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Paul Bence

Paul Bence
Personal information
Full name Paul Ian Bence[1]
Date of birth (1948-12-21)21 December 1948
Place of birth Littlehampton, England
Date of death 31 March 2024(2024-03-31) (aged 75)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, right back
Youth career
Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1968 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (0)
1968–1970 Reading 14 (2)
1970–1977 Brentford 244 (6)
1976–1977 → Torquay United (loan) 5 (0)
Wokingham Town
Managerial career
1984–1986 Wycombe Wanderers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Ian Bence (21 December 1948 – 31 March 2024)[2] was an English professional footballer who made more than 250 appearances in the Football League playing for Brighton & Hove Albion, Reading, Brentford and Torquay United.[1] He played as a defensive midfielder or as a right back.[3]

Career

Bence was born in Littlehampton, Sussex. He began his career as an apprentice with Brighton & Hove Albion, turning professional in May 1967. He had previously captained Sussex Schools Under-15 side. His league debut (and only league appearance for Brighton) came as a substitute the following season. In June 1968 he left for Reading, but was only to make 14 league appearances, scoring twice, in the next two seasons at Elm Park.[1] In July 1970 Reading released the player and he joined Brentford, where he established himself, making 268 appearances, scoring six goals and winning the club's Players' Player of the Year award in the 1972–73 season.[4][5] In November 1976, having lost his place at Brentford, he played five league games on loan at Torquay United.[1]

Bence left Brentford in March 1977, subsequently becoming player-coach at Wokingham Town and putting to use the coaching qualifications he had acquired while a professional player.[6][7] He was later youth coach at Queens Park Rangers and coached at Farnborough Town.[4] In August 1984 he was appointed manager of Wycombe Wanderers, and guided them to promotion to the Alliance Premier League in his first season in charge,[8] but only because the two teams finishing above them failed the ground grading criteria. Wycombe were relegated the next season, though Bence had already left in January 1986 because of increasing work commitments.[9][10]

Personal life and death

Bence entered the brewing industry in 1977.[7] As of 2011, he was national sales manager for Wadworth Brewery.[7]

On 31 March 2024, it was announced that Bence had died at the age of 75.[11][12]

Honours

Brentford

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Paul Bence". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  2. ^ R.I.P. Paul Bence
  3. ^ Bruzon, Nick. "Brentford | News | Where Are They Now? | Where Are They Now? | WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PAUL BENCE – PART 1". Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 19. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  5. ^ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the 70s. Legends Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  6. ^ Iain McNay (2009). The Terry Brown Story (Interview). Cherry Red Records. Event occurs at 27:25. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Bruzon, Nick. "Brentford | News | Where Are They Now? | Where Are They Now? | WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PAUL BENCE – PART 2". Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Club History". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  9. ^ Hurman, Dale. "Black Players In Light & Dark Blue". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Paul has a ball at Frilford". Abingdon Herald. 1 February 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  11. ^ "Wycombe Wanderers send their condolences to the friends and family of former manager Paul Bence, who has passed away aged 75". Wycombe Wanderers on X. 31 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Brentford Pays Tribute to Hall of Famer Paul Bence". Brentford F.C. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  13. ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 391. ISBN 0951526200.
  14. ^ "Paul Bence added to Hall of Fame". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
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