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Bill Beaney


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Local lad who played the first 3 games of the 74-75 season and that was it. I played cricket with him in the 70's and stood with him at Wembley 76. He was and may still be, the steward in the bright red blazer, that stood at the front of the players tunnel and had responsibility for looking after the ref and linos.

 

He was also groundsman at Sholing/VT in Portsmouth Rd.

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My Naval cooking pal says his galley maintainer (?) is Bill Beaney, ex Saint. I don't remember the name, any info?

 

I remember him, he played with an old mate of mine (Terry Rawlings) for Saints youth along with Steve Mills, we would meet up most weeks at the Top Rank if they were not playing away. Suffice to say he would not remember me.

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At the risk of showing my age, I remember him - long fair hair - probably grey or bald now! He came over to the Island for a cricket match against supporters and I have a photo of it somewhere that he and I think Jim Steele, Eric Martin and others were in.

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I remember him, he played with an old mate of mine (Terry Rawlings) for Saints youth along with Steve Mills, we would meet up most weeks at the Top Rank if they were not playing away. Suffice to say he would not remember me.

 

Didn't we all

Fortunately for us mere mortals of that era girls didn't know what every potential gazillonaire footballer looked like.:p

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Bill is still involved with the Ex-Saints as Notty1981 said drinks in the Park Inn Shirley, played for Saints at the same time as Steve Mills (RIP).

 

Bill grew up in Bursledon and was at the Dell from an early age,possibly 14

 

He had 2 brothers, as I recollect, one of whom Steve, ran the Park Inn, with his family, until his untimely death a couple of years ago.

 

Both Bill and Steve were actively involved in the Ex Saints and Bill still turns out.

 

Bill only played a few games for Saints and then did the rounds here before going out to the States to play, I think, for Washington Diplomats(with Eric Martin?) and there are pictures of Bill playing against the likes of Pele.

 

The Diplomats signature was .. 'Football, just a kick in the grass'.

 

On returning to the UK Bill worked for Vospers in Woolston for a number of years, ending up as their groundsman in Portsmouth Rd

 

As has been said, Bill was often to be seen, front of house at the Dell and then St Marys.

 

Think he now looks after the Terry Paine Suite.

 

A real character and Saints enthusiast with a repertoire of pretty cheesy jokes

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Local lad who played the first 3 games of the 74-75 season and that was it. I played cricket with him in the 70's and stood with him at Wembley 76. He was and may still be, the steward in the bright red blazer, that stood at the front of the players tunnel and had responsibility for looking after the ref and linos.

 

 

 

Actually Bill debuted much earlier than that - around Easter 72-73 season. First as sub, v. West Ham and then in away game v.Chelsea. We lost both.

He then went a whole season without any first team action, until the game you mentioned at start of 74-75 season.

In between he played in no. 6 shirt for Reserves, where there was fierce competition from Manny Andruzewski and Colin Waldron who both had considerable careers in later seasons. I used to watch a lot of Reserve matches as well as First team games.

 

There was little chance of getting first team games especially as the incumbent defenders at that time were Jim Steele and Paul Bennett.

A typical example of a good schoolboy player who just didn't have the "X" factor that makes careers, Bill played over 50 games for the "stiffs" but when reaching that crucial age around 20 just didn't make it in the early McMenemy set-up..but in that fact he wasn't alone.

 

The number of local players who went on to have good careers, can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

.

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I remember him, he played with an old mate of mine (Terry Rawlings) for Saints youth along with Steve Mills, we would meet up most weeks at the Top Rank if they were not playing away. Suffice to say he would not remember me.

 

Is that Terry who went to West End Juniors

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Will be off to see Bill in a few minutes, works behind the bar at the Park(Friday and Sundays), though he's been on the wagon for a few years, still the life of the party. Has some great stories to tell, though as others have mentioned his jokes are awful!

He is stewarding one of the coaches for the skates game too, so some of you will hear how bad those jokes are!

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In my class at school and played with him at Hamble Secondary as it was then and I saw him play against (I think) Hull and Plymouth in the early seventies -then heard he had gone to play in the States.

 

One of several brothers/sisters I think - Steve also played in a scouts team I played in that his Dad (also top bloke) ran.

 

He was on stage at the Mike Osman/Lawrie Tiss tribute last January but I didn't get a chance to speak...going by my own age he'd be 57/8 now.

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World Class footballer for the mighty Saints;) quite good :rolleyes:...Loaned to Swansea and Reading..

 

Played for Waterford in Eire and played for their FA cup winning sidein Ireland .:) brilliant

 

Played for Washington Diplomats in USA against Pele home and away and sent me numerous autographs and pictures of the great man...and Pele. Mr Pele was quite good and Bill was superb:rolleyes:

 

Played for Poole Town, Dorchester, Andover, Netley Central and Totton and virtually anyone else who would have him....

 

Steve and Billy Beaney played and helped Roy Beesley run Ex Saints for the last 30 years.....

 

Steve passed away with leukemia a couple of years ago RIP STEVIE BOY.......Bill still works at St Marys stadium on match days..

 

He still does a tremendous amount of charity work in walks and marathon runs over the years...including a recent 100 mile walk around Hampshire..

for cancer charity re a Naval Wren diagnosed with said cancer..

 

Bill is one of life's great characters and he will put himself out for just about anybody as many peeps will know.

 

He had quite a reasonable footer career but throughout, his love for the mighty Saints has never died..

