[Official Site] Club Statement | John Bettany

My scrapbooks are in the custody of another family member, and are 50 miles away, but, from memory, it was a very small squad of players that got us promotion that year. Perhaps every first team squad player got a medal - I wouldn't know. John Bettany was the engine room of midfield, no doubt about that, and the signings of Barrie Thomas and Johnny Evans had the kind of impact that John Hendrie and Paul Wilkinson had much later, albeit at a lower level. Our centre half pairing of Eric Winstanley and Pat Howard must have been the best in the division.

After the desperate years of the early to mid sixties, where we almost went to the wall but for a modest investment by Geoff Buckle and Ernest Dennis, this season was pure pleasure all the way through it. Gates climbed from 2-3,000 up to five figures and the buzz around Oakwell was incredible. All this with no big name loan stars (no such thing in those days) and journeymen footballers to compliment the home grown talent at our disposal.

I hope John had the chance to enjoy our success in recent years so all I can say is rest in peace sir. You will not be forgotten.

 

I know. I was there. I missed only one home game in 1966/7 when we were rock bottom. Thomas had to retire half way through he next season through injury and was replaced by Jimmy Robson who incidentally scored the one hundredth goal in a wembley cup final for Burnley against Tottenham. Heady days.