Paul Bennett (footballer born 1952)
Encyclopedia
Paul Reginald Bennett born Southampton
4 February 1952, is a former footballer, who played during the FA Cup
run of Southampton
in 1976
, and also had spells at Reading
and Aldershot
.
.
He made his debut at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 22 April 1972, and was charged with marking Martin Chivers
, who was a former Saints player and had coincidentally also attended Taunton's Grammar School.
Bennett was a rugged no-nonsense sort of centre-half in the same mould as John McGrath, the man he followed into the senior side. At 6 ft Bennett was not the tallest of centre-halves but he read the game well and was a fearless tackler.
In the 1972-73 season, partnering Jim Steele, he firmly established himself as one of the two central defenders with a run of 31 consecutive appearances during which he scored his only league goal for the club, away to Birmingham City on 21 October 1972.
In 1973-74 Bennett missed only 6 League games and scored a memorable winner - a cracking 30 yard drive with his right foot - to eliminate Blackpool
in the Third Round of the FA Cup at the Dell. Unfortunately the club were relegated that same year and when Saints subsequently bought Mel Blyth
from Crystal Palace
the following September, plus the emergence of the youngsters, Malcolm Waldron
and Manny Andruszewski
, Bennett found first team opportunities increasingly more elusive.
In 1975-76 Bennett was still very much part of the squad, making 20 outings in the League and playing in the 6th Round FA Cup win at Bradford City's Valley Parade
, as Southampton moved on to the final on 1 May 1976, when they beat Manchester United
to win the F.A. Cup.
After the F.A. Cup was won, Lawrie McMenemy
started to build a team to win promotion back to Division 1 and Bennett was no longer part of his plans and after 137 games for the team, he left the Saints.
purchased him in the summer of 1976 for a fee of £8000.
His first season at Elm Park
was disappointing, as Reading were relegated to Division 4. The following season, with Maurice Evans
as manager, things improved and in 1978-79, with Bennett featuring strongly, Reading won promotion. During this season Reading set a club record for clean sheets with 26 in the season including the last 11 games.
Unfortunately, Paul was not offered a pay increase on promotion, so, after 195 league games, he transferred to Aldershot.
signed him in August 1979, for a then club record fee of £25,000.
He made over 100 appearances in 3 seasons at Aldershot playing in Division 4.
, Road-Sea Southampton
and Eastleigh
, while starting a full-time career in community work.
He worked for 4 years at Oaklands School in Southampton, before moving on to the Eastpoint Centre in Thornhill, Southampton
where he is now a director.
In 1998, he helped organise the celebrations for Ted Bates
first 60 seasons at The Dell, with a testimonial including several former Saints players such as Terry Paine
, Ron Davies
, John Sydenham
and Tony Knapp
.
Paul Bennett also lectures Business at Southampton Solent University
.
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
4 February 1952, is a former footballer, who played during the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
run of Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1976
FA Cup Final 1976
The 1976 FA Cup Final took place on 1 May 1976 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Manchester United and Southampton.United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division...
, and also had spells at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
.
Early days
He attended Taunton’s Grammar School in Southampton, before joining the ground staff at The DellThe Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
.
Southampton
He signed amateur papers in July 1968, before moving up to become a professional in November 1969.He made his debut at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 22 April 1972, and was charged with marking Martin Chivers
Martin Chivers
Martin Harcourt Chivers is a retired English professional footballer from the 1960s and 1970s.-Southampton:...
, who was a former Saints player and had coincidentally also attended Taunton's Grammar School.
Bennett was a rugged no-nonsense sort of centre-half in the same mould as John McGrath, the man he followed into the senior side. At 6 ft Bennett was not the tallest of centre-halves but he read the game well and was a fearless tackler.
In the 1972-73 season, partnering Jim Steele, he firmly established himself as one of the two central defenders with a run of 31 consecutive appearances during which he scored his only league goal for the club, away to Birmingham City on 21 October 1972.
In 1973-74 Bennett missed only 6 League games and scored a memorable winner - a cracking 30 yard drive with his right foot - to eliminate Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the Third Round of the FA Cup at the Dell. Unfortunately the club were relegated that same year and when Saints subsequently bought Mel Blyth
Mel Blyth
Melvin Bernard "Mel" Blyth is a former footballer, who played for several clubs, including Southampton with whom he won the FA Cup in 1976.-Norwich City and Scunthorpe United:...
from Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
the following September, plus the emergence of the youngsters, Malcolm Waldron
Malcolm Waldron
Malcolm Waldron born 6 September 1956 is a former footballer who played for various clubs, including Southampton and Portsmouth. He played as a Centre back during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Southampton:...
and Manny Andruszewski
Manny Andruszewski
Emanuel Franciszek Andruszewski, born 4 October 1955 in Eastleigh, Hampshire of Polish parents, is a former footballer who played for Southampton F.C. He played at full back and centre back during the late 1970s.-Southampton:...
, Bennett found first team opportunities increasingly more elusive.
In 1975-76 Bennett was still very much part of the squad, making 20 outings in the League and playing in the 6th Round FA Cup win at Bradford City's Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
, as Southampton moved on to the final on 1 May 1976, when they beat Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
to win the F.A. Cup.
After the F.A. Cup was won, Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired English football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
started to build a team to win promotion back to Division 1 and Bennett was no longer part of his plans and after 137 games for the team, he left the Saints.
Reading
ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
purchased him in the summer of 1976 for a fee of £8000.
His first season at Elm Park
Elm Park (stadium)
Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of the English town of Reading. It was the home of Reading Football Club from 1896 until 1998, when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium....
was disappointing, as Reading were relegated to Division 4. The following season, with Maurice Evans
Maurice Evans (footballer)
Maurice George Evans was a football player with Reading Football Club, and later manager of Shrewsbury, Reading and Oxford United....
as manager, things improved and in 1978-79, with Bennett featuring strongly, Reading won promotion. During this season Reading set a club record for clean sheets with 26 in the season including the last 11 games.
Unfortunately, Paul was not offered a pay increase on promotion, so, after 195 league games, he transferred to Aldershot.
Aldershot
AldershotAldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
signed him in August 1979, for a then club record fee of £25,000.
He made over 100 appearances in 3 seasons at Aldershot playing in Division 4.
After football
After leaving Aldershot, he played for various local teams, including Salisbury CitySalisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
, Road-Sea Southampton
Road-Sea Southampton F.C.
Road-Sea Southampton F.C. were a powerful football club best known for moving directly from playing in amateur Sunday league parks football to the semi-professional Southern League during their short fourteen year existence.-History:...
and Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
, while starting a full-time career in community work.
He worked for 4 years at Oaklands School in Southampton, before moving on to the Eastpoint Centre in Thornhill, Southampton
Thornhill, Hampshire
-About Thornhill:Thornhill is a suburb of Southampton, United Kingdom. Situated on the Eastern border of the City and bounded by three major roads; the area is effectively an island. According to the the population was 11,460...
where he is now a director.
In 1998, he helped organise the celebrations for Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
first 60 seasons at The Dell, with a testimonial including several former Saints players such as Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
, Ron Davies
Ron Davies (footballer)
Ronald Tudor "Ron" Davies was a Welsh footballer who played as a centre forward. He spent most of his career with Southampton in the Football League First Division, and also for the Welsh national team....
, John Sydenham
John Sydenham
John Sydenham, born in Southampton 15 September 1939 is a former footballer, who played most of his career for Southampton F.C.-Early career:...
and Tony Knapp
Tony Knapp
Anthony Knapp is a British footballer, a notable defender in the English football league in the 1960s....
.
Paul Bennett also lectures Business at Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
.