*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Alf Bentley
Appearances: 4 Goals: 0
Clean Sheets: 0
Date / Year of birth: 28th October 1931
Position: Goalkeeper
Season of first appearance: 1957/58
Season of last appearance: 1957/58
Also played for: Snowdown Colliery Welfare, Coventry City (29,0), Gillingham (13,0), Tunbridge Wells United and Hastings United
5' 10 tall keeper born in Aylesham, Kent who started his career with Snowdown before being signed by Coventry in October 1955. Alf played 29 first team games for the Sky Blues before returning to Snowdown.
He then joined Margate in January 1958 and although he was initially the club's third choice keeper behind John Prodger and Peter Peters manager Almer Hall described him as "the master of his penalty area". After Peters left the club in February 1958 Alf took over as the reserve team's first-choice keeper and on 16.4.58 he made his first team debut in a 3-0 defeat at Tunbridge Wells. He went on to play three more games before the end of the 1957/58 season but left Hartsdown in August 1958.
Alf joined Gillingham and stayed at Priestfield until the end of 1961/62, making 13 first team appearances during that time. He also played regularly for the Gills' reserve side and broke his arm in a match against Margate Reserves in October 1960.
He then moved to Tunbridge Wells and was with them during the first half of the 1962/63 season. On 29.9.62 Alf was sent off in a game against Margate for kicking David Hills and early in 1963 Alf linked up with Hastings.
His next move was back to Snowdown and during the 1966/67 season Alf was both manager and chairman of the club. He later became probably the best-known manager in Kent during the 1970's and early 1980's.
He had spells in charge of clubs such as Canterbury (1970/71-1974/75), Ramsgate (1975/76), Dover (1976/77-1979/80) and Folkestone (1979/80-1983/84). Alf then returned to Canterbury as manager-director towards the end of the 1983/84 season and remained in charge at Kingsmead during the 1984/85 campaign before being replaced by Carl Gilbert for 1985/86.
During the 1987/88 season Alf had another spell at Canterbury as caretaker manager and then went back to Folkestone as manager in the summer of 1990 but resigned at the end of September 1990.
Alf later returned to Canterbury yet again and was in charge of City for the start of the 1991/92 season before being sacked in January 1992.
His next port of call was his old club Snowdown Colliery Welfare, Alf linked up with the Kent County League side for the start of the 1992/93 campaign. He was part of a three man management team, working alongside Roy Hare and Alan Jones - both former Dover managers like Alf. He then became Snowdown's chairman for the 1993/94 season.
At Canterbury Alf was especially well-known for unearthing young players including Mark Weatherly, Pat Hilton, Bobby Wilson, Terry Norton and Phil Nash.
He ran The Red Lion pub in Dover from 1982 to 1987 and again during 1992.
He died in Dover on 15.10.96, shortly before his 65th birthday.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1957/58 (MFC) |
4 (48) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 18) |
1R |
SF |
RU |
SF |
|
Played in Kent
League Cup Final (10.05.58 - lost 3-0 to Deal
Town). | |||||||||