- Birthdate: 17 July 1946
- Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Other clubs: Hibernian (1962-70), Toronto City (loan 1967), Nottingham Forest (1970-72), Bristol City (1976-80), Hibernian (2 / 1980), Partick Thistle (1980)
- Signed from: Nottingham Forest
- Signed for LFC: £110,000, 14.07.1972
- International debut: 25.06.1966 vs. Brazil
- International caps: 9/0 (at Hiberninan and Forest) - 01.12.1971
- Liverpool debut: 02.09.1972
- Last appearance: 27.12.1975
- Debut goal: 09.09.1972
- Last goal: 27.12.1975
- Contract expiry: 10.11.1976
- Win ratio: 53.37% W:95 D:50 L:33
- Games/goals ratio: 6.85
- Games/assists ratio: 11.13
- Honours: League Championship 1972/73, 1975/76; FA Cup 1974; UEFA Cup 1973
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 7 / 1
- League games / goals / assists: 125 / 21 / 11
- Total games / goals / assists: 178 / 26 / 16
Player Profile
Cormack had already attracted Shankly's attention as a 20-year-old Scottish international with Hibernian, possibly under the recommendation of Bill's brother Bob, who managed Cormack while he was on loan at Toronto City in 1967. He entertained fans with his brilliant tricks on the ball. His experience and creativity added something extra to the Liverpool squad that had narrowly missed out on the championship in 1971/72. It was a lightning deal according to the Daily Mail when Cormack was transferred to Liverpool. Forest secretary Ken Smales told the Daily Mail: “Liverpool moved fast. I didn’t know anything about the transfer until a few hours before it went through.” Cormack had a few weeks of pre-season training behind him at Forest when he arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 1972, mainly consisting of running through the woods. When he told Shankly how he had been preparing for the season Shankly looked incredulously at him and said: 'Snooker champions don't do swimming every day.' Cormack was an important part of Shankly's 'new' team that won not only the first division title for the first time in seven years but also the club's first-ever European trophy, the UEFA Cup. Cormack had to wait until the seventh game of the season at Derby's Baseball Ground before being handed his debut, but he scored in his first game at home against Wolves the following week. His highlight came in his first Merseyside derby three months into his Liverpool career when he headed the winner with 13 minutes to go. "When you score the winner against Everton you're a hero for life," Cormack told LFC Magazine. "Larry Lloyd picked me up as we celebrated and said: 'You've made it now.' It was a terrific feeling and I didn't spend much money that night." Cormack never looked back after that, finishing with 52 games with ten goals to boot in his debut campaign.
The 1973/74 season was another successful one for Cormack. He figured in all 42 League matches and added an FA Cup winners' medal to his collection. He was again a regular in the following season and aged 29 when the 1975/76 season began, he looked to have a few years of success ahead of him at Anfield but his campaign finished in December. "I've always had this problem with my knee," Cormack told Mark Platt. "My cartilage was cracked. I was told I could keep playing, but that eventually, it would give way. One day it did just that, after a game against Manchester City, and I never played for Liverpool again." While Cormack was recuperating Bob Paisley converted Ray Kennedy from a lumbering forward into a left-sided midfielder so successfully that on Cormack's return he was surplus to requirements and no real surprise when he moved on to first division Bristol City in November 1976 after being stuck in the reserves. Thirty-four-year-old Cormack left Bristol in 1980 after the club was relegated and returned to Hibernian where he started his career. After a brief spell, he moved to Partick Thistle where he was the manager for four years. His managerial career took him to far-away places like Cyprus and Botswana. He still crops up now and again on the after-dinner speaking circuit and golf events.
