities were recognised by new manager [[Dave Sexton]] playing him often as a midfielder, notably wearing the number 4 shirt for most of the 1968– 69 season (reference page 70  'Ossie – King of Stamford Bridge' written with Martin Knight and Martin King ), but it is as a goalscoring centre-forward that he is best remembered. He was given the nickname "the Wizard of Os".

In total, Osgood made 289 appearances for ''The Blues'', scoring 105 goals. He was one of only nine players to score in every round of the [[FA Cup]] (and, to date, the last to do so), helping Chelsea to victory in a replayed final against [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in 1970. He scored Chelsea's equaliser in the second game at [[Old Trafford (football)|Old Trafford]] with a diving header from [[Charlie Cooke (footballer)|Charlie Cooke]]'s chipped pass twelve minutes from full-time; his side eventually won [[FA Cup Final 1970|2–1]].

In 1971, Osgood was part of the Chelsea team which lifted the [[Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]], defeating [[Real Madrid]] 2–1 in a replay in [[Athens]] after the original tie had finished 1–1, with Osgood scoring Chelsea's goal in that game. In the replay he scored again, the second goal to put Chelsea 2–0 up, as they went on to win 2–1. In 1972, he scored for Chelsea in a major cup final for the third consecutive year – this time the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] – though they lost 2–1 to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]. Chelsea declined as a major force thereafter, but Osgood continued to score regularly; his [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsxtaUuN7co volley] from outside the area against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the FA Cup quarter-final was voted BBC goal of the season in [[1972–73 in English football|1972–73]]. As a young player in the 1960s, Osgood enjoyed the trappings of fame, boozy nights out, gambling and owned a racing greyhound called Railroad Billy.<ref name=":0" />

===Southampton, Norwich and return to Chelsea===
Following a series of disagreements with manager [[Dave Sexton]] over his lifestyle (during which supporters picketed [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] to demand he stay) Osgood, along with several of his teammates, was dropped from the squad and placed on the [[Transfer (football)|transfer list]]. He was sold to [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in March 1974 for a club-record £275,000. During his time on the south coast, he won the FA Cup again in 1976 after a [[FA Cup Final 1976|1–0 victory]] over [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. He left Southampton in November 1977, shortly before the club were promoted. He scored 36 goals in 161 games for the Saints. Towards the end of his career, he also had a brief loan spell at [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].

Osgood signed a US $90,000 contract with the [[Philadelphia Fury (1978–80)|Philadelphia Fury]] on 12 December 1977. High taxes were the primary reason for his departure from England.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/13/archives/sports-news-briefs-flames-obtain-macmillan-in-6player-nhl-deal.html "Sports News Briefs," ''The New York Times'', Tuesday 13 December 1977.] Retrieved 22 January 2023.</ref> He returned to Chelsea in December 1978 following a disappointing stint in the United States with the Fury where he scored only one goal in 23 matches for a team which also included [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]] and [[Johnny Giles]]. On his return to [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]], the club were in deep decline and facing a [[relegation]] battle. He again scored on his debut to put his team ahead, though Chelsea still lost 7–2 to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]. He stayed with the club for the rest of the season before retiring in December 1979.

===England===
In spite of his talent and goalscoring prowess, Osgood's England career was surprisingly limited, with England manager [[Alf Ramsey]] apparently disapproving of his playboy [[lifestyle (sociology)|lifestyle]]. As a result, he only won four international [[Cap (football)|caps]], without scoring.<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/MensSeniorTeam/Archive.aspx?p=335544
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110606230418/http://www.thefa.com/England/MensSeniorTeam/Archive.aspx?p=335544
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=6 June 2011
|title=Peter Osgood
|publisher=The FA 
|access-date=15 September 2009}}</ref> Osgood made his [[England national football team|England]] debut in February 1970 in a 3–1 win over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]. He was a member of the [[Football World Cup 1970|1970 World Cup]] squad, making two appearances against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] and [[Romania national football team|Romania]] as a substitute.

