Bill Bentley

William John Bentley (born 21 October 1947) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He made 439 league appearances in a 15-year career in the Football League.

Beginning his career at Stoke City in 1964, he moved on to Blackpool in 1968. He spent the next nine years with Blackpool, helping them to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1969–70 and to lift the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1971. He spent 1977 to 1980 at Port Vale, also briefly serving the club as caretaker manager in 1979. He ended his career at non-League club Stafford Rangers in 1981.

Early and later life William John Bentley was born on 21 October 1947 in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent and attended St Gregory's School. He made five First Division appearances in 1965–66 and seven appearances in 1966–67, before breaking into Tony Waddington's first-team plans during the 1967–68 campaign, when he played a total of 37 games for the "Potters". The young defender's physique and temperament had won him comparisons to John Charles. However, Bentley fell out with Waddington after finding himself out of the first XI for an extended period. Blackpool finished fifth in 1973–74, missing out on promotion by just three points. They again finished seventh in 1974–75, before falling to tenth in 1975–76. On 3 January 1976, Bentley scored a "stunning" Upon his arrival at Vale Park, Bentley stated that "I am a Potteries lad and I want to play for the club. There is no question of me coming here to be put out to grass. I still think I have plenty to offer". He played 37 games in 1977–78, retaining his first-team place under new boss Bobby Smith, as the "Valiants" slipped out of the Third Division after losing 3–2 at Plymouth Argyle on the final day.

Stafford Rangers Bentley moved on to Stafford Rangers, with whom he finished his professional career in 1981, after making 20 Alliance Premier League appearances in the 1980–81 season. After Rangers he became the player-manager of Fenton British Legion and Foley.

Career statistics Club

Managerial + Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordPort Vale (caretaker)2 December 197920 December 1979Total

Honours Blackpool Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1969–70 Anglo-Italian Cup: 1971; runner-up: 1972