Walter Bettridge
English footballer
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Walter Bettridge (26 October 1886 – 23 December 1931) was an English professional footballer who made over 220 appearances for Chelsea in the Football League. He was a "lightweight" right back who was "fearless in stopping forwards".[5]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Bettridge[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 October 1886[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Oakthorpe, England | ||
| Date of death | 23 December 1931 (aged 45)[3] | ||
| Place of death | Measham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[4] | ||
| Position | Right back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Oakthorpe Albion | |||
| Measham United | |||
| Worksop Town | |||
| –1909 | Burton United | ||
| 1909–1922 | Chelsea | 224 | (0) |
| 1922–1923 | Gillingham | 19 | (0) |
| Peterborough & Fletton United | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
A right back, Bettridge began his career with local non-League clubs Oakthorpe Albion, Measham United, Worksop Town and Burton United.[3] He transferred to First Division club Chelsea in 1909 and was a part of the club's 1911–12 Second Division promotion-winning and 1915 FA Cup final-losing squads.[3] Either side of the First World War, Bettridge made 255 appearances for the club.[3] In June 1922,[6] aged 36, he joined Gillingham of the Third Division South, where he spent one season,[7] before finishing his career with Peterborough & Fletton United.[3]
Personal life
In January 1916, during the First World War, Bettridge enlisted in as an air mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps.[3] He trained as a fitter and attained the rank of air mechanic 1st class.[3] After serving in both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force at the Royal Aircraft Factory, Bettridge was demobilized in 1919.[3] He died in December 1931, aged 45.[8]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea | 1909–10[3] | First Division | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 1910–11[3] | Second Division | 37 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 1911–12[3] | Second Division | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 1912–13[3] | First Division | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 1913–14[3] | First Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 1914–15[3] | First Division | 25 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 1919–20[3] | First Division | 41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
| 1920–21[3] | First Division | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| Total | 224 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 255 | 0 | ||
| Gillingham | 1922–23[3] | Third Division South | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Career total | 243 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 274 | 0 | ||
Honours
Chelsea
- Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1911–12[3][9]
