Peta Bala'c (born 9 December 1953) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, most notably for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peta John Bala'c | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Exeter, England | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper, midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1960–1963 | Exeter City | ||
| 1963–1972 | Plymouth Argyle | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1971–1974 | Plymouth Argyle | 40 | (0) |
| 1973 | → Hereford United (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 1973–1974 | → Swansea City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1974–1976 | Durban City | 84 | (0) |
| 1977–1978 | Durban United | 28 | (0) |
| 1979 | Lusitano | 34 | (0) |
| 1980 | Sacramento Gold (loan) | 27 | (0) |
| 1980 | Sporting CP | 15 | (0) |
| 1981–1986 | Kaizer Chiefs | 170 | (0) |
| 1986–? | Torrington F.C. | ||
| Shell Swan | |||
| Chester Nomad Sixths | |||
| Total | 404 | (0) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He now works for Kitchens by Anthony in Hoole, Chester.
Playing career
editPlymouth Argyle
editBorn in Exeter, England, Bala'c played at the Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle youth academies. He graduated to the reserve team after his performances in the 1969 FA Youth Cup especially in a first round win over Torquay United.[1] He made his professional debut on 8 January 1972 in a 4–0 win over York City starting the match for an ill Jim Furnell. He became a regular for over a year before Furnell returned. He played his last match on 4 November 1972 in a 7–1 loss to Oldham Athletic.[2] Bala'c is described as a keeper who was quite acrobatic but was held back by his height.[3] Bala'c played in the second half in a friendly match against Santos FC on 14 March 1973 where he only conceded a penalty from Pelé which was a consolation goal for Santos. Even before it was taken, the Santos players started walking to the centre line awaiting kick off, because they knew he wouldn't miss. Santos lost 3–1. The Santos squad had the likes of Edu, Carlos Alberto and Clodoaldo who all won the 1970 FIFA World Cup with Brazil.[4] He got a call-up to the England youth team. He left after a falling out with new manager Tony Waiters.[5] In June 2012, he was nominated as one of Argyle's Greatest Goalkeepers along Pat Dunne, Jim Furnell, Milija Aleksic, Geoff Crudgington and Rhys Wilmot.[6]
Durban United
editBala'c played with England players such as Johnny Haynes, Alan Ball and George Best in Durban.[5]
Lusitano
editBala'c lost his place to Bruce Grobbelaar who he had been friends with during his spell at Liverpool. He described Eusébio's presence as a highlight of his career.[5]
America and Portugal
editBala'c had brief spells with Sacramento Gold and Sporting CP winning the ASL Championship in 1980 under coach Bill Williams with fellow countrymen Ian Filby, Bobby Arber and Gordon Fearnley.[5][7]
Kaizer Chiefs
editBala'c was persuaded by Tony Waiters to go to South Africa. He joined Kaizer Chiefs in the famous 1981 quadruple winning season and won thirteen trophies in five years not losing a single cup final and set an unofficial world record of 21 consecutive clean sheets. The record was unofficial because South Africa had not been admitted to FIFA until 1992. He is infamously remembered for conceding a free-kick from the halfway line from Mlungisi Ngubane in 1984.[8][2]
Later career
editBala'c came back to play in the Devon South Western League under Johnny Hore in 1986 and played as a midfielder for Shell Swan and Chester Nomad Sixths in Division Two and the Chester Sunday League until retiring in his fifties. He converted to midfielder after being inspired by Kaizer Chiefs' one touch play.[2]
After retirement
editBala'c lives near Chester with his wife. He currently works for Kitchens by Anthony in Hoole, Chester.[9] He played Plymouth Argyle Legends match against BBC XI and Liverpool at Dean Cross Plymstock in aid of the Chestnut Appeal for prostate cancer in Devon & Cornwall.[10] Balac also played cricket for Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club and Newbury Cricket Club as a fielder until the age of 60, playing 24 league games between 2010 and 2013 making 12 catches.[11]
Honours
edit- BP Top 8: 1981, 1982, 1985
- Nissan Challenge: 1983
- John Player Special Knockout: 1984, 1986
- Mainstay Cup: 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986
- Sales House Cup: 1981, 1982, 1984
- Panasonic Cup: 1986
References
edit- ^ "FA Youth Cup 1969 | TheTFF Torquay United Fans Forum".
- ^ a b c "GoS-DB Players".
- ^ "Goalkeeper question".
- ^ "The forgotten story of … when Pelé and the Santos circus came to England". TheGuardian.com. 14 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d "'White God' and the witchdoctor". 6 September 2007.
- ^ "Argyle's Greatest Team? Goalkeeper nominations".
- ^ "Sacramento Spirits/Gold Rosters".
- ^ "'Professor' wants to teach Bucs a lesson".
- ^ "Where Are They Now? Plymouth Argyle 1972-73". 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Argyle Legends vs BBC Media X1 2010".
- ^ "Newbury CC". newbury.ecbpcr2.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.