[Official Site] Club Statement | John Bettany

Club Statement | John Bettany
Club News

Barnsley Football Club are saddened to learn of the passing of former player John Bettany.

Continue reading on the official site...

 

RIP John , commiserations to your family .
Once a Red always a Red.

 

he was great player for Barnsley, I had the good fortune to watch him many times... RIP John.

 

Was my favourite player when I first started watching t'reds in '67 so saddened to hear of his passing.

RIP John.

 

RIP John great little player for us

 

RIP. John Bethany was a first teaser when I first started watching regularly in 1965. He was a great midfielder. I didn't appreciate that we actually paid money for him as at the time the club was on its uppers so to speak. He was worth every penny though. another 60s hero gone.

 

It is a lovely touch that regardless of how long ago someone played for us we still remember them.

 

One of my first heroes, RIP John

 

RIP John. Former Hudders too.

 

R.I.P. John. A truly classy midfield player for us. My late Father, and plenty other wise old sages at the time, used to say " When John Bettany plays well, Barnsley play well". They were absolutely correct.

 

Best player we signed after our relation from the second division. The motor of the side. May he RIP.

 

It was said that when Bettany played well, Barnsley played well. That was because he was a play-maker in every sense of the word and would have fitted into the current regime of high press and all-action running without any problem. It's debatable whether money actually changed hands for him between us and Huddersfield, as Tony Leighton was sold for a fee of £15k (not the £20k we wanted and which was reported in the press at the time) and the £4k due for Bettany was simply knocked off the Leighton fee with Huddersfield. Best memories involved his dynamism from the very start of a game and he particularly seemed to relish cup ties. I remember him hitting the bar pretty much from the kick-off against Grimsby in a cup tie and doing similar in forcing Peter Shilton into a first-minute save against Leicester. A curling right-footed free-kick from the left hand side against Southport in the cup, which had so much spin on it that it rolled the full length of the crossbar before dropping off the far end with everyone waiting to tap in into the net. A wonder goal at home to Swindon when the Oakwell pitch was reduced to the state of a paddy field by heavy rain before and during the game - Bettany surged through for a return pass and drilled home past Downsborough (good goalie) at the near post from a tight angle when it looked as though the ball was bound to run put of play.

Great memories and we'll forgive him for the £1k (can you imagine that transfer fee today?) move to Rotherham to end his career. RIP, John. Great memories of a key dynamo of the Great Revival. Condolences to his family and let Oakwell know if there any lads in the family aged up to 20 or so, who fancy a trial! A chip of the old block would be just what we need.

 

Favourite of mine as well. RIP John

 

That's a terrific tribute full of memory and detail. one of my early heroes. loved his dynamism and energy and as someone has already said he would have been ideal for the press.
RIP John. We salute you.

 

Nice post Thomas. A year or two before I started watching but once players give you memories.....Condolences to all his family.

 

I remember that Swindon goal very well. What a picture of John grinning with no teeth in. The term tight angle don't quite do it justice.

 

RIP John . One of the few players I remember as a kid from the 60’s .

 

Great player, better than Eusebio. (One for the older ones) RIP.

 

RIP John.

 

R.I.P young man.
oaraar .