Dobing made more than 200 appearances for Rovers, having signed professionally with the club as a 16-year-old.

The club said it is saddened to learn of his death and that everyone at the club’s thoughts are with his family and friends.

He picked Rovers over an offer from Manchester United, and was rewarded with a debut aged 17 as he enjoyed a rapid rise into the first team at Ewood Park.

His debut came against Bristol City, and the next season the inside forward notched 20 goals in the league as Rovers earned promotion from the Second Division.

The following season he found the net 26 times in the top flight, and in the 1959/60 season he featured and scored in Rovers’ run to Wembley in the FA Cup, when they were beaten in the final by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In 1960/61 he found the net another 22 times, reaching a century of goals for Rovers in all competitions, and also becoming the youngest player to make 200 appearances in the blue and white halves at the age of just 22.

The 1960 FA Cup final squad, with Peter Dobing second from left on the front row

He made eight appearances for England under-23s during his time at Rovers.

At the end of the 1960/61 season he signed for Manchester City in a £37,500 transfer, where he spent two seasons and continued his fine goalscoring form; however, he couldn’t save City from relegation.

He then moved to newly-promoted Stoke City for a club record transfer fee – again £37,500 – where he spent 10 years and made more than 300 appearances for the Potters.

All at Stoke City are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our '72 League Cup winning captain Peter Dobing at the age of 87. Dobing ranks ninth in the club's all-time scoring charts with 95 goals in 377 appearances. The thoughts and sincere condolences of all are with Peter's friends and family at this immensely difficult time.

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) October 27, 2026

During that time, he was briefly loaned to United Soccer Association club Cleveland Stokers, scoring seven goals in eight games.

In 1972, a now 33-year-old Dobing captained Stoke to their first major trophy as they beat Chelsea in the League Cup.

His career ended a year later due to a broken leg, and after retiring from football he worked in the pottery industry in Staffordshire.

Stoke City said: "The thoughts and sincere condolences of all at Stoke City are with Peter’s friends and family at this immensely difficult time."

Away from football, he was often spotted fishing for trout and clay pigeon shooting, while his penchant for smoking a pipe earned him the moniker 'the pipe-smoking gentleman of English football'.

In total, he made 684 appearances during his career and scored 238 goals.

Manchester City have not acknowledged Dobing's passing.