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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]
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