Career
He played for Shamrock Rovers for many years as a centre back and was part of their successful teams of the 1980s. He scored 30 league goals for the Hoops. He made his League of Ireland debut on 18 October 1981 at Milltown against University College Dublin. The Rovers "four in a row" team fell apart after the club fell into crisis after the sale of Glenmalure Park in 1987.
He returned to Rovers in October 1989 and stayed until 1994.
In the season 1993/94, he captained Rovers to their 15th league title at the RDS Arena. However the following year, he left the club on bad terms with the then board of directors.
In the absence of any recognition by SRFC to honour his 12-year stint at the club, Rovers fans organised a testimonial night for Peter on 13 November 1994. Peter made 9 appearances in European competition for Rovers, scoring once, against Linfield in the 1984-1985 European Cup.
Eccles had one of Ireland"s shortest ever international careers when he replaced Chris Hughton on 23 April 1986 at Lansdowne Road to play the last ten minutes of a 1–1 home friendly game against Uruguay.
This was his only ever appearance for the Republic of Ireland national football team As well as his full international cap he represented the League of Ireland XI in Inter-League games and 1988 Summer Olympics qualifying teams scoring against France in November 1987. Peter signed for Crusaders after being let go by Rovers but suffered a broken leg on his debut in a North Belfast derby with Cliftonville in the Ulster Cup on 13 August 1994 which kept him out for the whole season.
After 14 months out he signed for Home Farm in December 1995.
After a short spell at Athlone Town F.C. he returned to the Hoops for his third spell in September 1996. However lacking first team action he moved to Home Farm Everton in November where he played his last game in the League of Ireland on 27 April 1997.