English footballer
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 .
Career
Port Vale
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
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
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
After leaving the game, Bennett took up the greengrocer trade, later becoming a coal merchant .[ 4]
Career statistics
Source:[ 5]
Honours
Port Vale
References
^ 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 .
^ Baggaley, Mike (22 March 2024). "Key questions answered after David Flitcroft leaves Vale" . Valiant's Substack . Retrieved 22 March 2024 .
^ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories . Witan Books. p. 234. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3 .
^ Sherwin, Phil (2013). Men of Steele . Hanley, Staffordshire : Pass. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8 .
^ Alan Bennett at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
^ 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