Beagrie's somersault finds a new audience

The player-coach of Scunthorpe is 39 tomorrow. Glenn Moore talks to the well-travelled winger enjoying life on top of League Two

Peter Beagrie said cheerfully when The Independent called him up to arrange a chat: "You're only interviewing me because I'm an old git."It's a fair cop, but in an industry as ageist as football why not celebrate his rare longevity? Beagrie is 39 years young tomorrow and, barring a shock defeat for Scunthorpe United at home to Shrewsbury today, he will reach the landmark atop League Two.

Peter Beagrie said cheerfully when The Independent called him up to arrange a chat: "You're only interviewing me because I'm an old git."It's a fair cop, but in an industry as ageist as football why not celebrate his rare longevity? Beagrie is 39 years young tomorrow and, barring a shock defeat for Scunthorpe United at home to Shrewsbury today, he will reach the landmark atop League Two.

Beagrie, moreover, does so as an integral part of Brian Laws' team, both as player-coach and on-field creator. He still operates, as he did when Middlesbrough signed him from Guisborough Town 21 years ago, on the left wing, and remains as prepared to stick to his beliefs as when he walked away from his home-town team as a newly wed 20-year-old.

His peripatetic career has taken him across the North, playing for nine clubs and under more than 20 managers. He has been relegated and promoted, played in every division, represented England at Under-21 and B level, been sold for £1m-plus and released on a free. By now he should have had enough of being kicked up in the air by full-backs, especially at a level where he represents a scalp.

Not a bit of it. It transpires Beagrie's shirt is a trophy, but not his shins. And any whipper-snapper who sees it differently had better beware.

"I'm not the typical winger, as anyone who managed or played against me will tell you," said Beagrie after taking training this week. "If a full-back kicks me he'll find himself on the running track. At 16 I played in the North-East Counties League against ex-pros who kicked me from pillar to post, so when I began playing with people of my own age it was a cakewalk. I've always enjoyed the physical side of it.

"I've not had much stick, not verbally, or physically. For the most of our side I'm old enough to be their dad but they were brought up watching the Premiership and for a large chunk of my career that's where I played. They know I have been there and done it.

"I've had the same respect from opponents. I swapped more shirts in my first season than in my entire career because every marker seemed to have supported clubs I'd played for like Everton and Man City.

"I've also been pleasantly surprised by the pitches, stadia and football. I haven't been kicked up in the air on the farmer's field as I envisaged and there is not much route one. There are younger managers who want to play football and the influx of foreign players means some talented youngsters drop into this level. They have been well taught, so they know how to pass. What we have to instil in them is the will to win and the willingness to be the best you possibly can. If they have ability and a work ethic, they can get back to the top. Obviously, not many will go straight through to the Premiership like [Blackburn's] Jon Stead, but they can progress in stages."

That was the path Beagrie's career took. He joined Boro when they were at a low ebb, facing bankruptcy and sliding towards the old Third Division. Beagrie established himself but left when Bruce Rioch, hampered by the financial situation, was unable to deliver a promised new contract. He moved to Sheffield United, then Stoke, reaching the top flight at 23. He had nearly a decade there with Everton, Manchester City and Bradford City before moving to Scunthorpe via Wigan. Along the way he has played more than 700 matches and scored close to 100 goals, most of them followed by his trademark somersault.

"I haven't scored this year so I'm starting to count my assists but I'd be lying if I said I get as much pleasure out of setting a goal up. There's no better feeling than hitting the back of the net so in the exuberance of scoring I think you can expect a somersault whatever the warnings from our physio."

In an ideal world the cartwheel will be seen on Sky this Friday when Scunthorpe's FA Cup second-round tie with Wrexham is televised. Beagrie is delighted the game is being broadcast, but not for Scunthorpe's sake.

"It's great for us to be on TV, but it's fantastic for Wrexham to get some revenue. I played under their manager, Denis Smith, on loan at Sunderland and he's very passionate about the game. I've never seen anyone with as many scars."

Beagrie has a few himself from the mid-1990s when when injury kept him on the sidelines for almost two seasons and threatened his career. "Every year has been a bonus after that. I've still got the passion and desire I had at 17, but while the wins are more exciting the defeats are harder to take.

