The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Former Chelsea captain Roy Bentley, aged 93
Chelsea legend Roy Bentley, the man who captained the club to their first ever trophy, has passed away aged 93.
Bentley spent eight years at Stamford Bridge after signing for the club in 1948 for £11,000, and the striker finished top scorer for seven consecutive seasons.
He ended up scoring 150 goals in 367 appearances, the joint fifth highest goals total in Chelsea’s history, and he skippered the side to their first league title in 1955.
Bentley, who also played for Newcastle, Fulham and QPR during his career, scored nine goals in 12 appearances for England and represented his country at the 1950 World Cup.
Chelsea confirmed news of his passing in a statement yesterday, sending the club’s condolences to his family and friends.
“A Chelsea legend in the truest sense of the word, his importance in the club’s story has, and never will be, forgotten,” the club said.
Born in Bristol on May 17 1924, Roy Thomas Frank Bentley was one of eight children and excelled across a range of sports including long jump, athletics and boxing, but it was football that dominated his attentions, and he was signed by local club Bristol Rovers as a 14-year-old, before quickly switching to neighbours Bristol City a year later due to financial problems at Rovers.
Bentley made his debut at 15, scoring away at Walsall before the outbreak of the Second World War brought competitive football to a halt. He joined the Navy in late 1942, but even then he spent time playing the game in Canada during his tours of duty.
After joining Chelsea in January 1948, Bentley kept his feet on the ground, supplementing his football income with cash from a part-time job as a salesman, advertised Colman’s mustard and milk, and also featured in the movie Cosh Boy alongside Joan Collins and Sid James.
In his management career, first at Reading where he spent six years, Bentley gained a reputation as a disciplinarian and earned promotion with Swansea into the Third Division.
But he will always be considered as a legend at Stamford Bridge, where he became a frequent visitor in his later years.