 

Boyzz and girlzz ..trust me :rolleyes: Billy Beaney is one of us and when not working he stands (SITS) side by side with me and many others at Saints games..

 

His jokes are as stated appalling but a great guy to have around and on your side...

Edited by ottery st mary
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Townhill Park, played against Terry at Under11, then at Sec Schools.had trials for Soton Boys together.

Last time I saw him was in Castle Pub in Midanbury

 

I have now seen Terry for years, I have tried to track him dowm a few times but know joy; you mentioned West End Juniors, on one occassion I was picked to play for the school taking his place in the team, I of course was chuffed to bits, only to learn that I only got in because Terry was playing for Soton boys, many years later when we used to hang out at the Top Rank, I always remember Steve Mills telling me that in his opinion, Terry was the best player in the then youth side and could not understand why Ted Bates would not sign him pro.

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world class footballer for the mighty saints;) quite good :rolleyes:...loaned to swansea and reading..

 

Played for waterford in eire and played for their fa cup winning sidein ireland .:) brilliant

 

played for washington diplomats in usa against pele home and away and sent me numerous autographs and pictures of the great man...and pele. Mr pele was quite good and bill was superb:rolleyes:

 

Played for poole town, dorchester, andover, netley central and totton and virtually anyone else who would have him....

 

Steve and billy beaney played and helped roy beesley run ex saints for the last 30 years.....

 

Steve passed away with leukemia a couple of years ago rip stevie boy.......bill still works at st marys stadium on match days..

 

He still does a tremendous amount of charity work in walks and marathon runs over the years...including a recent 100 mile walk around hampshire..

For cancer charity re a naval wren diagnosed with said cancer..

 

Bill is one of life's great characters and he will put himself out for just about anybody as many peeps will know.

 

He had quite a reasonable footer career but throughout, his love for the mighty saints has never died..

 

Boyzz and girlzz ..trust me :rolleyes: Billy beaney is one of us and when not working he stands (sits) side by side with me and many others at saints games..

 

His jokes are as stated appalling but a great guy to have around and on your side...

magnifico!

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I have now seen Terry for years, I have tried to track him dowm a few times but know joy; you mentioned West End Juniors, on one occassion I was picked to play for the school taking his place in the team, I of course was chuffed to bits, only to learn that I only got in because Terry was playing for Soton boys, many years later when we used to hang out at the Top Rank, I always remember Steve Mills telling me that in his opinion, Terry was the best player in the then youth side and could not understand why Ted Bates would not sign him pro.

 

Still at Totton & Eling they probably have a website/email/tel no

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I have now seen Terry for years, I have tried to track him dowm a few times but know joy; you mentioned West End Juniors, on one occassion I was picked to play for the school taking his place in the team, I of course was chuffed to bits, only to learn that I only got in because Terry was playing for Soton boys, many years later when we used to hang out at the Top Rank, I always remember Steve Mills telling me that in his opinion, Terry was the best player in the then youth side and could not understand why Ted Bates would not sign him pro.

 

Terry (Rawlins no g) lives in Netley is married to Bren and has a son Ricky, Rick was an apprentice groundsman at SMS until recently. Both Terry and Rick played cricket for BAT now Totton and Eling, Terry has a season ticket in kingsland north and never misses a game. Martel, if your serious about getting in touch with Rawly PM me and I'll make contact for you.

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I played cricket with him in the 70's .

 

Me too, although considerably younger than Bill, I was a kid playing in an adults team at the time.

 

Remember being in awe of the fact that I actually knew a Saints player and he would actually speak to me !

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Terry (Rawlins no g) lives in Netley is married to Bren and has a son Ricky, Rick was an apprentice groundsman at SMS until recently. Both Terry and Rick played cricket for BAT now Totton and Eling, Terry has a season ticket in kingsland north and never misses a game. Martel, if your serious about getting in touch with Rawly PM me and I'll make contact for you.

 

Thanks, that would be great, however, right now I am preparing to move back to the UK from the USA, can you P.M. me with an e-mail address so as to contact you on my return? Just tell him it is Martyn from West End Primary and Wildern secondary and spent the most of our school time in the same class, following that we hung out at the rank and for a short time he did date my younger cousin who he met at my first wedding, he also got me home one night whilst totally wasted, he got me to the back door, saw my old man, dropped me and legged it.

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Martyn, I've just checked my e-mail inbox and there's not one there yet!! I'm playing badminton against Rawly tonight so will have a chat with him then.

 

I have just re-sent the e-mail, it did not bounce back so please check junk mail.

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  • 12 years later...
On 02/12/2011 at 15:22, martel said:

 

I remember him, he played with an old mate of mine (Terry Rawlings) for Saints youth along with Steve Mills, we would meet up most weeks at the Top Rank if they were not playing away. Suffice to say he would not remember me.

I think you know my old school friend who used to play for saints  youth at foot ball and cricket? I used to play football with Terry Rawlings at st James school west end , and he and I were great friends, I have not seen Terry since we where 13 years old as I went to another school and then went to live in Europe .  If you are still in touch with Terry or know where he lives, or a contact e-mails please would you be kind enough get InTouch with me on Simon.cohn67@gmail.com

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On 02/12/2011 at 20:19, Mustapha Fag said:

Bill works behind the bar in the Park although tee total

Try looking him up on facebook, has some great photos from his days with Saints and his American career

Regular contributor on the Saints Archives FB page

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