"Hot-shot" Lorimer holds the all-time goal-scoring record for Leeds
with 238 goals. Making his debut at less than 16 years old, and playing
his final game at the age of 39, he'd have probably managed to beat the
all-time appearances record as well if he'd stayed at Elland Road all
that time - but he spent 5 years away from Elland Road in his 30s,
enjoying varying degrees of success with Toronto Blizzard and as
player-coach with Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada, as well as a brief
stopover at York City.
Lorimer's rocket shots left many a goalie quivering, but he was also
an excellent crosser of the ball, and many of the goals scored by Allan
Clarke and Mick Jones were set up from Lorimer's well-placed crosses.
In his second spell at Leeds, he played more of a midfield role, but
still had the skill to outwit many of the 2nd division defences that
Leeds found themselves facing in the 1980s.
After a brief spell with Whitby and in Israel with Hapoel Haifa, he
finally hung up his boots and retired to run the Commercial - a pub
close to the ground which is, naturally enough, very popular with
Leeds fans on match days.
Buy this
excellent autobiography of Peter Lorimer at Amazon now!
The press clippings above are courtesy of Robert McConnachie - a
team-mate of the young Peter Lorimer in the Stobswell U-15 side
featured. Some of the comments from the articles:
The Stobswell outfit is very compact and the defence is one of the best
I have seen in minor football. Star of the side is captain and centre
forward Peter Lorimer who is ever ready to have a go at goal. He
carries a terrific shot and his three goals were scored from well
out. Peter, who recently scored five goals for Dundee Schoolboys
in a Scottish Cup tie is certainly a player to be marked down for
the future.... (and in praise of my correspondent...) Robert
McConnachie, the left back, is always trying to play good football.
He never kicks wildly and is forever attempting to get attacks
going with passes to his wing half.
I feel Stobswell lost because four of their forwards thought all they
had to do was give the ball to their international centre forward Peter
Lorimer and he would do the rest. Time and again they could have cashed
in by going through on their own - but always they gave the ball to
Lorimer who was so well covered that he could not do much about it. Both
his goals were from free kicks from about 30yds and the keeper had no chance with
either of them.
Marc Lorimer says: I am a relative of Peter, my Mum's
cousin. Peter's dad was Robert and had a brother Gilbert, sister Mary
and my name is Marc Lorimer. Would like to meet him , think he was
born in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, like me.
Per Flober says: He was my favorite player. I have seen him play
and I got his autogragh on an official Leeds picture. My room was
decorated with Leeds players from the glory years (early seventies). I
visited Elland Road in '75 alone as a 17 year old fan.
Wendy Lorimer (niece) says: Who is Marc Lorimer? Peter's dad was
Peter + mum was Janet/ 1 brother Joe 2 son's - simon/jamie. nephew -
gary + niece - wendy ( immediate family on lorimer side)
Alan says: Peter Lorimer is my mum's second cousin. Peter's
grandfather and my great grandfather were brothers. I dont know if
Peter was from Broughty Ferry (as I am), but I think his dad and
ancestors were. I have done a lot of genealogical research on the
Lorimers of Broughty Ferry. Peter or any other of his relations may be
interested as I have traced the family line in the Broughty Ferry/
Monifieth area back into the 1600s (they didn't move
much!). Naturally, once you go back 2 or 3 generations from today, all
our Lorimer ancestral lines converge and our ancestry is the same. Can
any of the other Peter Lorimer relatives tell me, was Peter's great
grandad a James Cowie 'Buchan' Lorimer, a fisherman in Broughty Ferry?
Peter himself should know.
Russell Baker says: can you tell me how fast Peter lorimer could
hit a ball and what is the all time record for the fastest (speed)
shot is and by whom
Niels from Denmark says: He was my favourite player. I have met him
in his pub twice. On both occasions he gave me his autograph of which
I'm very proud. He's such a nice guy.
Albert Presley says: Peter Lorimer comes across as an extremely
unpleasant man. Am I correct? (Jabba says: I think I can probably find
a few people to disagree with you).
michael kotrc says: I saw Peter Lorimer in the 70 playing fantastic
games for Leeds. Special in the european cups. I m from Austria and
watched the great Leeds team on television. Lorimer,Bremner, Jordan
Giles etc. where one of the greatest player I ever saw. I will never
forget them.
Gael Rooney (grants daughter) says: My Dad and Uncle used to play
football with Peter when they were kids. My dad is Grant Rooney and
Uncle Is James Rooney. They used to play in Broughty Ferry and Peter
actually broke my uncle's wrist when taking a shot at him one
day. They lost touch when Peter moved down South. He was a great
player and had an amazing shot.
Al Thomas says: I remember Peter guesting for Capetown City in the
South African National league in 1971. He played for about 6 weeks
alongside Francis Lee who was guesting from Man City. They both packed
powerful shots and terrorised opposing defences. Tony Coleman formerly
of Manchester City also played in that team at the same time, another
player with a tremendous shot.
