The club are sorry to hear of the death of former player Stan Bennion who died recently at the age of 75. The Blacon-born inside forward made 20 league appearances for the first team in the 1963/64 season.

Stan started his football career playing for Saughall in the Chester and District League and it was here that he was spotted by Wrexham who signed him on amateur terms in 1954. In 1955/56 Stan was loaned to Saltney Juniors, who were one of the top amateur teams in the area, and he helped them win the Welsh Youth Cup that season before being called up for National Service in September 1956.

After being de-mobbed Stan returned to Saltney but in September 1959 signed as a part-time professional with Wrexham. At the end of that month he made a goalscoring league debut against Swindon Town in what was the first ever league match under floodlights at the Racecourse Ground. Stan went on to make 54 appearances for Wrexham over the next four years.

In summer 1963 Stan was transfer listed by Wrexham and briefly signed for Halifax Town but with the Shaymen only offering to pay his wages from the start of the new season he quickly had his contract cancelled and moved to Chester instead. He made his Sealand Road debut in the second game of the 1963/64 season, a 2-0 home victory against Barrow, but injury and illness prevented him from experiencing an extended run in the team. During the Fourth Division campaign he scored three league goals with the pick of them being a spectacular long-range equaliser at Bradford City to give Peter Hauser’s team a 1-1 draw.

The following season Stan was unable to break through into the record breaking “Famous Five” forward line and his only appearance came in a Welsh Cup semi-final tie at Wrexham. However, he captained the reserves in the Cheshire County League and had the distinction of not only leading the team in the final of the Cheshire Bowl against Tranmere Rovers but also scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory.

Stan left Chester in 1965 and signed for New Brighton where he remained until 1970. He then embarked on a successful five years with Rhyl where he teamed up with Mike Metcalf who had also played alongside him at Wrexham and Chester.

While playing for Rhyl Stan won a Cheshire County League Cup medal in 1970/71, a Cheshire League Championship medal in 1971/72 and a Welsh FA Amateur Cup medal in 1972/73. He also appeared in Rhyl’s Welsh Cup matches against Chester in the early 1970s. After leaving Rhyl, in 1974, Stan played for Hoole in the Chester and District League for four years followed by Cheshire NALGO and Chester Teachers before joining Cestrian Alex. where he was still playing alongside his son in the 1990s.

Chester FC send their condolences to his family and friends.

Chas Sumner [8/8/13]