"I've always said while I'm having a bearing on my game and don't have to change the way I play, or take up a different position, then I will continue. I set a challenge a few years back that I would play until I was 40. I've even given up alcohol and it looks like I'll reach it. There is a lot of ageism in football and people expect me to be whizzing round on a Zimmer frame but I feel as fit as ever. I've been blessed with a flexible body. I can still stick my head between my knees and whistle up my Barcelona."

Beagrie was clapped off the pitch by Cheltenham fans earlier this year and the entire Scunthorpe team were applauded at Bristol Rovers last week after winning 3-0. "You don't get any higher accolade than that. We're playing some really good stuff."

Beagrie's looking and learning these days, ready to move into management, and he picked up a trick from Laws when it came to bringing in some experienced pros this season. "We went down to the Football League early to find out who would be on a free and got three players in. Brian's very good at preparation and I think that'll be one of my strengths."

He believes man-management will be another, with Mick Mills among his best tutors. The former England international full-back cemented Beagrie's belief in his own ability when he signed him for Stoke. "I'd played against him and he said 'I want you to do to opponents what you did to me - twist them inside out'. He was superb for me. He allowed me to swap wings, to go looking for the ball."

From Howard Kendall, Beagrie learned the value of being big enough to admit mistakes, from Rioch the importance of discipline, and from Brian Horton - "a fantastic, knowledgeable guy" - the joy of attacking football. It was with his Manchester City team that Beagrie played the best of his 708 games. "We beat Ossie Ardiles' Tottenham 5-3. They had Barmby, Klinsmann, Dumitrescu and so on. We footballed them to death."

In his own words Beagrie's journey from Ayresome to Glanford

1983-86 Middlesbrough

Managers: Malcolm Allison, Willie Maddren, Jack Charlton, Bruce Rioch

I was born-and-bred Boro. My father was a docker and all the family went to the games so it was hard to leave. But the manager [Rioch] said that he would look after me and it didn't happen. To a certain degree, his hands were tied but if they'd offered another tenner I'd probably have signed.

1986-88 Sheffield United

£35,000. Managers: Billy McEwan, Dave Bassett

Ian Porterfield set up the deal but he got the sack and Billy McEwan, who'd been promoted from the youth team, signed me. I wasn't "Harry" Bassett's ideal player and I didn't enjoy the long-ball approach. He called me in and told me there were clubs interested. I said I'd rather finish the season and keep them up, but it didn't happen.

1988-89 Stoke City

£210,000. Manager: Mick Mills

Nigel Callaghan was leaving Watford for Aston Villa or Derby County and I was joining the one he rejected. Then Mick Mills came in and said you could do with another season in the Second Division. When it came to leave, the price fluctuated with results. The chairman would want £600,000, then we'd put some wins together and he'd want £1m.

1989-94 Everton

£750,000. Managers: Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall, Mike Walker

I changed my style - instead of taking people on I was passing. For two seasons I did not play my natural game and became frustrated at not getting picked. My wife told me: "I don't know why you are pleasing others - play the game you've always played." I started to take people on and and never looked back.

1994-97 Manchester City

£1.1m. Managers: Brian Horton, Alan Ball, Steve Coppell, Phil Neal, Frank Clark

If they had given Brian Horton £1m to strengthen the defence we would have been a power. We played some sensational stuff under him, we had five-man attacks, but they have this thing about big-name managers. After he left it was crazy. Some managers I never even trained under they went so quickly.

1997-2001 Bradford City

£50,000. Managers: Chris Kamara, Paul Jewell, Chris Hutchings, Jim Jefferies

I had previously played with Chris Kamara at Stoke. He had told me to use the move as a stepping stone to take me back to the Premiership, which it was, with Bradford. We had a great team spirit but unfortunately it did not survive Geoffrey Richmond's "six weeks of madness".

2001 Wigan Athletic

Free. Manager: Bruce Rioch

I left Bradford too early, but I did not want to keep coming on as sub to do 15-minute cameos at 2-0 down. Bruce came in, he'd tried to sign me several times. He obviously did not bear a grudge from Boro. Knowing him, he was probably impressed that a young lad would stick to his beliefs. But when I did join him we lost in the play-offs and he left.

2001- Scunthorpe United

Free. Manager: Brian Laws

I dropped down the divisions to get on the coaching ladder and it's been a great move. We've a good set of lads and we've added some experience. Brian is very thorough and he takes other people's views on board.

*Peter Beagrie has also played on loan to Sunderland (1991), Everton (1998) and for England U-21 and B teams.