Bob Benson
Encyclopedia
Robert William Benson was an English
professional footballer, who played as a full back, spending most of his career with Sheffield United
. He was notable not just for being an England
international but also for being among those players who died directly as a result of playing.
, Benson had worked as a coal-miner playing for various local clubs, including Swalwell, where he was spotted by Newcastle United
and signed as a professional in December 1902. Competition for places restricted him to just a single appearance for the club, on 7 March 1903.
, the Southampton
directors were trying to recruit a right-back following the departure of Jack Robertson
in the summer. Joe Hoare had been tried but was now past his prime, so the directors sent a club official to the north east
to hunt for a player. The official's quest took him to Newcastle, where he interviewed Benson and, after agreeing a fee of £150 with the Magpies, the official returned "triumphantly" to the south coast with his "catch".
Benson made his Southampton debut on 1 October 1904, in a 1–1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion
. Benson's form was immediately impressive; described as "big and bold", he was a terror to opposition forwards, "snuffing out their moves with his sense of anticipation". Benson also developed an unorthodox method of taking penalties — by running the full length of the pitch from his full-back position before kicking the ball. Unfortunately, his method of penalty-taking was not a success, never actually converting any of the penalties he took in his year with the "Saints".
During his one season at The Dell, Benson missed several long periods through injury, when he was replaced by the veteran Samuel Meston
, and made 19 Southern League
appearances, plus three in the FA Cup
, before a summer 1905 transfer took him back to the Football League First Division
for a fee of £150, when he joined Sheffield United
.
where he developed into a strong tackler and perfected his penalty taking – all but one of his 21 goals scored for United came from the penalty spot. During his time with Sheffield United, the club generally finished in mid-table, with their highest finish being fourth in 1906–07.
His form brought him to the notice of the Football Association
and in 1910 he was a member of the F.A. touring party to South Africa, as well as representing the Football League
on one occasion. He received his solitary cap for England
on 15 February 1913 when he played at left-back against Ireland
, when England lost 2-1, with both Irish goals coming from Benson's Sheffield United team-mate Billy Gillespie
.
He played 283 matches for Sheffield United in all competitions, scoring 21 goals, including 20 penalties.
, soon after they had made their move to Highbury
. He made his debut against Bristol City
on 29 November 1913, and over two seasons he made 53 appearances for the Gunners, mostly at full-back although he was later moved to centre forward, and eventually scored seven goals for the club as they tried for promotion back into the First Division
; Arsenal would eventually win re-election based on their position of fifth in 1914-15
after the end of World War I
.
Due to the war, in 1915 first-class football was suspended. Benson quit the game to work at the Royal Arsenal
, Woolwich
, munitions factory. He kept in touch with his old club and on 19 February 1916 attended a London Combination match at Highbury against Reading
. With his former team mate Joe Shaw
unable to make the game, Benson volunteered to take his place, which ultimately had fatal consequences. Having not played a game for nearly a year, Benson was not match-fit. He collapsed on the pitch in the second half and had to be taken off; soon afterwards he died in the Highbury changing rooms, in the arms of team trainer George Hardy
.
It was later determined he had died of a burst blood vessel
, from a long-standing medical condition. Benson was buried wearing his Arsenal shirt. Three months later, Arsenal held a testimonial match
in his honour, against a Rest of London
XI, with the proceeds going to his widow; over 5,000 attended to pay their respects.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer, who played as a full back, spending most of his career with Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. He was notable not just for being an England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international but also for being among those players who died directly as a result of playing.
Newcastle United
Born in WhitehavenWhitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Benson had worked as a coal-miner playing for various local clubs, including Swalwell, where he was spotted by Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and signed as a professional in December 1902. Competition for places restricted him to just a single appearance for the club, on 7 March 1903.
Southampton
Soon after the start of the 1904–05 seasonSouthern Football League 1904-05
The 1904–05 Southern League season saw Bristol Rovers win Division One and Fulham reserves finishing top of Division Two. Division Two club Clapton Orient were the only Southern League club to apply for election to the Football League, and were successful after a decision was made to expand the...
