THE latest in Cowdenbeath football historian David Allan's Hometown Heroes feature is a Dux of Beath High School who became an impressive plater with Hearts.

Peter Oliver was born in 1948. His father, also Peter Oliver came from Broad Street and he married May Maxwell in 1942 - Alex Venters was best man.

In 1948, the family was living at 3 Woodland Cottages, Hill of Beath.

Young Peter was a clever lad and was school Dux. At Beath High School, he played at inside right for the school team. In the 1st year XI, he was identified as a ‘clever ball player’ and one of the most consistent members of the side.

They won the Thomson Trophy with a 3-0 victory over Kelty Oakfield at East End Park and clinched the Area League Championship by defeating St Margaret’s (Dunfermline) 2-1 in the play-off final. Peter went on to represent Dunfermline & District Schools.

Peter played then for Crosshill Hearts before joining Andy Young’s conveyor belt of talent at Lochore Welfare. Early in season 1965/66, Peter joined Hearts.

After ex-Lochore Welfare player, Arthur Mann, was sold by Hearts to Manchester City, Peter Oliver was introduced into the Hearts side as his replacement at left-back.

Oliver immediately was a smash hit. He would tackle a brick wall if need be but was also one of the most poised of full backs – a typical Cowdenbeath product.

Oliver was also capable of getting up and down the park again and again with his enthusiasm and fitness. He was perfectly capable of dribbling past retreating attackers and defenders as he overlapped up the wing.

The newspapers were soon rating him as one of Scotland’s brightest prospects.

In 1970, the Evening Times remarked that Oliver played well against wee Jimmy Johnstone and was every bit as aggressive a full back as Tommy Gemmell.

Peter must have taken this on board as he was sent-off in his next match. Three days later, he was called into the Scottish League squad to play the League of Ireland. Peter gained his first international honour when he played for Scotland under-23’s v Wales at the Vetch Field, Swansea in January 1971. Scotland lost 1-0. The very next Saturday, he suffered a devastating knee ligament injury.

It was almost a year before Oliver could make a comeback but after just a few games he picked up another injury. For the next couple of seasons, he was in and out of the side but could never quite recapture his old zip. Jim Jeffries then became established in the side.

Peter was by now married with a young family and back living in Cowdenbeath. He therefore decided to try his luck down south and signed for York City.

Then he moved on to play for Huddersfield Town in season 1976/77. Oliver showed he still had some of his old prowess as the club challenged for promotion. He also scored his one and only senior goal in a match v Bradford City. After a season as a regular, Peter elected to call it a day. He did then take charge of Lochgelly Albert for a time.

When last I heard Peter was back home living in Fife. He was unlucky to be deprived of scaling even greater footballing heights by injury. One Hearts fan recalled, ‘In the early 1970s, when Hearts were on the slide, he dazzled spectators and opposition fans alike. Once Oliver nutmegged Jimmy Johnstone, and the look on the wee man's face was a sight to behold'.

Peter Oliver was a stylish footballer, but he looked stylish at a time when style mattered. The rest of them either looked like refugees from National Service days or were attempting to anticipate Glam Rock!