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When local boy, Paul Bennett made his debut against Tottenham Hotspur at
the Dell in April 1972, the man he was marking, Martin Chivers, had
coincidentally, attended the same Southampton school, Tauntons Grammar.
Paul was a rugged no-nonsense sort of centre-half very much in the same
mould as John McGrath, the man he followed into the senior side and on
that day in April 1972 he played his part in a Saints' defence that
prevented England international, Chivers, or any of his fellow Spurs
forwards, from scoring in a goalless draw. He kept his place for the
final game away to West Ham and the next season partnering Jim Steele,
firmly established himself as one of the two central defenders with a
run of 31 consecutive appearances during which he scored his first goal
for the club he had supported as a youngster - away to Birmingham City.
In 1973-74 Paul missed only 6 League games and scored a memorable winner
- a cracking 30 yard drive with his right foot - to eliminate Blackpool
in the Third Round of the FA Cup at the Dell. Unfortunately the club
were relegated that same year and when Saints subsequently bought Mel
Blyth from Crystal Palace the following September, plus the emergence of
the youngsters, Malcolm Waldron and Manny Andruszewski, Paul found
first team opportunities increasingly more elusive. 1975-76 was of
course the season Southampton won the FA Cup and Paul was still very
much part of the squad, making 20 outings in the League and playing in
the 6th Round win at Bradford City's Valley Parade. At 6'0" Paul was not
the tallest of centre-halves but he read the game well and was a
fearless tackler - assets which persuaded Reading to purchase him in the
summer of 1976 for a fee of £8,000. (Duncan Holley)
After retirng from active football he worked for 4 years at Oaklands School in Southampton, before moving on to the Eastpoint Centre in Thornhill, Southampton where he ibecame a director.
In 1998, he helped organise the celebrations for Ted Bates first 60 seasons at The Dell, with a testimonial including several former Saints players such as Terry Paine, Ron Davies, John Sydenham and Tony Knapp.
Paul Bennett also lectured in Business at Southampton Solent University.
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