Alan Bennett (footballer, born 1931)

Alan Bennett (5 November 1931 – 17 January 2006) was an English footballer who played on the left-wing. He made 133 league appearances in a nine-year career in the English Football League. He played for Port Vale between 1949 and 1957, and was a member of the Third Division North winning side in 1953–54. He retired in 1958, following one season with Crewe Alexandra.

Alan Bennett
Personal information
Full name Alan Bennett[1]
Date of birth (1931-11-05)5 November 1931[1]
Place of birth Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 17 January 2006(2006-01-17) (aged 74)
Place of death Stoke-on-Trent, England
Position(s) Left-winger
Youth career
Grove Youth Club
Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1949–1957 Port Vale 123 (8)
1957–1958 Crewe Alexandra 10 (0)
Total 133 (8)
International career
England Youth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Port Vale

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Bennett graduated from the Port Vale juniors to sign his first professional contract with the club in 1949.[1] He represented England Youth.[2] He made his senior debut for Port Vale on 26 March 1949, in a 2–0 defeat to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] He played ten Third Division South games for Gordon Hodgson's "Valiants" in 1949–50.[1] He featured 31 times in 1950–51, and scored his first senior goal on 30 September, in a 2–1 home win over Swindon Town.[1] Bennett scored three goals in 40 appearances in 1951–52, after retaining his first-team place at Vale Park despite the transition of manager from Hodgson to Ivor Powell and then to Freddie Steele.[1] He scored three goals in 29 games in 1952–53, as Vale went on to finish second in the Third Division North.[1] He lost his first-team place in December 1952, and featured only five times in 1953–54, as Vale won the league title and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.[1] He played four Second Division games in 1954–55, and then featured seven times in 1955–56 and just twice in 1956–57.[1] Having failed to revive his career under new manager Norman Low, Bennett was transferred to Maurice Lindley's Crewe Alexandra in September 1957.[1]

Crewe Alexandra

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The "Railwaymen" finished bottom of the English Football League in 1957–58, and Bennett then announced his retirement at the age of 27.

Style of play

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A skilful and speedy winger, he required the protection of his teammates to prevent opposition hatchet men from taking him out of the game.[3]

Later life

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After leaving the game, Bennett took up the greengrocer trade, later becoming a coal merchant.[4]

Career statistics

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Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1948–49 Third Division South 1 0 0 0 1 0
1949–50 Third Division South 10 0 0 0 10 0
1950–51 Third Division South 28 2 3 1 31 3
1951–52 Third Division South 39 3 1 0 40 3
1952–53 Third Division North 27 3 2 0 29 3
1953–54 Third Division North 5 0 0 0 5 0
1954–55 Second Division 4 0 0 0 4 0
1955–56 Second Division 7 0 0 0 7 0
1956–57 Second Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 123 8 6 1 129 9
Crewe Alexandra 1957–58 Third Division North 10 0 0 0 10 0
Career total 133 8 6 1 139 9

Honours

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Port Vale

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 25. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Baggaley, Mike (22 March 2024). "Key questions answered after David Flitcroft leaves Vale". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  3. ^ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 234. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  4. ^ Sherwin, Phil (2013). Men of Steele. Hanley, Staffordshire: Pass. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8.
  5. ^ Alan Bennett at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. ^ Sherwin, Phil; Askey, Steve (2013), Men of Steele: The story of Port Vale's stunning 1953/54 season, Pass Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8