Peter Withe

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Withe began his career at Southport but left in 1971 after a handful of appearances. He later played for Barrow, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and spent one season with the Portland Timbers of the NASL in 1975, where he scored 17 goals and added 7 assists in 22 games. He joined Birmingham City in 1975, scoring nine goals in 35 league games. At Nottingham Forest, he was top scorer with 19 goals in 1976–77 and won the First Division and League Cup in 1977–78. He scored in the 1978 FA Charity Shield. He moved to Newcastle United for £225,000, scoring 25 goals in 76 league games. Aston Villa paid £500,000 for him in 1980, making him their record signing. He scored 20 league goals in 1980–81, finishing joint-top scorer in the First Division with Steve Archibald, as Villa won the title. He scored the only goal in the 1982 European Cup final and played in the 1982 European Super Cup win. He scored 90 goals in over 200 games for Villa. Later he played for Sheffield United, Birmingham City (on loan), and Huddersfield Town. His England debut was in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Brazil on 12 May 1981. He scored his only England goal against Hungary on 27 April 1983. His last cap was on 14 November 1984.

In Their Own Story

Withe arrived at Villa Park having just left Nottingham Forest for £225,000, a move facilitated by Ron Saunders who paid the club record fee of £500,000. The 1980–81 season began with Withe turning 29, yet he immediately revitalized the attack alongside Gary Shaw. Together they dismantled defenses, leading Villa to the First Division title and a shared FA Charity Shield in 1981 where both Withe and Spurs' Mark Falco scored twice. The narrative of his tenure peaked in the 1981–82 campaign with that historic European Cup final win over Bayern Munich. Beyond Rotterdam, Withe added the 1982 European Super Cup to his collection after a 3–1 aggregate victory against FC Barcelona. Over five years, he amassed 90 goals in over 200 games. Despite this success, he described leaving the club as 'the biggest wrench of my career,' marking the end of an era where Villa stood atop English and European football.

Reader's Guide

Withe was a big, tall, strong, powerful and imposing centre-forward, dangerous in the air, with an ability to shield the ball. His biggest successes came when paired with a sharp, quick strike partner. As a manager, he won the ASEAN Football Championship with Thailand in 2000 and 2002, and the Southeast Asian Games in 1999. He also managed Indonesia, finishing runner-up in the ASEAN Football Championship in 2004.

Did You Know?

• Withe was nicknamed 'The Mad Header' and 'The Wizard of Nod' by Portland Timbers fans.
• He scored on his debut for Nottingham Forest in a 5–1 win against Carlisle United.
• Withe was the first Aston Villa player to be selected in an England World Cup Finals squad (1982).
• He scored twice for Birmingham City while on loan from Sheffield United, both goals against Sheffield United.

Early Career and NASL Success

Withe began at Southport before a brief spell at Barrow where he played against his former club on 1 January 1972. He then moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1973, scoring three goals in 17 league games. A significant chapter occurred in the summer of 1975 with Portland Timbers in the North American Soccer League (NASL). There, he scored 17 goals and added 7 assists in just 22 games, leading the team to a first-place division finish and a 16–6 record. Fans dubbed him 'The Mad Header' and 'The Wizard of Nod'. The Timbers advanced to Soccer Bowl '75 but lost 2–0 to Tampa Bay Rowdies. Withe returned to England in late 1975, joining Birmingham City where he scored nine goals in 35 league games before departing early in the 1976–77 season.

Nottingham Forest Glory

In summer 1976, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor signed Withe to Nottingham Forest. He debuted on 25 September 1976, scoring in a 5–1 Second Division win over Carlisle United. By November, he was paired with Tony Woodcock, creating a formidable strike force that saw both score against Ayr United in the Anglo-Scottish Cup. Withe ended the 1976–77 season as Forest's top scorer with 19 goals, earning Player of the Year honors despite his late start, while helping the club win promotion and the Anglo-Scottish Cup. In 1977–78, he and Woodcock were joint top scorers with 19 goals each as Forest won the First Division and Football League Cup. Withe also scored in the 5–0 FA Charity Shield victory over Ipswich Town. He left just before his 27th birthday for £225,000 after scoring 39 goals in 99 competitive games.

Aston Villa and European Triumph

Ron Saunders signed Withe to Aston Villa for a record £500,000 at the start of the 1980–81 season. Paired with Gary Shaw, Withe scored 20 league goals, sharing top scorer honors with Steve Archibald as Villa won the First Division title. In the 1981 FA Charity Shield, he and Mark Falco each scored twice in a 2–2 draw. The following season, Withe scored the only goal in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich, securing the trophy for Villa. He also featured in the 1982 European Super Cup win over FC Barcelona (3–1 aggregate). Over five years at Villa Park, he netted 90 goals in more than 200 appearances before his departure.

International Duty and Later Years

Withe made his England debut on 12 May 1981 in a 1–0 home loss to Brazil. He earned 11 caps total, scoring once against Hungary on 27 April 1983 (his 7th cap). Notably, he was the first Aston Villa player selected for an England World Cup Finals squad, featuring at the 1982 tournament in Spain. His final cap came on 14 November 1984 in an 8–0 victory over Turkey. Post-Villa, Withe joined Sheffield United (1985–1988), scoring 18 goals in 74 league games. During a loan back to Birmingham City, he scored twice against his parent club, Sheffield United. He ended his playing career at Huddersfield Town between 1988 and 1990 with 38 appearances and one goal.