Bill Bentley
Personal information
Full name William John Bentley[1]
Date of birth (1947-10-21) 21 October 1947[1]
Place of birth Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
1962–1964 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1968 Stoke City 48 (1)
1968–1977 Blackpool 296 (11)
1977–1980 Port Vale 95 (0)
1980–1981 Stafford Rangers 20 (1)
Total 459 (13)
International career
England Youth
Managerial career
1979 Port Vale (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William John Bentley (born 21 October 1947) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He made a total of 439 league appearances in a 15-year career in the Football League.

Beginning his career at Stoke City in 1964, he moved on to Blackpool in 1968. He spent the next nine years with Blackpool, helping them to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1969–70, and to lift the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1971. He spent 1977 to 1980 at Port Vale, also briefly serving the club as caretaker manager in 1979. He ended his career at non-League club Stafford Rangers in 1981.

Early and later life

William John Bentley was born on 21 October 1947 in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent and attended St Gregory's School.[2] He played for Stoke-on-Trent schoolboys, winning two consecutive national titles in a side that included Terry Alcock, Clint Boulton, John Woodward and Denis Smith.[2] He went on to represent both Staffordshire and England at schoolboy level, and was also capped at England Youth level.[2]

After retiring from football he became a window cleaner in the Trentham area of Stoke-on-Trent.[4][5]

Career

Stoke City

Bentley began his career as an apprentice with Stoke City, joining the club straight from school at age 15.[2] He signed as a professional with the club in October 1964.[4][6] He made five First Division appearances in 1965–66 and seven appearances in 1966–67, before breaking into Tony Waddington's first team plans during the 1967–68 campaign, when he played a total of 37 games for the "Potters". The young defender's physique and temperament had won him comparisons to John Charles.[7][8] However, Bentley fell out with Waddington after finding himself out of the first XI for an extended period.[2]

Blackpool

On 9 January 1969,[9] five months into the 1968–69 season, Bentley joined Stan Mortensen's Blackpool for £30,000. He made his debut for the club two days later, in a 3–2 home defeat by Charlton Athletic. The following season he helped the "Seasiders" win promotion to the First Division as runners-up of the Second Division under new manager Les Shannon. However, they were immediately relegated in 1970–71. He was though part of the Blackpool team that won the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1971, beating Bologna in the final at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.[2]

Blackpool finished sixth in 1971–72 under Bob Stokoe's stewardship, but reached the 1972 Anglo-Italian Cup final at the Stadio Olimpico, where they were beaten by Roma. They dropped to seventh place in 1972–73 under new boss Harry Potts, but reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup.[6][5] Blackpool finished fifth in 1973–74, missing out on promotion by just three points. They again finished seventh in 1974–75, before falling to tenth in 1975–76. On 3 January 1976, Bentley scored a "stunning"[9] winning goal against Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup, his only goal in eleven appearances in the competition for the club.[9] Blackpool finished fifth in 1976–77 under new manager Allan Brown, finishing only four points behind promoted Chelsea. Bentley's final appearance for the club came on 7 May 1977, in a 1–1 draw at Hereford United. He made 296 league appearances and scored ten goals for Blackpool, for whom he was mostly used as a left-back but also had times playing in midfield.[4] He returned to live in Staffordshire as his wife needed to look after her elderly father and the Blackpool chairman agreed to let him leave on a free transfer in light of his eight years of service to the club.[2] Hereford United had previously agreed a £20,000 transfer fee, but insisted that all players live locally so the deal was called off.[2]

It was close to eight years I spent with the club. It was brilliant. When I put the tangerine shirt on I grew another foot. I wasn't bothered about anyone else. The Blackpool supporters really took me to heart. Even when I go back now I'm always made very, very welcome. That's always stayed with me and it's something special.

— Bentley speaking of his eight years at Bloomfield Road.[4]

Port Vale

In July 1977 he was sold to Port Vale, as one of manager Roy Sproson's last signings.[1] Upon his arrival at Vale Park, Bentley stated that "I am a Potteries lad and I want to play for the club. There is no question of me coming here to be put out to grass. I still think I have plenty to offer".[10] He played 37 games in 1977–78, retaining his first team place under new boss Bobby Smith, as the "Valiants" slipped out of the Third Division after losing 3–2 at Plymouth Argyle on the final day.[1]

He made 34 appearances in the 1978–79 season, as new manager Dennis Butler took the club to a lowly finish of 16th in the Fourth Division.[1] Bentley was placed in temporary charge of team affairs in December 1979 after newly appointed manager Alan Bloor unexpectedly resigned, and before a replacement in John McGrath was found.[1] Despite playing 35 games in 1979–80, he did not get along with McGrath and was given a free transfer in May 1980.[1][11]

Stafford Rangers

Bentley moved on to Stafford Rangers, with whom he finished his professional career in 1981, after making 20 Alliance Premier League appearances in the 1980–81 season. After Rangers he became the player-manager of Fenton British Legion and Foley.[1]

Style of play

Bentley, a former England Youth international, was known for being a tough-tackling defender. This was the source of the "Bill Bentley, Hatchet Man" chant that emanated from the stands during his time at Blackpool.[9]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[12][13]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1965–66 First Division 5000000050
1966–67 First Division 7000000070
1967–68 First Division 321104100372
1968–69 First Division 4000000040
Total 481104100532
Blackpool 1968–69 Second Division 170000000170
1969–70 Second Division 331302100382
1970–71 First Division 340001131382
1971–72 Second Division 231101050301
1972–73 Second Division 401106050521
1973–74 Second Division 382102000412
1974–75 Second Division 363101030412
1975–76 Second Division 360211030422
1976–77 Second Division 393204030483
Total 2961111118222134715
Port Vale 1977–78 Third Division 320203000370
1978–79 Fourth Division 310102000340
1979–80 Fourth Division 320102000350
Total 9504070001060
Career total 4391116129222150617

Managerial

Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Port Vale (caretaker) 2 December 1979 20 December 1979 1 0 0 1 000.0
Total[12] 1 0 0 1 000.0

Honours

Blackpool

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 27. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Bill Bentley Interview (Part 1)". The Vale Park Beano. 100.
  3. ↑ Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 299. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "One for the tackle". Up the Pool. Blackpool: Blackpool. 2008–09 season (Blackpool vs Swansea City): 74–75. 20 December 2008.
  5. 1 2 Pagett, Marc (24 October 2004). "Caught in Time: Blackpool win promotion to the First Division, 1970". The Times. London. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  6. 1 2 "Whatever Happened To?". Blackpool F.C. 5 October 2006. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  7. ↑ "Mystery Sportsman: Stoke City defender was a genial Welsh giant". The Sentinel. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  8. ↑ "Mystery Sportsman: Can you identify Port Vale's marathon man?". The Sentinel. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
  10. ↑ Harper, Chris. Sentinel Football Annual 1077-78. Stoke-on-Trent: The Sentinel. p. 21.
  11. ↑ "The Bill Bentley Interview (Part 2)". The Vale Park Beano. 101.
  12. 1 2 Bill Bentley at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  13. ↑ "stats". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 18 June 2012.

Further reading

  • Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
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