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Peter Bodak

Peter Bodak

Peter Bodak, born Birmingham, England, August 12, 1961. A footballing nomad, Peter Bodak played for a string of clubs both home and abroad, including Coventry City, Swansea City and Happy Valley.

Peter Bodak, who was brought up in a Polish family in Birmingham, was first discovered by both Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The wingman started out his professional playing career with Coventy City, however, and later played for a string of teams both home and abroad, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Royal Antwerp, Crewe Alexandra, Walsall, and Sutton Coldfield Town. Bodak was handed his League debut for Coventry City by Gordon Milne in a 3-1 triumph against Crystal Palace at Highfield Road on the 6th of September 1980, and followed up by netting the winning goal in a 1-0 First Division victory over Wolves at Molineux the following Saturday. After playing 32 First Division matches for The Sky Blues, he was signed by Manchester United boss Ron Atkinson at the beginning of the 1982-83 season, but unfortunately the talented youngster failed to settle down at Old Trafford and he never managed to play a single first-team game for The Reds.

At the end of the day, Bodak was transferred to neighbouring rivals Manchester City midway through the 1982-83 campaign, and debuted for the side in a 1-1 First Division draw with Brighton and Hove Albion at Maine Road on the 18th of December 1982. While with The Citizens, he managed to make 12 League appearances before he moved abroad to play for first Seiko of Hong Kong, and then Royal Antwerp in Belgium. Bodak returned to England in December 1986, though, when he teamed up with Fourth Division Crewe Alexandra, for whom he made 53 Football League outings, contributing seven goals during the process. Next stop was Swansea City, where the happy wanderer clocked up four goals in 31 Fourth Division appearances for The Swans before he proceeded to play for Happy Valley, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield Town, and finally Atherstone Town.