Peter Cawley played just seven league games for Exeter City in the early 1990s after spells with Wimbledon, Bristol Rovers and Southend. He later spent the bulk of his career at Colchester United. 

Peter was a relative latecomer to the Football League when he joined Wimbledon from Chertsey Town in January 1987 at the age of 21. Making a solitary league appearance for the Dons, Peter is best-remembered for his appearance for the club in the FA Charity Shield against Liverpool at Wembley in 1988. Spending time on loan at Bristol Rovers, Fulham and Koparit (Finland), Peter signed for Bristol Rovers permanently in July 1989 where he rarely played before joining Southend United in July 1990. Having had just seven league outings for the Essex club Peter was freed to sign for newly-promoted Exeter City in November 1990.

Peter made his Grecians debut in a home draw against Brentford but, after a handful of games, was sidelined with an achilles problem. Leaving St James’ Park after a year in November 1991, Peter moved to Barnet where yet again he only made a small number of appearances before being released. 

Now aged twenty-seven, and having made fewer than forty league appearances in the colours of six different clubs, Peter grabbed the opportunity of signing for Colchester United in October 1992. Quickly establishing himself he remained at Layer Road until May 1998 making around 180 league appearances before his final game against Torquay United in the play-off final at Wembley.  Peter then joined Braintree Town ahead of moving into coaching and ultimately becoming head coach, assistant-manager and caretaker-manager at Wycombe Wanderers. 

Peter’s son Jack appeared for Heybridge Swifts in an FA Cup tie at Exeter City in 2017 shortly after the death of his mother who his father had met whilst playing for the Grecians. Jack subsequently appeared for Concord Rangers in the COVID-delayed 2020 FA Trophy final ahead of playing in the National League for Bromley and Maidstone.