Southend United Announces Death of Club Icon Tony Bentley

Southend United has confirmed the passing of Tony Bentley, a revered figure at the club, at 84 years old. The club expressed its profound sorrow upon hearing of Bentley’s demise, stating he would “always be remembered as a true legend” within the Southend community. Bentley, whose 85th birthday would have been on 20 December, joined Roots Hall in 1961. Over a decade, he accumulated 419 appearances, establishing himself as one of the club’s most active players. In an official statement, Southend United declared, “His contributions to our club, both on and off the pitch, will forever be cherished.” Bentley transferred from his original team, Stoke City, to Southend United in 1961, during which period he transitioned from a forward to a defender. He was awarded the club’s inaugural player-of-the-season honor for the 1965-66 season and was recognized with two testimonial matches. The club further stated, “Known for his exceptional character and sportsmanship, Tony was respected and admired by teammates, fans, and the broader footballing community.” It concluded by saying, “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Tony’s family, friends and all who knew him, during this difficult time.” Only Alan Moody, Sandy Anderson, and the team’s current manager Kevin Maher have surpassed Bentley in the number of appearances for Southend United. The Southend United Ex-Players’ Association declared that Bentley would be “forever a Shrimper.” The association also commented, “Tony was such a lovely guy, respected by so many and well deserving of the two testimonials granted to him by our club.” It recalled, “We last saw him at Roots Hall in 2018… And on his last visit, received a rapturous round of applause as he was introduced to the crowd.” Following his ten-year period with the Shrimpers, Bentley transferred to Folkestone Town and subsequently Ashford Town, prior to his retirement from professional football.