Step into the extraordinary world of James Peter Greaves, a man whose life was filled with twists and turns that left an indelible mark on history. From humble beginnings to soaring success, this biography chronicles the trials and triumphs of one of the most fascinating figures you’ve never heard of. With a story spanning decades and continents, get ready to be swept away by an inspiring tale that proves anything is possible if you have enough grit, determination, and a little bit of luck. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
Introduction to James Peter Greaves: Date of Birth, Death, Hight, Spouse and Children.
Full Name: James Peter Greaves
Born: 20 February 1940, Manor Park, London, United Kingdom
Died: 19 September 2021, Danbury, United Kingdom
Spouse: Irene Barden (m. 1958–2021)
Children: Danny Greaves, Andrew Greaves, Jimmy Greaves Jr.
Date joined: 1961 (Tottenham Hotspur F.C.)
Siblings: Paul Greaves, Marion Greaves
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Football Career Beginnings and Early Achievements.
From an early age, James Peter Greaves was destined for a career in football. Born in 1940 in the London borough of Hackney, he started playing for his local team, Chelsea, at the age of 12. Two years later he made his debut for the club’s youth side and by 15 he was playing for Chelsea’s reserve team.
Greaves’ first taste of senior football came in 1957 when he was called up to the England national team for a friendly against Northern Ireland. He scored on his debut, becoming the youngest player to ever score for England at the age of 17 years and 59 days.
He went on to have a hugely successful career with Chelsea, winning the First Division title in 1955 and 1970, as well as the FA Cup in 1970. He is widely regarded as one of Chelsea’s greatest ever players and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2003.
After retiring from football in 1978, Greaves had a successful career as a television pundit and commentator. He has also written several books about his life and times in football including an autobiography entitled “Greavsie: The Autobiography” which was published in 2006.
Breakthrough as a Professional Footballer at Chelsea FC.
James Peter Greaves was born on the 20th of February 1940, in Hackney, London. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a working-class family. His father, Jim, was a carpenter and his mother, Bessie, was a housewife. As a child, Greaves showed great promise as a footballer and was signed by Chelsea FC at the age of 15. He made his debut for the club in 1957 and quickly established himself as one of the best young players in England.
In 1960, Greaves helped Chelsea FC win the Football League First Division title for the first time in their history. He scored 24 goals in 41 league appearances that season and was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. The following year, Greaves scored 28 goals in 40 league appearances as Chelsea FC retained their title. He also helped the club win the FA Cup for the first time in their history with a goal in the final against Leicester City.
Greaves went on to enjoy a hugely successful career with Chelsea FC, winning two more First Division titles (1962–63 and 1964–65), an FA Cup (1970), and a European Cup Winners’ Cup (1971). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever players to have played for Chelsea FC and is still their all-time leading goal scorer with 248 goals in 381 appearances.
Transfer to Tottenham Hotspur and Further Success.
After a hugely successful spell at Chelsea, Greaves was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in 1961 for a then-record fee of £99,999. He continued his goalscoring form at Spurs, becoming the club’s top scorer in his first season with 28 goals in all competitions. The following season, he was a member of the Spurs team that won the 1962 FA Cup Final, scoring twice in their 3-1 victory over Leicester City.
Greaves went on to win another FA Cup winner’s medal with Spurs in 1967, as well as the League Cup in 1971 and 1973. In total, he scored 220 goals for Tottenham Hotspur before moving to West Ham United in 1976. He spent two seasons at West Ham before retiring from professional football in 1978.
Later Football Career and Retirement from the Game.
After scoring a hat-trick for England against Bulgaria in October 1962, Greaves’s international career seemed to be on an upward trajectory. However, he was surprisingly left out of the England squad for the 1963 FA Cup Final, which saw his club side Tottenham Hotspur defeat Leicester City 3-1. Greaves was reportedly deeply upset by this snub, and it would be the beginning of the end of his time with the national team. He did manage to win back his place in the side and scored twice in a 5-2 win over Scotland at Wembley in April 1964, but he was dropped again for England’s next game against Uruguay.
Greaves continued to score goals regularly for Tottenham and was part of the team that won the 1967 FA Cup Final, defeating Chelsea 2-1. He also helped Spurs to win the UEFA Cup in 1972, although he missed the final due to injury. In total, Greaves scored 266 goals in 379 appearances for Tottenham, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer.
He left Tottenham in 1970 to join West Ham United and spent two seasons with the Hammers before moving on to Chelsea in 1972. He spent four years at Stamford Bridge before joining Watford in 1976. His time at Watford was relatively short and uneventful and he retired from professional football in 1978 after a spell with Barnet.
Greaves had one final hurrah when he came out of retirement to play for
Life after Retirement from Football.
James Peter Greaves is a retired English football player who spent the majority of his career as a striker for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and England. After retiring from football, Greaves pursued a career in sports broadcasting and also worked as a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live and BT Sport. He has also written several books about his life and times in football.
Honours Received for His Contributions to the Sport.
James Peter Greaves is a retired English professional footballer and television pundit. He is the fourth highest goalscorer in the history of the England national team and Chelsea, where he spent the majority of his career. He has been honoured with several accolades throughout his career, including being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1970 and being inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2009, he was voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player by the club’s fans. Upon his retirement from football in 1978, he was given a testimonial match by both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Legacy of James Peter Greaves in
James Peter Greaves was born in 1873 in London, England. The son of a successful businessman, Greaves was educated at some of the best schools in England and eventually went on to Cambridge University. It was there that he met his future wife, Alice Maud Robinson.
The couple married in 1896 and had three children together: James Peter Jr., Dorothy, and John. Greaves began his career working for his father’s company, but after a few years, he decided to strike out on his own. He started a small accounting firm with a partner, which quickly grew into a successful business.
In the early 1900s, Greaves became involved in politics, joining the Liberal Party. He was elected to Parliament in 1906 and served for two terms. During his time in Parliament, Greaves worked tirelessly to improve conditions for workers and fight for social reform. He also spoke out against the First World War, which ultimately led to his defeat in the 1918 election.
Despite his political setback, Greaves continued to be an influential figure in England. He remained active in business and philanthropy, and he also wrote several books on economics and politics. His legacy continues today through the many institutions and charities that bear his name.
