Ted Bensley

[Twist&Shout]

Just to let you all know Ted Bensley died this afternoon

 

I believe Ted was the oldest living ex Margate player

 

I think Jeff Trice interviewed him around 6 or 7 years ago

[AncientBlue]

Very, very sad news - Have known Ted since I started my apprenticeship at the Thanet Press way back in 1956.

 

Lovely man was Ted, always seemed to be cheerful and smiling even when being given some cheeky verbals from the apprentices.

 

RIP Ted, I will still think of you with the same high regard as always - Harvey.

Edited June 20, 2011 by AncientBlue

[Jeff Trice]

Very sad news, Ted was 96 and certainly the oldest surviving player that I'm aware of.

 

I had the pleasure of chatting to him back in the early days of my website and he had plenty of good stories about his time with Margate FC. One thing I remember him mentioning was that when Margate played Ramsgate the players used to get given a bonus for winning and when I spoke to Ted he still had an extremely crumpled up copy of a 1940's programme from a Margate v Ramsgate game he played in.

 

Ted played 27 games for Margate and scored 29 goals, here's his full profile.....

 

Unselfish centre-forward born in Margate who started his career playing amateur football for local side Thanet Press - at the time Ted was training to

become a printer.

 

In the summer of 1934 he took part in a well-attended public trial at Hartsdown Park and was one of only two local players picked out to join Margate. The club were about to embark on their first season under the Arsenal 'nursery' arrangement and the vast majority of first team players were to come from the Gunners.

 

Ted made his debut in a Kent League match against Dartford at Hartsdown on 25.8.34 and scored twice in a resounding 10-2 win but only played once more for the first team during 34/35.

 

After leaving Margate Ted had a spell playing amateur football in the Maidstone area during the 36/37 season and represented England's amateur side in a 1937 'Workers' Olympics' tournament, playing in Antwerp, Belgium and also in Paris.

 

During the war Ted was in the RAF and he served under Geoffrey (later 'Sir' Geoffrey) de Haviland who went on to become a famous aviator, aeroplane

designer, and founder of the aircraft company which bore his name. Ted also played football for the Air Force as well as making guest appearances with various clubs.

 

When Margate reformed for the 46/47 season player-manager Charlie Walker sought Ted out and asked him to return to Hartsdown. It turned out to be a good move and Ted marked the first game of his return by scoring both goals in a 2-2 Kent League draw at Ashford on 28.9.46. One of Ted's goals was a 25 yard effort and he continued to be prolific throughout the remainder of the 46/47 season. He was the club's leading scorer with 25 goals in only 23 appearances. His tally included a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Snowdown at Hartsdown on 16.11.46 and four goals in a 5-2 win at Betteshanger on 1.3.47.

 

Despite his success Ted couldn't get into the team at the start of the 47/48 season and he left the club early in the campaign. By now he was 33 and he dropped back into amateur football, becoming a star of the Thanet Press team once more.

 

Ted won numerous local honours with Thanet Press before retiring from football at the end of the 50/51 season. In March 1959 he turned out for a

Thanet Press veterans side in a charity match at The Royal School for the Deaf in Margate.

 

[Twist&Shout]

Thanks for what you said Harvey and Jeff, I am going to let Ted's daughter know the memories you had and the nice things you have had to say about him, I'm sure it will give her some comfort - although he has been ill its still a shock when these things happen

[Jeff Trice]

Ted Bensley

[Eastside Urchin]

RIP

[blueblood]

R I P.

[BlueGate Alan]

Sorry to hear that Gavin, my condolences to your Mum, Steve, you and all your family.

 

R.I.P Ted

[MummyBunny]

RIP Ted

 

x

[Blue Banshee]

RIP Ted