Steve Zocek
At the end of June 1991, Everton manager Howard Kendall was looking for a back-up keeper
for the regular number one Neville Southall. At this time, Bournemouth’s Gerry Peyton had
requested a transfer from Cherries boss Harry Redknapp, with the club failing to make the
Division Three play-offs.
Everton’s Jimmy Gabriel had travelled to Lansdowne Road in Dublin where Peyton was filling
in for injured Pat Bonner as the Republic of Ireland played Chile. Peyton earned his 29th cap
in the 1-1 draw. On the recommendation of Gabriel, Kendall agreed terms with
Bournemouth for 6ft 3ins shot stopper.
Gerry Peyton oozed experience. He was rejected at West Brom, Coventry City and Aston
Villa, finding an opening in non-league with Atherstone Town. He finally made a break into
league football with Burnley, signing for the Clarets on his 19th birthday. He went on to keep
goal for Fulham, Southend United (loan) and Bournemouth. He represented the Republic of
Ireland at full level, as well as the U21 and B teams. In all, he amassed over 650 games for
clubs and country.
In fact, his first match of his professional career came in the Football League in 1975 against
Liverpool at Turf Moor, facing the dynamic duo of Keegan and Toshack. Between them, they
scored goals in abundance, but not this day. Peyton came away wearing a smile as wide as
the Mersey for his heroics and a clean sheet. His impressive debut led to him remaining in
goal for the rest of the season. He returned to Merseyside with the Clarets at the end of
January and helped the side to a 3-2 win over Everton.
Peyton’s signing of the summer of 1991, was Kendall’s second summer signing after Peter
Beardsley. Kendall told Peyton that Beardsley had to be the first signing because he wanted
Beardsley’s signing to capture the media spotlight. Indeed, it was a magnificent coup for the
blues.
On the return of pre-season training on 4 July 1991, a week earlier than normal due to a
heavy schedule of a tour and friendlies, Kendall introduced Peyton to his new teammates
and part-time goalkeeping coach Mark Wallington.
Everton played a pre-season friendly over the water at Tranmere Rovers, with many
watchful eyes on new signing Peter Beardsley. Peyton kept goal, and was called upon in the
early stages of the game, tipping a Dave Martindale lob over the bar. Peyton breathed a sigh
of relief later when former Everton youngster Johnny Morrissey cut inside, unleashing a
shot which rebounded off the post. The Blues ran out 3-1 winners.
Mid-December of that year saw Gerry allowed to assist Bolton on loan. After playing in just
one game, he was recalled due to Neville Southall, ever-present since December 1988 (173
matches), facing the possibility of a spell on the sidelines with a back injury. The third
keeper Jason Kearton was also out on loan, so Everton faced a mini crisis in that position.
Southall was rated fifty-fifty for the match at Oldham, but when Gerry entered the dressing
room, Southall was getting ready, determined to play and wearing heavy strapping to help
his injury.
With his hopes of an Everton debut dashed, he continued to represent the reserves in the
Pontins Central league, making twenty-one appearances.
Promotion chasing Burnley requested Peyton to return to his former club on
loan, but Howard Kendall was not prepared to let any players out of the exit door at that
stage. So, the patient Peyton faced the disappointment of not playing for the first team in
his first season at Everton. At the end of March 1992, he agreed to join Norwich until the
end of the season as cover for Bryan Gunn. The Canaries boss Dave Stringer then offered
Gerry a reserve coach/player role after his loan spell had expired. The flattered Peyton was
very grateful to the Canaries, but his playing days were far from over and he maintained his
ambition to play international football.
In May 1992, in a three-match American tour with his country, Peyton once again deputised
for the injured Bonner, earning his 31st cap against the United States in Washington DC.
As Everton were preparing for their pre-season tour of the 1992/93 season in Germany,
Peyton was surprised to be leapfrogged by Jason Kearton the Australian keeper, who had
received rave reviews during loan spells at Blackpool and Stoke. The Everton boss felt it was
time for Kearton now to challenge Southall, now thrity-three, and make the jersey his own.
Reserve team football was not what Gerry wanted, so Griffin Park, Brentford, became his
temporary home, as he was signed as cover for Graham Benstead, who was facing a lengthy
spell on the sidelines after twisting his knee. Peyton’s debut came at Filbert Street, where
he kept his new employers first clean sheet of the season in a goalless draw. He played
fourteen times over a three-month period. During that spell, Peyton reached a remarkable
milestone, making his 600th career appearance against Oxford United.
He stayed in West London, joining Chelsea on loan in January 1993. He replaced injured
Dmitri Kharin at half time against Sheffield Wednesday. Peyton could not save Chelsea on
this occasion. In a 2-0 defeat he could only help a shot from John Harkess into the net with
the game in its last minute. Peyton was once more in demand in London, going to West
Ham, to cover for Ludek Miklosko.
March 1993 saw Peyton granted a free transfer by Howard Kendall. Everton had paid
£80,000 for his services from Bournemouth, with his stay lasting less than two years. He
signed permanently for Brentford, having impressed when appearing nineteen times on loan for
them earlier in the season.
Peyton’s family could not settle in their Southport home, therefore a move to west London
was more appealing. Later, the goalkeeper moved into coaching. He travelled far and wide, first working in Japan’s J League as a goalkeeping coach with Jubilo Iwata and Vissel Kobe
two years later. Sweden was his next port of call, where he worked with AIK Solna.
Moving back to England, Peyton was on the coaching staff at Fulham before taking the job
in the same capacity at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger in 2003. His expertise and knowledge
also gave him the chance to scout for Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy.
He returned to Japan in 2018 to coach Shimizu S-Pulse before teaming up with Stuart Baxter
at Indian Super League side Odisha FC who are based in Bhubaneswar. The president of the
club was delighted to have someone of Gerry’s experience at the club. Gerry’s spell in India
lasted until February 2021, deciding to leave for personal reasons after the club’s 18th game
against FC Goa.
