*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.
Derek Bellotti
Appearances: 10 Goals: 0
Clean Sheets: 4
Date / Year of birth: 25th December 1946
Position: Goalkeeper
Season of first appearance: 1977/78
Season of last appearance: 1977/78
Also played for: Queens Park Rangers (0), Bedford Town, Gillingham (43,0), Southend United (83,0), Charlton Athletic (16,0), Fulham (0), Swansea City (Wales) (22,0), Maidstone United, St.Blazey, Torquay United (0), Falmouth Town, Bideford, Saltash United, Newquay, Torrington and Ilfracombe Town
6' 1" tall keeper born in West Ham, London. Derek started his career with Queens Park Rangers, becoming an apprentice in September 1963, and was then loaned to Southern League Bedford Town for two seasons - 1964/65 and 1965/66.
He was Bedford's regular first-choice keeper until being injured in November 1965 and made a total of 73 appearances for the club.
In July 1966 he was signed by Gillingham and went on to spend four years at Priestfield, making 43 first team appearances for the Gills before Charlton paid £5,000 for him in October 1970.
This was shortly after Derek had been loaned out to Southend. He made 16 senior appearances for Charlton and had a loan spell at Fulham before being transferred in December 1971, rejoining Southend on a permanent basis.
From there Derek moved to Swansea (in May 1974) before linking up with Maidstone for the 1975/76 season. In January 1978 he joined Margate on loan from the Stones .
Derek made his debut in a 3-0 win over Taunton at Hartsdown on 14.1.78 and went on to make ten appearances filling in for the injured Steve Bowtell. He was "an excellent replacement" according to the Thanet Times and pulled off a string of great saves in a 2-0 win over Folkestone & Shepway on 18.2.78. Derek returned to Maidstone in March 1978.
He later played for St.Blazey and then joined Torquay for the 1980/81 season but didn't feature in the first team there.
After leaving Torquay Derek went on to have spells with Falmouth (1982), Bideford (1983), Saltash (1984/85) and Newquay.
During 1988/89 he was player-assistant manager of South Western League club Torrington and in December 1988 the Kent Messenger newspaper ran an article about Derek's longevity as a footballer. He was 42 at the time and said "I'm still enjoying my football as much as I ever did. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be playing on."
Derek's son Ross, also a goalkeeper, made two Football League appearances for Exeter during the 1994/95 season and during the 1997/98 campaign he was with Ilfracombe. In November 1997 Ross was injured immediately prior to a Western League game at Pewsey Vale and as a result Derek took his place, just a few weeks before his 51st birthday. Ross later played for other clubs including Newton Abbot Spurs.
By 2014 Derek had been the owner of Kingfisher Print & Design for well over 25 years and the company had a multi-million pound turnover. It was based in Totnes, Devon and Derek's son Ross was Managing Director.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS | |
|
1977/78 (MFC) |
10 (47) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION (S) (1ST OF 20) |
1QR |
1R |
1R |
1R |
GR |
| Margate promoted to Southern League Premier Division. | |||||||||