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
11 |
976 |
Tottenham |
9 |
810 |
Leeds United |
8 |
720 |
Wolves |
8 |
708 |
Stoke City |
8 |
637 |
Ipswich Town |
7 |
630 |
Derby |
7 |
630 |
Coventry City |
7 |
630 |
Newcastle United |
7 |
630 |
West Ham United |
7 |
630 |
Leicester City |
7 |
630 |
Burnley |
7 |
592 |
Manchester City |
7 |
584 |
Birmingham City |
6 |
540 |
Everton |
6 |
540 |
Sheffield United |
6 |
458 |
QPR |
5 |
450 |
Chelsea |
5 |
367 |
Carlisle United |
4 |
377 |
WBA |
4 |
297 |
Norwich City |
4 |
273 |
Arsenal |
3 |
270 |
Southampton |
3 |
270 |
Manchester United |
2 |
180 |
Middlesbrough |
2 |
180 |
Bristol City |
2 |
180 |
Hull City |
2 |
180 |
Luton Town |
2 |
180 |
Frankfurt |
2 |
180 |
AEK Athens |
2 |
180 |
Dynamo Berlin |
2 |
180 |
Doncaster Rovers |
2 |
180 |
Hibernian |
2 |
180 |
Gladbach |
2 |
53 |
Ferencvaros |
1 |
90 |
Red Star Belgrade |
1 |
90 |
Strømsgodset |
1 |
90 |
York City |
1 |
90 |
Sunderland |
1 |
90 |
Aston Villa |
1 |
90 |
Dyn. Dresden |
1 |
90 |
Brentford |
1 |
90 |
Real Sociedad |
1 |
90 |
Crystal Palace |
1 |
44 |
Slask Wroclaw |
Total |
Started/substitutions |
169 |
Started |
11 |
On the bench |
9 |
Substitute |
3 |
Substituted |
Total |
Venue |
88 |
Away |
86 |
Home |
4 |
Neutral |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Assists per season
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
02.09.1972 |
Derby |
Baseball Ground |
League |
50 |
23.04.1973 |
Leeds United |
Anfield |
League |
100 |
06.04.1974 |
QPR |
Anfield |
League |
150 |
31.03.1975 |
Stoke City |
Victoria Ground |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
76 |
09.09.1972 |
Wolves |
Anfield |
League |
Related Articles
An article from Edinburgh News on 28th September 2006.
Scrapbook
1980
1980
A great day to start work - July 1972
Anfield roar for Cormack! - 30 December 1972
Cormack hero of Kop! - 27 December 1975
Cormack is king of the Kop! - 7 October 1972
Cormack is sent off - 9 December 1972
Cormack nets on derby debut - 7 October 1972
Cormack pops up to make it 21 in a row - 30 December 1972
Cormack proves it's never too late! - 7 October 1972
Cormack punishes Liverpool! - 15 April 1978
Cormack sent off - 9 December 1972
Cormack sets £115,000 Anfield high! - 14 July 1972
Cormack shines as Reds let it slip - 28 October 1972
Cormack Shoot! poster
Cormack stars as Reds press on - 18 November 1972
Cormack steals in for vital header - 28 October 1972
LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Liverpool outgun the Palace guards - 30 December 1972
Magical Cormack - 9 September 1972
Palace wall is cracked by Cormack! - 30 December 1972
Peter's costly slip - 14 October 1972
Poster of Peter Cormack and John Toshack in Shoot!/Goal 1974
Speedy return for Cormack - 11 November 1976
The £115,000 pay-off! - 7 October 1972
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Hibernian |
1962-1963 |
Scotland Division 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Hibernian |
1963-1964 |
Scotland Division 1 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
Hibernian |
1964-1965 |
Scotland Division 1 |
32 |
9 |
32 |
9 |
Hibernian |
1965-1966 |
Scotland Division 1 |
32 |
15 |
32 |
15 |
Hibernian |
1966-1967 |
Scotland Division 1 |
30 |
13 |
30 |
13 |
Hibernian |
1967-1968 |
Scotland Division 1 |
30 |
11 |
30 |
11 |
Toronto City |
1967-1968 |
NASL |
11 |
6 |
11 |
6 |
Hibernian |
1968-1969 |
Scotland Division 1 |
29 |
15 |
29 |
15 |
Hibernian |
1969-1970 |
Scotland Division 1 |
23 |
11 |
24 |
11 |
Nottingham Forest |
1969-1970 |
England First Division |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Nottingham Forest |
1970-1971 |
England First Division |
41 |
8 |
49 |
10 |
Nottingham Forest |
1971-1972 |
England First Division |
32 |
7 |
34 |
8 |
Bristol City |
1976-1977 |
England First Division |
20 |
6 |
21 |
6 |
Bristol City |
1977-1978 |
England First Division |
26 |
6 |
29 |
7 |
Bristol City |
1978-1979 |
England First Division |
17 |
3 |
19 |
3 |
Bristol City |
1979-1980 |
England First Division |
4 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Hibernian |
1979-1980 |
Scotland Premier League |
14 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
Hibernian |
1980-1981 |
Scotland Division 1 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
1 |
Hibernian |
1981-1982 |
Scotland Premier League |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Hibernian |
1982-1983 |
Scotland Premier League |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Partick Thistle |
1983-1984 |
Scotland Division 1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Total |
356 |
113 |
379 |
117 |