Harry Betmead

Harry Betmead (11 April 1912 – 26 August 1984) was an English footballer who played for Grimsby Town, as well as the England national side. He also played cricket for Lincolnshire.[4][5] He spent his entire 17-year career with Grimsby, from 1930 to 1947, and is one of only three players to win an England cap whilst at the club (the other two being teammates Jackie Bestall and George Tweedy). He helped the club to win the Second Division title in 1933–34 and to reach two FA Cup semi-finals. After retiring from the game he went into business in Hertfordshire.[4]

Harry Betmead
Personal information
Full name Harry Betmead[1]
Date of birth (1912-04-11)11 April 1912[1]
Place of birth Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England[1]
Date of death 26 August 1984(1984-08-26) (aged 72)[1]
Place of death Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England[2]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-half
Youth career
Hay Cross
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1930–1947 Grimsby Town 296 (10)
Total 296 (10)
International career
1937 England 1 (0)
1939 Football Association XL 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early and personal life

Harry Betmead was born on 11 April 1912 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire to Ernest and Alice (née Lamming).[2] He married Margaret Grace Marshall in July 1939.[2] He was a right-hand batsman for Lincolnshire County Cricket Club.[2] He died on 26 August 1984 at South Cleveland Hospital in Middlesbrough, Cleveland; his ashes were scattered at Blundell Park.[2]

Club career

Betmead was playing for local side Hay Cross when he was signed for Grimsby Town by Wilf Gillow in October 1930 aged 18 years old. He made his debut almost a year later on 15 September 1931 against Bolton Wanderers. He quickly established himself as one of the first names on the "Mariners" team sheet, and remained at the club for the whole of his career, despite considerable interest from bigger cubs.[4] Grimsby suffered relegation out of the First Division in 1931–32, before finishing 13th in the Second Division in 1932–33. They won promotion as the division's champions in 1933–34. Town finished fifth in 1934–35. They dropped to 17th place in 1935–36, though reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where they were beaten 1–0 by Arsenal. The Blundell Park outfit then posted 12th, 20th, and 10th-place finishes in 1936–37, 1937–38, and 1938–39. They also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup again in 1939, this time losing out 5–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

During the war he became a physical training instructor in the army, also guesting for Heart of Midlothian, Aldershot, Chesterfield and Port Vale.[1] He also managed to play 40 games and score five goals for Grimsby in the war years.[4]

After normal football resumed, Betmead helped the club to post a 16th-place finish in the top-flight in 1946–47. He retired in December 1947.[4] He had scored ten goals in 296 league appearances for the club.[6]

International career

Called up to the England squad, he played in the 8–0 win over Finland in Helsinki on 20 May 1937.[7][8] Betmead toured South Africa with an English FA side in 1939 and was captain in two of the unofficial internationals against the full South Africa team.[9]

Style of play

Betmead played at centre-half; he was a strong tackler and had excellent aerial ability.[3]

Career statistics

Source:[10]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grimsby Town 1931–32 First Division 17200172
1932–33 Second Division 30220322
1933–34 Second Division 42020440
1934–35 First Division 26100261
1935–36 First Division 35050400
1936–37 First Division 38120401
1937–38 First Division 38110391
1938–39 First Division 36370433
1946–47 First Division 34000340
Career total 2961019031510

Honours

Grimsby Town

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 28. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "England Players - Harry Betmead". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. Lamming, Douglas (1985). A who's who of Grimsby Town AFC : 1890-1985. Beverley: Hutton. p. 20. ISBN 0-907033-34-2.
  4. "Grimsby Town F.C. - Legends". Grimsby Town F.C. official site. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  5. Cricket archive
  6. "Harry A Betmead". doingthe92. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  7. Player profile at EnglandStats.com
  8. Player profile at EnglandFC.com
  9. RSSSF.com SA Tour Details
  10. Harry Betmead at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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