==Retirement==
[[File:Peter Osgood statue outside Stamford Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of Peter Osgood outside [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]].]]
In 1981, Osgood opened a pub in Windsor, the Union Inn, with his old strike partner [[Ian Hutchinson (footballer born 1948)|Ian Hutchinson]]. In the 1990s, Osgood and many of his 1970s colleagues were banned from [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] by chairman [[Ken Bates]] for perceived criticism of the club.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Osgood returned to his role as [[hospitality]] host on matchdays in 2003.

Osgood was commonly called "Ossie" and also earned the nickname ''"The King of [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]]"'' due to his exceptional skills as a player as well as his personality and status. His autobiography 'Ossie – King of Stamford Bridge' written with [[Martin Knight (author)|Martin Knight]] and [[Martin King (author)|Martin King]] was released in 2003 and in 2004 Osgood appeared in a cameo role in the British film ''[[The Football Factory (film)|The Football Factory]]''.

Prior to his death on 1 March 2006 following a heart attack at a family funeral, he was involved in football-related media work and was well known on the [[Public speaker|after dinner speaker]] circuit. Three weeks before his death he had enjoyed a [[standing ovation]] when presented to the Stamford Bridge crowd at half-time of a match.

At Chelsea's first home game after Osgood's death, against local rivals [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]], there were many tributes as well as a minute's applause. Many of his former teammates were in attendance and the matchday programme ran a tribute to him. Chelsea ran out 2–1 winners after a last-minute goal by [[William Gallas]]. Fans sang the chant in honour of Osgood to the tune of '[[The First Noel]]'.

In a memorial service on Sunday, 1 October 2006, Peter Osgood's ashes were buried under the penalty spot at the Shed End of Stamford Bridge. Over 2700 fans attended the memorial service and they were joined by former managers, chairmen, players, colleagues and current Chelsea players.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5397456.stm|title=Legend Osgood honoured by Chelsea|date=1 October 2006|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In December 2007 in a 4–4 draw against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Andriy Shevchenko]] scored the first penalty kick at the Shed End since Osgood's ashes were buried there.

On 24 September 2010, Chelsea revealed that the Peter Osgood statue had been completed and it was to be situated outside the West Stand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Osgood Statue to be Unveiled|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2163918|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140611125141/http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2163918|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2014|publisher=Chelsea FC|access-date=11 June 2014|date=24 September 2010}}</ref> A week later there was a private unveiling of the statue, attended by Osgood's friends and family, and a day later the statue was available for public viewing.

==Honours==
'''Chelsea'''
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1969–70 FA Cup|1969–70]]<ref name="FACW">{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=491}}</ref>
*[[European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup|1970–71]]

'''Southampton'''
*FA Cup: [[1975–76 FA Cup|1975–76]]<ref name="FACW"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | title= Ossie : King of Stamford Bridge |first1=Peter|last1= Osgood |first2= Martin|last2= King|first3= Martin|last3= Knight | isbn=1-84018-764-6 | year = 2003|publisher=Mainstream }}
*{{cite book |   first1=Duncan|last1= Holley |first2= Gary |last2= Chalk |   title=In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC  |   publisher=Hagiology Publishing |   year=2003|   isbn=0-9534474-3-X}}
*{{cite book |   first=Tim |last=Manns |   title=Tie a Yellow Ribbon: How the Saints Won the Cup |   publisher=Hagiology Publishing |   year=2006|   isbn=0-9534474-6-4}}

==External links==
*{{Englandstats}}
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4763024.stm BBC Obituary] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100726103552/http://www.chelseafc.com/page/Legends_Details/0%2C%2C10268~1906539%2C00.html Peter Osgood at www.chelseafc.com]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{UEFA Cup Winners' Cup top scorers}}
{{Goal of the Season}}
{{Chelsea F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{England squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Osgood, Peter}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Footballers from Windsor, Berkshire]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Norwich City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Southampton F.C. players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Fury (1978–1980) players]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League representative players]]
[[Category:English expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]