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Well Done Roy Bentley (1924-2018)

Crispin Thomas

Tuesday, December 7th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 born into a different world the Spring of twenty four
you were barely starting on the path
but down at Bristol City at the outbreak of the war
you ended up just nursing the giraffe! *

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 but destiny was waiting as they flocked to Stamford Bridge
the day that Moscow Dynamo hit town
locked out with the crowd but like so many on that day
you found your way inside that heaving ground **

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 and barely three years later in the year of forty eight
you yourself were signing for the Blues
your talent so apparent you had passion style and skill
and a spirit born of nothing left to lose

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 it was cloth caps and Bovril where forty thousand stood
upon that bank in fog and sleet and snow
it was long shorts and Brylcreem and fifteen pounds a week
the People’s Game like you had far to go

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 from constant jokes in music halls you led us to such heights
among the mighty outfits of that age
the Wolves and Man Uniteds to the Arsenals and North Ends
you blazed your name and club upon the page

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 from cartoon strips of ducklings from ‘pensioners’ to champs
I recall the headlines still with glee
for on that day in April when they swarmed across the field
you stood up in that stand for all to see

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 and fifty years has passed now since that golden moment when
you led your team to win the league that day
your prowess as a captain is still etched in history
the spills the thrills the goals along the way

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 those magic games for England with your heroes
but still you wore that royal blue with pride
and still you set examples for the future Chelsea babes
you’d always start in any all-time side

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 and few would know the day you claimed that title
you’d set the wheels in motion like a toy
may the memories all be glad for there’s little more to add
except this simple thank you – well done Roy!

© CT04

Notes

RIP Roy Bentley (1924-2018)
Roy has sadly passed away since the writing of this poem. It was an incredible pleasure and privilege to work and perform with him (at the thene age of 80) in the mid 2000s , with hundreds of children at Stamford Bridge in the Chelsea FC Education Through Football Poetry Worshops about his life.

Factual Notes on ther poem .
*At the outbreak of war, Bristol Zoo animals ,were cared for at Ashton Gate (home of Bristrol City),and a young Roy Bentley was put in charge of the giraffe!

**Not yet a Chelsea player- Roy bunked in with the eager thousands to an already crammed stadium to catch a glimpse of the much-hyped and mysterious Russian wonderboy visitors.The dawn of a European era was to follow.

*** Written wiith Much Respect for Roy Bentley in this Centenary Season of 2004/05(Chelsea founded 1905 ). Roy was the victorious Chelsea Captain in their only (50th Anniversary)Championship winning side of 1954/55…TO DATE!!!! He scored in all some 150 goals for Chlesea to put him in the record books for a London side with surprisingly lillte siverware,until recently that is.

Along the way Roy has played for Bristol Rovers,Bristol City,Fulham and Swansea in addition to Reading, whom he also later managed.He also of course played many times for England ,alongside all the greats Matthews,Mannion,Williams,Wright ,Finney,Mortensen etc and was part of the team in the famous 1-0 defeat by USA in Brazi in the 1950 World Cup, when they kept Sir Stan in the stands (no subs then)!

Roy sadly passed away at the age of at 93 .He was a prominent and greatly admired gentleman and figure in both the stands and on ther pitch at his beloved Bridge, where he was a regular visitor and of course within the game itself as a speaker with countless anecdotes. I will never forget the many tales he recounted to bemused young students while working with him at Chelsea for The Football Poets…so again ..well done Roy! RIP.

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/well-done-roy-for-roy-bentley/