Jim Bett
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Bett is a Scottish
former professional footballer
, who predominantly played for Aberdeen
. He played in central or left midfield
.
Bett was a Scottish Schoolboy internationalist, who started his career with Gartcosh United and Airdrieonians
before moving to Iceland
ic side Valur
in 1978. A year later he joined K.S.C. Lokeren (282) in Belgium
before Rangers
manager John Greig
paid £150,000 to sign him for the Glasgow
club in 1980. In three seasons at Ibrox
he won a Scottish Cup
winners medal (1980–81
) and a League Cup
winners medal (1982–83
). During this spell he also earned his first selection for the Scotland national side
, making the first of 25 appearances in 1982.
Bett left Rangers in 1983 for a second spell with Lokeren before returning to his native land in 1985, joining Alex Ferguson
's Aberdeen in 1985 for £300,000. During his time with the Dons he collected winners medals in the 1985–86
and 1989–90
seasons for both the Scottish League Cup
and Scottish Cup
. He left Pittodrie
in 1994, after making almost 300 first-team appearances, and moved to KR Reykjavík
. He won the Icelandic Cup
with KR but left at the end of the 1994 Icelandic season to join Hearts
, with whom he played the 1994–95 Scottish season
. He retired in 1996, after a final season
with Dundee United
.
Bett met his Icelandic wife during his time playing for Valur and has maintained a close connection with Iceland since. His sons Baldur
and Calum
, also both professional footballers, were born there and have represented the country at Under-19 level. Coincidentally, Bett's only goal for Scotland occurred in a 1–0 win over Iceland
in Reykjavík
in 1985.
In 2003, Bett was inducted into the Aberdeen FC Hall of Fame as one of the founding members.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, who predominantly played for Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. He played in central or left midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Bett was a Scottish Schoolboy internationalist, who started his career with Gartcosh United and Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
before moving to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic side Valur
Valur
Knattspyrnufélagið Valur is an Icelandic athletic club based in Reykjavík, Iceland. One of Iceland's most prolific clubs it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2011. The club is situated close to the city centre, in the traditional east side of town, at the old farmgrounds of Hlíðarendi...
in 1978. A year later he joined K.S.C. Lokeren (282) in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
before Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
manager John Greig
John Greig
John Greig MBE is a Scottish former professional football player who, despite his boyhood allegiance to hometown team Heart of Midlothian, spent his entire career in Glasgow with Rangers as a player, manager and director.Greig was voted "The Greatest Ever Ranger" in 1999 by the Rangers supporters...
paid £150,000 to sign him for the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
club in 1980. In three seasons at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
he won a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
winners medal (1980–81
1980-81 in Scottish football
The 1980-81 season was the 84th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Kilmarnock, Hearts-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hibernian, Dundee...
) and a League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
winners medal (1982–83
1982-83 in Scottish football
The 1982–83 season was the 86th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:In a tightly fought contest Dundee United win their first and only title this season. The league remains undecided until the last day of the season with Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United in contention...
). During this spell he also earned his first selection for the Scotland national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, making the first of 25 appearances in 1982.
Bett left Rangers in 1983 for a second spell with Lokeren before returning to his native land in 1985, joining Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
's Aberdeen in 1985 for £300,000. During his time with the Dons he collected winners medals in the 1985–86
1985-86 in Scottish football
The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,...
and 1989–90
1989-90 in Scottish football
The 1989–90 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:Rangers won their third league title in four seasons under the management of Graeme Souness....
seasons for both the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. He left Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
in 1994, after making almost 300 first-team appearances, and moved to KR Reykjavík
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, , for short KR or KR Reykjavík, is an Icelandic athletic club based in the capital, Reykjavík. KR is the oldest and most successful club in Icelandic football.-History:...
. He won the Icelandic Cup
VISA-bikar
The Icelandic Cup is a knock-out football cup competition in Iceland. The final is played at Laugardalsvöllur at the end of the Icelandic season in October. The winners qualify for the UEFA Europa League.-Performance By Club:-Lost Finals By Club:...
with KR but left at the end of the 1994 Icelandic season to join Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, with whom he played the 1994–95 Scottish season
1994-95 in Scottish football
The 1994–95 season was the 98th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen the re-introduction of the Scottish 3rd division, after an absence of 26 years, and also the introduction of three points for a win being awarded instead of just two.-Notable events:*Raith Rovers...
. He retired in 1996, after a final season
Dundee United FC Season 1995-96
Dundee United finished the Scottish First Division 1995–96 season in 2nd place, after being relegated from the Premier Division the previous season. Although missing out on the automatic promotion slot through winning the league, United won promotion through the play-off system, beating Partick...
with Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
.
Bett met his Icelandic wife during his time playing for Valur and has maintained a close connection with Iceland since. His sons Baldur
Baldur Bett
Baldur Bett is an Icelandic footballer who currently plays for Fylkir in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild. He is the son of Scottish former footballer Jim Bett, and the brother of Calum Bett....
and Calum
Calum Bett
Calum Þór Bett is an Icelandic football player who currently plays for HK.He is the son of a Scottish father, Jim Bett, and an Icelandic mother, and he is also the brother of Baldur Bett. He formerly played for Aberdeen, Forfar Athletic and Stjarnan. He has also represented Iceland...
, also both professional footballers, were born there and have represented the country at Under-19 level. Coincidentally, Bett's only goal for Scotland occurred in a 1–0 win over Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
in 1985.
In 2003, Bett was inducted into the Aberdeen FC Hall of Fame as one of the founding members.
External links
- Scotland appearances at londonhearts.com