Haddock: Peter Murray (Peter)
1986-1991
(Player Details)
Midfield/Defender
Born: Newcastle-on-Tyne: 09-12-1961
Debut: v Blackburn Rovers (a): 23-08-1986
5’11” 11st 5lb (1986)
#96 in 100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever
A former pupil at Cramlington High School, he joined his hometown team as an apprentice
in June 1978, turning professional in December 1979. He made his debut for Newcastle United
at Queens Park Rangers, despite not being on the team coach which left for the game. He had
rushed down to London on the morning of the game, when the Geordie’s regular left back went
down with illness. He went on to make fifty-seven appearances for Toon and also played seven
games for Burnley where he went on loan in March 1986, having previously had a loan spell
with Dunedin City in 1985. “Fish” had earlier received rave reviews from his schoolboy days
and was a regular for the Geordies in 1981-82, but lost his position the following season.
He seemed destined to play out his time in the Newcastle Reserves but Billy Bremner came
along and paid £45,000 to bring him to Leeds United in June 1986. He suffered badly with
injuries in the early part of his Leeds career and after establishing himself in the
United team for the 1987-88 season, in which he won the Leeds “Player of the Year” award,
he again was injured the following season. He came back and was one of United’s most
consistent performers, missing only two games, in their Second Division promotion season
of 1989-90 and a crucial part of the central defence along with Chris Fairclough. Although
Chris Whyte was bought by Howard Wilkinson at the start of the 1990-91, no doubt Haddock
would have provided adequate cover in many roles for United, but he sustained a serious
knee injury in the Rumbelow Cup Semi-final game against Manchester United at Elland Road
in February 1991, which prematurely ended his career and he was forced to retire in June
1991. He sold insurance for a while before becoming a postman and then went on to his
present job as a courier and he lives by the sea in his native Northumberland.