Team-mates: Peter Foley MBE

We spoke to Peter Foley MBE about his teammates during his time at the club.

Foley made a total of 20 appearances for the club in his two-season stay at the Old Show Ground between 1967 and 1969, scoring four goals before moving onto Chesterfield.

LEADER…
The leader was obviously the captain, Frank Burrows. In some ways, he was the bully. He would kick you about on the training pitch if you weren’t doing things right or not putting the effort in and likewise on the pitch he would be shouting at you if he wasn’t happy with your output.

BEST MATE…
I have to sneak two into this category because there two players who I got on with the best; Barry Lindsey and David Sloan. When I first came to Scunthorpe from Workington it was these two who I attached myself to. Sadly David is no longer with us but I kept in touch with them both ever since my time at the club and would still touch base with them both at Christmas time and other times of the year.

BEST TRAINER...
That would have to be Derek Hemstead for me. He would do all sorts on the pitch and was a very fit person. He could not only do the sprints but was also good at the long distance running as well. He was an up and down person, but he was definitely the best trainer.

UNSUNG HERO…
Again, I have to have two for this category and for me it was Barry Lindsey and John Colquhoun. They weren’t players who were there for their skill and they weren’t showy. If they got the ball, people were never thinking that something was going to happen, but they’d never waste the ball and always do the simple things right.

MOST SKILFUL…
My choice for the most skilful player would be Terry Heath. He was very good with his left foot and would read the game very well. He came to the club from Hull City and he was a God send in my opinion for Scunthorpe United.

MOST INTELLIGENT…
Steve Deere. He was the quiet bloke really but he would definitely be the go-to person if you had a question about anything that you needed answering.

JOKER…
I’d go with Bill Punton to be the joker. That became evident even more so when we went to Spain with the things he got up to while we were there. It was unbelievable, he would be doing all sorts, moving things and much more. I always remember when we were in Ibiza to play Villareal in a close season tour, he told them that we weren’t getting off the bus until we were paid and he stuck by it. There was going to be a record crowd there for the game so it had them worried, but eventually we were paid and we got off the bus to play the game.

BEST PLAYER…
I’d have to say Mel Blyth was the overall best player, although he was only at the club for a short time. He was a real Jack the Lad and got on with the games, worked hard and he was one of those players who would always do the simple things right. He was also one who would keep talking to you and encouraged you and spur you on.

WORST TRAINER…
I have to go back to Bill Punton for this one, he would skive off anything he could!

QUICKEST…
Me – there’s no one else I can think of who comes close. Frank Burrows did some training on his own and he was quick but I don’t think he was as quick as I was.