Peake Ernest Image 3 Liverpool 1909

Description

Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire born left half Ernest Peake joined Aberystwyth Town in 1904 and won the first of his 11 caps for Wales while still an Aberystwyth player when he played in a 1-0 defeat against Ireland at Aberdare in April 1908. The following month he signed for First Division Liverpool, making his Football League debut at Woolwich Arsenal in February 1909 playing at centre half, where he looked distinctly nervous in a 5-0 drubbing, that, unsurprisingly, was his only appearance of the season. “Standing 5 ft. 8¾ in. and weighing 10 st. 8 lbs. he is not well equipped physically for a League footballer, but his cleverness more than counterbalances any lack in this respect,” wrote the joint Everton and Liverpool programme one week afterwards.

A fringe player during most of his time at Anfield, it wasn’t until the 1912-13 season that Peake enjoyed a regular run in the side when Bobby Robinson and James Harrop had left the club, figuring, mainly as left-half in 26 of the last 29 First Division matches when Liverpool finished mid-table. In May 1914 he left Anfield to join Third Lanark after 6 goals in 55 appearances, playing a season with The Warriors, and after the First World War he joined Blyth Spartans in 1919, subsequently playing for Aberaman Athletic in 1920 and Caerphilly in 1922.

He won 11 caps for Wales between his debut in April 1908 and his final appearance in January 1914, scoring once for his country.