Len Beel
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William John Leonard Beel | ||
| Date of birth | 23 August 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Leominster, England | ||
| Date of death | 13 April 2023 (aged 77) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1961–1963 | Shrewsbury Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1965 | Shrewsbury Town | 3 | (0) |
| 1965 | Birmingham City | 1 | (0) |
| 1965–1967 | Bath City | ||
| 1967 | Shifnal Town | ||
| 1967–1968 | Minehead | ||
| 1968–1970 | Trowbridge Town | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
William John Leonard Beel (23 August 1945 – 13 April 2023) was an English professional
the Football League.[1] He also appeared for Somerset County Cricket Club
.
Life and career
William John Leonard Beel was born on 23 August 1945 in
League Cup, the inexperienced Beel was given little help by his defence as Shrewsbury lost 6–2.[8][9] Away to Coventry a month later, he was reportedly responsible for only two of the eight goals that Shrewsbury conceded,[10] and his third and final league appearance was in a 1–1 draw away to Brentford.[11]
Beel joined
relegation from the First Division already confirmed,[2] he turned out in the penultimate game of the 1964–65 season, at home to Blackburn Rovers, which finished as a 5–5 draw.[12] Released soon afterwards,[2] he spent two seasons as a regular with Southern League club Bath City.[13]
He briefly took up rugby union, which he had played at school,[14] appearing for Bath Spartans and Bath United in September and October 1967,[15][16] before returning to football with Minehead[17] and then joining Trowbridge Town in January 1968.[18] His professional contract with Trowbridge was cancelled by mutual consent in October 1969, but he returned as an amateur to play in the outfield for their reserves.[19][20]
Beel played
Wiltshire in 1970,[22] and was a mainstay of the Bath-based Lansdown Cricket Club for many years.[24]
Beel died on 13 April 2023 at the age of 77.[24][25]
References
- ^ "Len Beel". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Matthews (1995), p. 71.
- ^ "Seaside get-together for Rams team". Derby Evening Telegraph. 12 November 1962. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pleat blotted out by England tactics". Nottingham Evening Post. 21 February 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Match results under 18 1960–1970". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "'Benefit' draws best gate". The Guardian Journal. Nottingham. 21 February 1963. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Goalkeeper dies in Trentham swimming pool accident". Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 19 August 1963. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Perry, Robin (23 September 1963). "Rovers unchanged: three pass tests". Evening Post. Bristol. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gillam, Herbert (24 September 1963). "Hamilton hits four goals in career-best display". Western Daily Press. Bristol. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Nemo (23 October 1963). "City fulfil promise of goal riot". Coventry Evening Telegraph. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Player search: Beel, WJL (Lenny)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Matthews (1995), p. 200.
- ^ "Past players: B". Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Allen Gay's valuable boot..." Evening Post. Bristol. 25 October 1967. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Len Beel switches to rugby". Western Daily Press. Bristol. 28 September 1967. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bath call up Army winger". Western Daily Press. Bristol. 25 October 1967. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Minehead sunk by shock goal". Western Daily Press. Bristol. 4 December 1967. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trowbridge sign Len Beel". Evening Post. Bristol. 13 January 1968. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Brother banned so Alan Peacock takes over". Evening Post. Bristol. 22 October 1969. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trowbridge Town are unchanged". Evening Post. Bristol. 2 December 1969. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Second Eleven Championship matches played by Len Beel (36)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Len Beel". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Warwickshire v Somerset at Birmingham, 22 Jun 1969". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b Longstaff, Scott (13 April 2023). "Len Beel, 1945–2023". Lansdown CC. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Tribute to Len Beel". D. J. Bewley Funeral Directors. Retrieved 22 August 2023 – via MuchLoved.org.
Sources
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.