Walter Bettridge

Walter Bettridge (26 October 1886 – 23 December 1931) was an English professional footballer who made over 220 appearances for Chelsea in the Football League. He was a "lightweight" right back who was "fearless in stopping forwards".[5]

Walter Bettridge
Personal information
Full name Walter Bettridge[1]
Date of birth 26 October 1886[2]
Place of birth Oakthorpe, England
Date of death 23 December 1931(1931-12-23) (aged 45)[3]
Place of death Measham, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[4]
Position(s) Right back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Oakthorpe Albion
Measham United
Worksop Town
0000–1909 Burton United
1909–1922 Chelsea 224 (0)
1922–1923 Gillingham 19 (0)
Peterborough & Fletton United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

A right back, Bettridge began his career with local non-League clubs Oakthorpe Albion, Measham United, Worksop Town and Burton United.[3] He transferred to First Division club Chelsea in 1909 and was a part of the club's 1911–12 Second Division promotion-winning and 1915 FA Cup final-losing squads.[3] Either side of the First World War, Bettridge made 255 appearances for the club.[3] In June 1922,[6] aged 36, he joined Gillingham of the Third Division South, where he spent one season,[7] before finishing his career with Peterborough & Fletton United.[3]

Personal life

In January 1916, during the First World War, Bettridge enlisted in as an air mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps.[3] He trained as a fitter and attained the rank of air mechanic 1st class.[3] After serving in both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force at the Royal Aircraft Factory, Bettridge was demobilized in 1919.[3] He died in December 1931, aged 45.[8]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea 1909–10[3] First Division 18 0 2 0 20 0
1910–11[3] Second Division 37 0 6 0 43 0
1911–12[3] Second Division 26 0 2 0 28 0
1912–13[3] First Division 33 0 1 0 34 0
1913–14[3] First Division 16 0 1 0 17 0
1914–15[3] First Division 25 0 8 0 33 0
1919–20[3] First Division 41 0 5 0 46 0
1920–21[3] First Division 28 0 6 0 34 0
Total 224 0 31 0 255 0
Gillingham 1922–23[3] Third Division South 19 0 0 0 19 0
Career total 243 0 31 0 274 0
  1. Includes FA Cup

Honours

Chelsea

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 26. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  2. "Chelsea FC Player Profile: Wally Bettridge". stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. "Wally Bettridge". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  4. Achates (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Chelsea". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  5. Unknown (1915). Cup Final Programme.
  6. "Walter Bettridge". 11v11.com. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. "Wally Bettridge". Gillingham FC Scrapbook. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 20. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  9. Chelsea F.C. at the Football Club History Database
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