Andrew Lorimer says: i, like many other lorimers claim to be a
relative of the great peter lorimer .my father thomas lorimer was born
in north berwick scotland and has allways maintained thet peter was a
second cousin of mine .i, like peter lorimer had ahard shot,breaking
my friends arm and a wooden crossbar with a ball,yours the lorimers
Carole Wilkinson says: e have a fish and chip shop very close to
the Commercial pub .we get many fans who are over the moon because they
have just spoke to peter they cannot believe it.
anon says: to allan : daughter inlaw of Peters cousin confirms that
peter's grandfather was named Joseph, but can't confirm his great
grandfather name except that they were also related to the Buchans.
Stephen Mumford says: Does anyone remember Peter Lorimer's last
benefit match? I attended it, in November 1985, but have lost my
record. It was Leeds v Manchester United and I think it finished
1-1. Does anyone know the attendance, scorers or half-time score? Does
anyone know the score of the curtain-raiser, Old Leeds United v
Vintage All-Stars? I think it was 2-2. Half-time score and scorers
would be gratefully received. I am pretty sure, incidentally, that
Peter Lorimer played in both matches, though the first was only about
30 minutes long.
christopher whiteside says: he was a great player one of the best
in the world and i heard he had the powerful shot of the division.
My name is Robert McConnachie and I played left back in the same
school team as Peter, Dundee Stobswell under 15's. I still have a
couple of very old newspaper photo's
David Lorimer says: I have no idea if i am related to him. My
father was daniel Richardson Sutherland Lorimer who was one of a big
family but as he is no longer with us I cannot find anything out
Chris Whiteside says: 76.8 mile per hour is amazing i wish you was
still playing for us now
Jason Docherty says: When I was 16 Years old I was a student at a
computer college in Sweet St, (which is same road as the commercial
pub) Peter personally barred me and my friends out for underage
drinking but up until that point we had no idea that it was the great
Peter Lorimers pub!! Needless to say apart from every time we beat man
u that is my best memory
Grant Lorimer says: I am a half brother to David Lorimer the son of
Daniel Richardson Sutherland Lorimer. Peter was one of our dads
cousins. My mum knows a lot about him (Peter)So he is our second
cousin.
Dexter Price says: I was "page boy" at Peter's Wedding to Gillian
Price. Peter was always my hero then, now that has transferred to my
son Adam (ardent Leeds Supporter) who was so pleased to meet one of
the real Leeds Legends at the Commercial. A real great guy.
John S says: it was interesting to see Peter on ITV news this
evening. He was described as a former Leeds and ENGLAND. I don't
suppose the Scots will appreciate that! I am sending ITV an email!
Grant Lorimer says: Spooky what you find when you Google your own
name. Another Grant Lorimer here. A cousin fae the Ferry, only person
here I recognise is Wendy (hello, I was at the Eastern the year below
you and a couple behind Gary). I'm son of John Howie Lorimer, cousin
of Peter and Joe's. My Grandfather Willie Lorimer was Peter Snr's
Brother. I keep meaning to pop in to the Commercial in Leeds when I'm
passing to say hello, hopefully I'll get a chance next time I'm up
that way.
james dublin says: when i was 12 i watched peter play... what a
player he was when peter was going to take a free kick the fans would
scream 90 mph peter was a real quality forward whoscared keepers with
his powerful shots
Donna Morfitt says: I met Peter Lorimer in Station Hotel in Hull in
the seventies he was a fantastic guy who gave his fans all of his
attention. I had my niece with me at the time and he posed for lots of
photos
michael says: legend
Arthur Vealad says: Happy 57th birthday today 14th dec! From Arthur
Vealad, an old fan from Sogndal, Norway
john lorimer says: most of peter lorimer family came from
fintry,kirkton+ tannadice street,dundee, that was in 1929 onwards my
father is related to peter/he visited my dad at tannidice home of
dundee utd where my fatherwas groundsman
Don Lorimer says: No relation by the way, but I am born and bred a
Dundonian and I know for a fact that Peter Lorimer was a Dundee FC
fan.
Phil Nichols says: Peter Lorimer was my uncles cousin. The first
game (aged 6) I saw was in 1972 - Leeds v Arsenal at Highbury. Lorimer
met us outside and gave me, my dad and uncle tickets. We were mobbed!
He seemed like a god! His mum gave me a quid to spend on a family day
out to Ramsgate!!
Victoria Lorimer says: I've been told, that Peter is my Dads second
cousin, don't know if this is true.My dads name is Thomas Lorimer.
Lorrie Lorimer says: Another Lorimer here. Hi Vicky! My dad's
dad's brother's son is Peter Lorimer. Went to his pub a few years ago
after watching QPR play Leeds. Have heard him quite a few times on
radio 5.
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