SOMERS, Peter (1897)

Overview

Strathaven born on 3rd June 1878, he turned out for Mossend Celtic while employed in the Motherwell district and then joined Cadzow Oak and it was while there that Accies introduced him to Scottish League football in their very first League game.

While a Cadzow player in March 1897, he was chosen to play for Lanarkshire in opposition to the Midlothian League. He was on the move very shortly when he joined Celtic three weeks after his Accies debut. A loan spell was then taken with Clyde in October 1899. A further loan was arranged with Blackburn Rovers on two occasions in 1900, the English club paying £200 for the pleasure.

He then went on to spend seven years a regular at Celtic Park and was said to be the brains behind the club’s run of six in a row League wins from 1905 until 1910. He also won winners medals in the Scottish Cup Finals of 1904, 1907 and 1908 as well as appearing in the 1909 final when the Cup was withheld.

He appeared for the Home Scots against the Anglo Scots at Cathkin on 20th March 1905 and he scored in a 2-0 win. This feat was repeated in the corresponding game in 1909, this time the score was 3-1 to the home based eleven.

In January 1910 he returned to Douglas Park as a player and no doubt his influence had much to do with the fact that Accies reached the Cup Final in 1911, though Peter was not in the side on that occasion. One competition he did pick up a winners medal while with the club was the Lanarkshire Cup the Final in August 1910.

He retired from the playing side of things in April 1911 before becoming a valued Director at Hamilton and in that capacity he often accompanied manager Alex Raisbeck on scouting missions and it was while on such a duty at Shotts that he took ill and shortly afterwards was admitted to hospital where tragically he passed away following an operation to amputate a leg. This was on 27th November 1914 at the age of only 36. A terrible loss to the club in particular and football in general.

He was said to be great influence in the dressing room with his cheery disposition. Two of his sons, John and William, were members of the Coalburn Juniors side which won the Lanarkshire League title in 1928. John, an inside forward like his father, was later signed by Heart of Midlothian. He also played in two Football Association of Ireland Cup Finals for the Dublin club, Dolphins, in 1932 and 1933. William was reported to be playing football in Canada in 1930.

Debut in first ever Accies League match on 6th November 1897 versus Kilmarnock at Douglas Park.

He was 5’8” and weighed 11sts.

Scottish League 25 Appearances 2 Goals

Scottish Cup 2 Appearances

Lanarkshire Cup 2 Appearances

Accies Career

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