Reuben Bennett
Encyclopedia
Reuben Bennett from Aberdeen
was a Scottish
professional association footballer for Queen of the South
, Dundee F.C.
and Elgin City. He was then manager at Ayr United and a founder member of the Boot Room coaching staff at Liverpool F.C.
and Dumfries
club Queen of the South
. After his war service he joined Dundee
where in the three seasons from 1946 to 1949 he made 21 league appearances. Among his Dundee club mates was Bobby Ancell
. Bennett then moved to Elgin City.
from May 1953 to 9 April 1955. Coaching was his strength but he was not cut out for management and season 1954-55 was punctuated by some demoralising results. Despite his two cup quarter final places, his team also squandered two good promotion chances after mediocre league performances and he left as manager in April 1955. After resigning he later became assistant trainer for Bobby Ancell
at Motherwell
then trainer at Third Lanark
.
Bennett joined Liverpool
's coaching staff during the reign of manager Phil Taylor
. However Taylor resigned on 17 November 1959. In December Taylor's replacement was announced as Bill Shankly
who immediately set about rejuvenating the club with relish. Shankly arrived at a decayed club in stagnation but recognised the strength of the existing coaching staff of Bennett, Bob Paisley
and Joe Fagan
. Shankly elected to retain all three with Bennett staying on board until the 70s. Shankly started holding his coaches meetings in the Anfield boot room
. In this informal environment, between them they discussed tactics and plans, during which time Bennet was referred to as Sherlock, due to his preferred choice of headwear, a deer stalker. Thus the management philosophy behind Liverpool's success over the next three decades was born. A fitness fanatic, at Liverpool Bennett was entrusted by Shankly with responsibility for player training and physical condition.
Shankly signed Ian St John from Bennett's former club Motherwell and Ron Yeats
from Dundee United after the season's end in 1961. Yeats was immediately installed as captain. Liverpool were emphatic winners of the Second Division title (then the second tier of English domestic football) in 1962 by eight points. In the top division they were champions in 1964 and 1966 as well as winners of the FA Cup
in 1965. In Europe Liverpool reached the European Cup semi final in 1965 (losing to Inter Milan) and European Cup Winners' Cup finalists in 1966 (losing to Borussia Dortmund
after extra time at Hampden Park
in Bennett's native Scotland).
A string of trophies were then captured in the 1970s and 1980s. Bennett is the only member of the original Anfield boot room quartet who did not manage Liverpool at some point during his career.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
was a Scottish
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...
professional association footballer for Queen of the South
Queen of the South
For other uses see Queen of the South Queen of the South is an alternative title for the Queen of Sheba. The phrase Queen of the South is used in the New Testament and is attributed to Jesus Christ....
, Dundee F.C.
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
and Elgin City. He was then manager at Ayr United and a founder member of the Boot Room coaching staff at Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
Player
In Bennett's playing days he was a goalkeeper with Hull CityHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
club Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
. After his war service he joined Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
where in the three seasons from 1946 to 1949 he made 21 league appearances. Among his Dundee club mates was Bobby Ancell
Bobby Ancell
Robert Francis Dudgeon Ancell was a Scottish football player and manager. He played as a left back and was capped twice by the Scottish national side.-Player:...
. Bennett then moved to Elgin City.
Manager and trainer
After hanging up his boots he was manager with Ayr UnitedAyr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
from May 1953 to 9 April 1955. Coaching was his strength but he was not cut out for management and season 1954-55 was punctuated by some demoralising results. Despite his two cup quarter final places, his team also squandered two good promotion chances after mediocre league performances and he left as manager in April 1955. After resigning he later became assistant trainer for Bobby Ancell
Bobby Ancell
Robert Francis Dudgeon Ancell was a Scottish football player and manager. He played as a left back and was capped twice by the Scottish national side.-Player:...
at Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
then trainer at Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
.
Bennett joined Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
's coaching staff during the reign of manager Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor (footballer)
Philip Henry Taylor is an ex-English footballer who played for and managed Liverpool.-Player:Phil Taylor played for his hometown club Bristol Rovers as an apprentice before he was signed by Liverpool manager George Patterson for £5000 plus Ted Hartill in March 1936, he made his debut on the 28th...
. However Taylor resigned on 17 November 1959. In December Taylor's replacement was announced as Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
who immediately set about rejuvenating the club with relish. Shankly arrived at a decayed club in stagnation but recognised the strength of the existing coaching staff of Bennett, Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley
Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
and Joe Fagan
Joe Fagan
Joe Fagan was an English football manager best known for being manager of Liverpool F.C. from 1983 to 1985.- Career:Joe Fagan's playing career was largely spent at Manchester City for whom he signed in 1938...
. Shankly elected to retain all three with Bennett staying on board until the 70s. Shankly started holding his coaches meetings in the Anfield boot room
The Boot Room
The Liverpool Boot Room was a room at Anfield, home of Liverpool F.C., during the 1960s - early 1990s where the coaching staff would sit, drink whisky and discuss the team, tactics and ways of defeating the next opposing side....
. In this informal environment, between them they discussed tactics and plans, during which time Bennet was referred to as Sherlock, due to his preferred choice of headwear, a deer stalker. Thus the management philosophy behind Liverpool's success over the next three decades was born. A fitness fanatic, at Liverpool Bennett was entrusted by Shankly with responsibility for player training and physical condition.
Shankly signed Ian St John from Bennett's former club Motherwell and Ron Yeats
Ron Yeats
Ronald 'Ron' Yeats is a Scottish former footballer. He was the captain of the first great Liverpool team of the 1960s.-Life and playing career:...
from Dundee United after the season's end in 1961. Yeats was immediately installed as captain. Liverpool were emphatic winners of the Second Division title (then the second tier of English domestic football) in 1962 by eight points. In the top division they were champions in 1964 and 1966 as well as winners of 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...
in 1965. In Europe Liverpool reached the European Cup semi final in 1965 (losing to Inter Milan) and European Cup Winners' Cup finalists in 1966 (losing to Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
after extra time at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in Bennett's native Scotland).
A string of trophies were then captured in the 1970s and 1980s. Bennett is the only member of the original Anfield boot room quartet who did not manage Liverpool at some point during his career.