Peter Bennett (English footballer)

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For other people named Peter Bennett, see Peter Bennett (disambiguation).

Peter Bennett
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-06-24)24 June 1946
Place of birth Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
Date of death 22 March 2024(2024-03-22) (aged 77)
Position(s) Inside-forward
Youth career
1961–1963 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1971 West Ham United 42 (3)
1970–1979 Orient 199 (13)
1977 → St. Louis Stars (loan)[1] 22 (2)
Total 264 (18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Peter Bennett (24 June 1946 – 22 March 2024) was an English footballer who played as an inside-forward in the Football League for West Ham United and Orient.[2] He also had a stint in the North American Soccer League with St. Louis Stars.

Bennett attended Abbotsfield School and started his football career as an apprentice with West Ham United in 1961.[2][3] He joined the club along with John Sissons after the pair were spotted by scout Charlie Faulkner while playing for Middlesex Schoolboys.[4] He played in the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1963, wearing the number 8 shirt in a team that featured the likes of Harry Redknapp and John Charles. The final against Liverpool saw the team fight back from a first-leg defeat of 3–1 to win 6–5 on aggregate. He signed professional forms later that year and made his First Division debut on 4 April 1964, a home game against Bolton Wanderers.[5] He scored his first goal for the club in a 6–2 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 9 April 1966.[6][7] Bennett went on to make 47 league and cup appearances, scoring three goals, for the Upton Park club.[2]

In 1970, he moved to Division Two club Orient in a deal that saw Tommy Taylor move in the opposite direction. Orient received £63,000.[8] Bennett was soon made club captain and was part of the team that narrowly missed out on promotion in 1973–74.[5][9]

In May 1977, Bennett and teammate John Jackson joined up with NASL club St. Louis Stars.[10] A deal with Orient had been reached in March,[11] but with Orient still attempting to navigate their way through the season, Bennet's release was delayed.[12]

Back at Orient, Bennett was part of the team that reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1978. His career was ended by an ankle injury and he retired after the 1978–79 season, having made in excess of 200 appearances in all competitions for the O's during his seven years at the club.[13] After which, he joined the Orient coaching staff.[14]

His son, Warren Bennett, plays on the international golf circuit.[2]

Peter Bennett died on 22 March 2024, at the age of 77.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Peter Bennett". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 25. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  3. ^ Peracha, Qasim (14 July 2017). "Abbotsfield School is closing - here's what's happening next". Get West London. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. ^ Sharratt, Ben; Blows, Kirk (2012). Claret and Blue Blood: Pumping Life into West Ham United. Mainstream Publishing. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-78057-764-7.
  5. ^ a b "On this day - 24 June". West Ham United F.C. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Peter Bennett". West Ham United Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. ^ "April 09, 1966 / Division 1 1965/1966". footballdatabase.eu. 9 April 1966. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  8. ^ Kaufman, Neilson. "O's Through the Years". Leyton Orient F.C. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  9. ^ Fissler, Neil (19 April 2015). "Where Are They Now?". The Football League Paper. Retrieved 24 March 2018 – via PressReader.
  10. ^ Cross, Wally (23 May 1977). "Stars Do About-Face, Fall To Diplomats". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 18. Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  11. ^ "Stars Sign Peter Bennett". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 9 March 1977. p. 24. Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ "The British Are Coming —Sewell Says 'Hang On'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 11 May 1977. p. 31. Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  13. ^ "Club to host 40th Anniversary dinner to celebrate 1978 Cup Run". Leyton Orient F.C. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  14. ^ Peter Bennett at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  15. ^ "Peter Bennett: 1946–2024". Leyton Orient F.C. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
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