304 Reuben Bennett

Biography

Scottish goalkeeper Reuben Bennett joined Hull City in January 1936 to provide backup for veteran keeper George Maddison. Bennett played in three games, the first of which resulted in a 1-6 thrashing against Doncaster Rovers as David Menzies’ Tigers hurtled towards relegation to Division Three North. A knee injury meant City did not retain Bennett at the end of the 1935/36 season and he returned to Scotland.

Reuben Mitchell Bennett was born and raised in Aberdeen and played for Aberdeen East End in his early 20s while serving his apprenticeship as a butcher. In January 1936 he was attracting the attention of his local professional side Aberdeen while touring Yorkshire with an Aberdeenshire Select XI, however during this tour he was spotted by Hull City and promptly signed.

Reuben returned to Scotland in the 1936 close season to recuperate after his knee injury sustained while at Hull City. He joined Scottish Division One side Queen of the South on a trial basis in October 1936 and made his debut for the Doonhammers a month later, however after three appearances Bennett fractured his collar bone and his trial was terminated. Once recovered, Bennett played works football in London until the outbreak of war in 1939. Bennett served in the Gordon Highlanders during the war as a Staff Sargeant Instructor based in Aberdeen where he drilled fitness into the variety of military folk that came his way, aiding their recovery from injury and also aiding his own recovery from his footballing injuries. He represented the Army Physical Training Corps in 1944 then later that year signed for Dundee, playing regularly ahead of his demobilisation in December 1945.

Bennett played for Dundee for five years, making 26 appearances during the 1946/47 season as his side lifted the Scottish Division B title. He suffered an injury during the latter stages of the 1946/47 season that sidelined him for two years, he returned to action in March 1949 and added a further 4 appearances, taking his tally to 30 appearances. His attention to maintaining good fitness perhaps extended his career more than some players could sustain, but his professional playing days came to an end in the 1949 close season. He also owned a massage parlour in Dundee, an establishment with more innocent connotations in the 1940s. In September 1949 he began a brief spell at Highland League side Elgin City, when that ended his second and more famous second career in football coaching began.

Bennett returned to Dundee in August 1950 to join the coaching staff with responsibility for fitness and conditioning, his physical training experience in the War undoubtedly standing him in good stead. Under the management of George Anderson, Dundee were a successful side in the 1950s, losing the Scottish Cup Final in 1952 and twice winning the Scottish League Cup. In June 1953 Bennett was appointed manager of Division B side Ayr United, he led The Honest Men for two mid-table seasons. He resigned in April 1955 after conflict with the board of directors at Ayr, who required him to perform administrative duties as well as coach the team. Bennett never took a managerial role again.

In September 1955 Reuben joined the coaching staff at Division One side Motherwell then in December 1956 he took up a similar role with Glasgow-based Division Two promotion contenders Third Lanark. By the end of 1956/57 Bennett was in temporary charge of the first team and piloted them to promotion to the top flight. With Reuben engaged in building a squad fit to compete in the higher division, the managerial reins were handed to Bob Shankly, brother of future Liverpool legend Bill Shankly. This was the catalyst for a remarkable third act of Bennett’s career.

In December 1958 Bennett was appointed chief coach at English Division Two side Liverpool, who at the time were managed by former Reds and England wing half Phil Taylor. Taylor assembled a backroom staff that comprised Bennett, former Manchester City defender Joe Fagan and taciturn County Durham-born left half Bob Paisley. In November 1959 Taylor resigned his post and the managerial reins were handed to Ayrshire born Bill Shankly, who left the manager’s post at Huddersfield Town to join the Reds. Thus the first incarnation of the legendary Anfield Boot Room was convened and over the next 25 years this group of four men propelled Liverpool from Division Two also-rans to League champions, European champions and one of the best club sides in the world. Shankly managed the club for fifteen years and lifted three League titles, two FA cup wins and a UEFA Cup win. Paisley took over the manager’s role in 1974 and over the next nine years won six more League titles, three European Cups and a UEFA Cup. Between 1983 and 1985 Fagan took over as manager, winning the League/League Cup/European Cup treble in 1984. Only Bennett from that original bootroom foursome, perhaps still scarred by his experience at Ayr United in the 1950s, didn’t manage the Reds.

Bennett’s main role initially was Chief Coach, reprising his wartime experience to focus on player’s fitness while honing their skills. He was chief disciplinarian, quelling any unrest amongst the players regarding training or matchday tactics. He was chief story teller, imparting fantastical tales about his playing days before the War and his time in the Army, mainly focused around the various ways he received and ignored pain. He was also Shankly’s closest confidante. Shankly and his team revolutionised day to day training by introducing more practising of skills and fitness work with the ball, rather than the constant slog of road running. By 1964 Liverpool had won the league title and were regarded as the fittest squad in the land – and Bennett played a crucial role in maintaining those fitness levels. Bennett also used his football contacts and knowledge to help assemble a winning squad – Ian St John had been at Motherwell with Reuben, he also knew Ronnie Yeats through Aberdonian family ties – both players signed for Liverpool and combined with Roger Hunt to form a fearsome 1960s strike force. In the 1970s Bennett was reassigned to a Special Projects role, travelling the land and producing dossiers about up and coming opponents, allowing Shankly and then Paisley to prepare tactics to outwit their foes. This role included extended trips to various European countries, which helped Liverpool to achieve regular European glory.

Bennett retired from football in May 1986 when he was in his early-70s. He died in December 1989, not long after the Hillsborough tragedy, and was buried in Anfield Cemetery. His demise led to an outpouring of tributes for a man that was central to the achievements of Liverpool FC over a thirty year period.

Details

Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 21 December 1913, Aberdeen
Hull City First Game: 22 February 1936, Doncaster Rovers A (Division Two), 22 years, 63 days old
Hull City Final Game: 30 April 1936, Sheffield United H (Division Two), 22 years, 131 days old

Clubs

Shoemakers, Aberdeen East End (1932-1936), Hull City (1936), Queen of the South (1936), Dundee (1944-1949), Elgin City (1949-1950)

Hull City Record

Career: 3 apps, 0 goals

Reuben Bennett

Season	LGE App	LGE Gls	FAC App	FAC Gls	FLC App	FLC Gls	EUR App	EUR Gls	OTH App	OTH Gls
1935/36	3	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–