Former Bristol Rovers winger George Petherbridge, 85, has died
ONE of Bristol Rovers’s most popular players, George Petherbridge, has died, aged 85.
The tricky winger, who scored 85 goals in 457 league games for The Gas, passed away yesterday.
Petherbridge was born in Devonport, near Plymouth, on May 19, 1927.
For each of the first 16 post-war league seasons he scored at least once for Rovers – a record unparalleled at any football league club.
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He played through the halcyon days of The Pirates’ golden period, starring as the club reached two FA Cup quarter finals and won the Third Division (South) title in 1952/53.
Troubling defenders across the country from outside right, that season his goal tally was in double figures in the league for the third time in his career.
He was only slight, but a dangerous and popular player.
During the war, he represented Eastern Command against the Army, the Royal Navy and the French Navy.
He progressed to become a reliable and critical cog in the Rovers’ side, supplying the likes of legendary goal scorers Geoff Bradford and Alfie Biggs.
Petherbridge served The Gas into his mid thirties, by which time he had become one of only nine players to represent the club in three separate decades.
He is also one of only three men to have played for Rovers more than 15 years after his club debut and no-one else has represented the club in 40 FA Cup ties.
Good enough to earn representative honours, Petherbridge made 11 appearances on the Football Association tour to South Africa in 1956.
His six goals including a brace in a 7-2 victory over Orange Free State at Bloemfontein.
Recovering from a broken ankle suffered after just 12 minutes of a reserve game with Ipswich Town in January 1959, Petherbridge left Rovers on relegation in the spring of 1962 and made his Salisbury debut in a Western League game against Minehead that August.
He notched five goals in nine months before retiring from the game and running The Angel pub at Sherston and The Tamar just inside the Cornish border.
Petherbridge was also a sports teacher at Millfield School and later a groundsman at Wells Cathedral School until his retirement in 1992.
He was the only son of Frederick Petherbridge – who had been on Portsmouth FC’s books – and Violet Trout.
He married Rita Walker in 1950 and they have a son, two daughters and 11 grandchildren.
Petherbridge Way, just off Muller Road, which is not too far from the old Eastville stadium site, was named in his honour in March, 1997.
6 Comments
by manchestergas
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:29AM
“I'm too young to have seen him play but the stats and the numerous warm accolades speak for themselves.
R.I.P. George”
by FromMendip
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:04PM
“Bill Roost and now George Petherbridge gone in such quick succession.
Both were part of the greatest ever era in Rovers' history.
Although a City fan I remember that period as a schoolboy with great affection. In fact, my first ever professional game was watching Rovers beat Portsmouth (then a First Division side) 2-1 at Eastville in the third round of the FA Cup in January 1955 with over 36,000 in the ground.
Footballers were so much more part of the local scene in those days when many were local themselves.
RIP George.”
by TonyIreland
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 10:24AM
“Another of my heroes gone. RIP George. You were the best right winger Rovers ever had and a genuine sportsman as well. I remember reading in the Daily Express back in the Fifties that George should play for England but it was in an era of great wingers. That trip to SA was some compensation. How many of the great 50'steam are left now ? They ought to have a reunion for Sixty Years On.
Very sad Ancient Pirate hoping the lads will get 3 points for George tonight...”
by franknebula
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:50AM
“RIP George, Many wonderful games with your trickery down the right, genuine winger of old”
by x6gas
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 10:39PM
“It was my very great pleasure to meet Mr Petherbridge on a number of occassions when I was a season ticket holder in the west stand and he was attending home games.
I never saw him play, more is the pity, but he was a true gent, blue and white through and through and a credit to our club.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends on his passing; a very sad day.”
by Iaintno82er
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:22PM
“R.I.P UTG!”