Peter Aitken

Peter Gerald Aitken (born 30 June 1954) is a Welsh former footballer who played nearly 300 games in the Football League.

For the Australian rules footballer, see Peter Aitken (Australian footballer).

Peter Aitken
Personal information
Full name Peter Gerald Aitken
Date of birth (1954-06-30) 30 June 1954
Place of birth Penarth, Wales
Position(s) Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Bristol Rovers (community manager)
Youth career
– Bristol Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1980 Bristol Rovers 234 (3)
1980–1982 Bristol City 41 (1)
1982 York City 18 (2)
1982–1985 Bath City
1982 AFC Bournemouth 1 (0)
1982–1983 Gloucester City[1] 2 (0)
1985–198? Trowbridge Town
198?–1988 Forest Green Rovers
1988 Bath City[2] 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Aitken began his career as an apprentice with Bristol Rovers, making his debut in the 1972–73 season. He joined local rivals Bristol City in 1980, and two years later, with the club in danger of folding, Aitken was one of the "Ashton Gate Eight", eight players who agreed to terminate their contracts to save the club. The others were David Rodgers, Geoff Merrick, Julian Marshall, Chris Garland, Jimmy Mann, Trevor Tainton, and Gerry Sweeney.[3] While with Rovers he was the club captain, and after joining City he became the only player to captain both Bristol Clubs.[4]

Aitken joined York City, playing 18 times before the end of the season. After a spell in Hong Kong (Bulova SA).[5] in July 1982 he joined non-league Bath City,[6] although also played once for AFC Bournemouth on non-contract terms the following season.[7] He remained with Bath until June 1985 when he left to join Trowbridge Town.[6] He later joined Forest Green Rovers before rejoining Bath City in February 1988, although was released at the end of the season.[6]

He returned to Bath for a third time in the 1991 close season, as assistant manager under Tony Ricketts. However, he was released as part of a cost-cutting process before the end of the season.[6] He was later assistant manager to Lindsay Parsons a Cheltenham Town and briefly appeared for them on one occasion. He then spent 2 years with Gillingham as a Youth Development Officer.[5]

He later returned to Bristol Rovers to work in their Community Department, taking up the post of Community Manager in 2000, a post he held until October 2016.[8]

References
  1. Clark, Timothy R.D.; Kujawa, Rob (2009). The Complete Record of Gloucester City AFC 1883–2009. Gloucester: Tiger Timbo Publications. ISBN 978-0-9557425-1-4.
  2. "1987–88". I Love Bath City. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  3. "Ashton Gate Eight: The interviews". BBC Bristol. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  4. Jay, Mike; Byrne, Stephen (1994). Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players. Bristol: Potten, Baber & Murray. p. 2. ISBN 0-9524835-0-5.
  5. York City F.C. match programme. 26 September 1998. p. 21.
  6. "Past Players: A". I Love Bath City. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  7. "Peter Aitken". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  8. "Leaves Bristol Rovers".
  • Peter Aitken at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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