Exeter-born Peter Rutley was an apprentice with Exeter City when he became one of the club’s youngest first-team players on making his debut aged sixteen in 1962. After a spell with Leicester he later appeared for Margate and Poole. 

Peter was highly-thought of as he progressed from joining as an apprentice in July 1961 to signing his first full contract at Exeter City in July 1963. He made his first-team debut, as an early second-year apprentice, in the League Cup tie at Aldershot on 5 September 1962 and his league debut a fortnight later when lining up in a 1-0 home win over Workington on 20 September 1962. Aged 16 years four months, he became the youngest league debutant since Cliff Bastin.

Playing in seven of the next nine games, he was only to add two more appearances during 1963/64 - as City won promotion - and another six in 1964/65.  

Given a free transfer after sixteen games as a teenager, Peter signed for Leicester City in August 1965 but didn't appear for the first team before joining Poole Town in 1968 and Margate in 1969. He later settled in Poole.