The best value signings made by Peterborough United in over 60 years as a Football League club.. and the Posh owners have their say!
Working out the best value Peterborough United signings since they joined the Football League in 1960 was a mammoth task.
By Alan Swann
Published 5th Sep 2021, 07:52 BST
We’ve worked out the top 25 based on profit from transfers, longevity and how much Posh success they enjoyed.
Some big names have missed out altogether. No current players were considered, apart from one who was a roaring succes first time around.
Let us know what you think. Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony and co-owner Dr Jason Neale have offered their opinion on who represented the best value.
Here’s our list, delivered naturally in reverse order...
Let us know what you think. Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony and co-owner Dr Jason Neale have offered their opinion on who represented the best value.
9. 17th: DAVID FARRELL
Cost: Free. Sold for: Nothing. Another free transfer recruit who dazzled Posh fans for many years scoring 52 goals in 388 appearances after moving up from Wycombe in 1997. Many of those goals were spectacular including the greatest hat-trick of all time in a Division Three play-off semi-final at home to Barnet in May, 2000. Posh went on to win promotion that season. There was no financial profit in Farrell, but he the pleasure and excitement he delivered were invaluable.
Cost: £400k. Sold for: £4 million. Plucked from Luton Town Reserves in 2017 for what seemed like too big a fee, but 12 months, 33 goals and a League One Golden Boot later he was sold to Derby for 10 times as much. Marriott didn't win a promotion with Posh, but helped finance the next push for the Championship.
Cost: £30k. Sold for: Nothing. Posh raided local rivals Cobblers for Barnes and Tony Adcock in January, 1992 as Chris Turner felt they had the quality to spark a second successive promotion. Turner was right as usual as both were brilliant as Posh reached the second tier for the first time in the club's history. Barnes only played 60 times for Posh, scoring nine goals, but he was a major reason the club unlocked the prestige and improved cashflow that came with reaching the old Division One.
Cost: Free. Sold for: £200k: In the words of Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony: 'We picked Russell up for nothing. We didn’t sell him for a lot, but we picked up a couple of million from subsequent Norwich promotions." Remarkably Martin was a makeweight in a deal that also delivered winger Sergio Torres to Posh from Wycombe in 2008 and starred in an immediate promotion to the Championship. He only played 66 times for Posh so a £2 million profit was more excellent business.