, the Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
directors were trying to recruit a right-back following the departure of Jack Robertson
Jack Robertson (footballer)
John Thomas "Jack" Robertson was a Scottish footballer who played at full-back around the turn of the 20th century for various clubs in England, including Stoke, Liverpool and Southampton .-Stoke:Robertson was born in...
in the summer. Joe Hoare had been tried but was now past his prime, so the directors sent a club official to the north east
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
to hunt for a player. The official's quest took him to Newcastle, where he interviewed Benson and, after agreeing a fee of £150 with the Magpies, the official returned "triumphantly" to the south coast with his "catch".
Benson made his Southampton debut on 1 October 1904, in a 1–1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. Benson's form was immediately impressive; described as "big and bold", he was a terror to opposition forwards, "snuffing out their moves with his sense of anticipation". Benson also developed an unorthodox method of taking penalties — by running the full length of the pitch from his full-back position before kicking the ball. Unfortunately, his method of penalty-taking was not a success, never actually converting any of the penalties he took in his year with the "Saints".
During his one season at The Dell, Benson missed several long periods through injury, when he was replaced by the veteran Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and...
, and made 19 Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
appearances, plus three in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, before a summer 1905 transfer took him back to the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for a fee of £150, when he joined Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
Sheffield United
He spent eight seasons at Bramall LaneBramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
where he developed into a strong tackler and perfected his penalty taking – all but one of his 21 goals scored for United came from the penalty spot. During his time with Sheffield United, the club generally finished in mid-table, with their highest finish being fourth in 1906–07.
His form brought him to the notice of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
and in 1910 he was a member of the F.A. touring party to South Africa, as well as representing the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
on one occasion. He received his solitary cap for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 15 February 1913 when he played at left-back against Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
, when England lost 2-1, with both Irish goals coming from Benson's Sheffield United team-mate Billy Gillespie
Billy Gillespie
Billy Gillespie was a football player for Sheffield United over a twenty year period from 1913 to 1932, scoring over 137 League and Cup goals in 492 games for the South Yorkshire side....
.
He played 283 matches for Sheffield United in all competitions, scoring 21 goals, including 20 penalties.
Woolwich Arsenal
In November 1913 Benson joined Woolwich ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, soon after they had made their move to Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
. He made his debut against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on 29 November 1913, and over two seasons he made 53 appearances for the Gunners, mostly at full-back although he was later moved to centre forward, and eventually scored seven goals for the club as they tried for promotion back into the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
; Arsenal would eventually win re-election based on their position of fifth in 1914-15
1914-15 in English football
The 1914–15 season was the 44th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1914 Charity Shield was not contested due to suspension of football during World War I-Events:...
after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Due to the war, in 1915 first-class football was suspended. Benson quit the game to work at the Royal Arsenal
Royal Arsenal
The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England.-Early history:The Warren...
, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, munitions factory. He kept in touch with his old club and on 19 February 1916 attended a London Combination match at Highbury against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. With his former team mate Joe Shaw
Joseph E. Shaw
Joseph Ebenezer "Joe" Shaw was an English football player and coach.Born in Bury, Lancashire, Shaw first played for his home club, Bury, and then Accrington Stanley, helping the side win the Lancashire Combination...
unable to make the game, Benson volunteered to take his place, which ultimately had fatal consequences. Having not played a game for nearly a year, Benson was not match-fit. He collapsed on the pitch in the second half and had to be taken off; soon afterwards he died in the Highbury changing rooms, in the arms of team trainer George Hardy
George Hardy
George Hardy was an English genre painter, a member of the Cranbrook Colony and eldest brother to Frederick Daniel Hardy.Hardy was born in Brighton in Sussex the first son of George Hardy , a musician to George IV, Queen Adelaide, and Queen Victoria in the Royal household at Windsor. His mother...
.
It was later determined he had died of a burst blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
, from a long-standing medical condition. Benson was buried wearing his Arsenal shirt. Three months later, Arsenal held a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
in his honour, against a Rest of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
XI, with the proceeds going to his widow; over 5,000 attended to pay their respects.