Peter Bonetti

Peter Bonetti

Bonetti in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Peter Philip Bonetti[1]
Date of birth	(1941-09-27)27 September 1941[2]
Place of birth	Putney, England
Date of death	12 April 2020(2020-04-12) (aged 78)
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.77 m)[3][4][5]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper[1]
Youth career
	Worthing
	Reading
	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1959–1975	Chelsea	495	(0)
1975	St. Louis Stars	21	(0)
1976–1979	Chelsea	105	(0)
1979	Dundee United	5	(0)
1986	Woking	2	(0)
Total		628	(0)
International career
1966–1970	England	7	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  England FIFA World Cup Winner 1966 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Peter Philip Bonetti (27 September 1941 – 12 April 2020) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England. He was known for his safe handling, lightning reflexes and his graceful style, for which he was given the nickname "The Cat". He was one of several goalkeepers (Gordon West of Everton was another) who specialised in a one-armed throw which could achieve a similar distance to a drop kick.

Bonetti played seven times for England, but mainly served the team as a back-up to Gordon Banks; he was part of the winning England squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, but did not play. He belatedly received a winners' medal in 2009, after the Football Association led a successful campaign for non-playing members of the squad to be recognised. After Banks fell ill before the 1970 FIFA World Cup quarter-final, Bonetti played as England lost 3–2 to West Germany.