JOHN BENSON

Born:    23/12 1942   


Record:  Year      Club                App Gls
         1961-1964 Manchester City      44   0
         1964-1972 Torquay United      241   7
         1972-1973 Bournemouth          94   0
         1972-1973 Exeter City (loan)    4   0
         1973-1975 Norwich City         20   1


Manager: 1975-1979 Bournemouth 
         1983-1983 Manchester City
         1984-1985 Burnley

John Benson was John Bonds assistant and became City-manager for a brief spell following Bonds departure. Benson originally started his playing career with City and he enjoyed 44 games with the club before moving to Torquay where he played most of his career.

After Bond left City after the abysmal result agains Brighton (0-4) Benson was appointed manager on February 9th 1983. Tony Book was installed as his assiastant, and for a short while his superstitious outlook kept him out of the manager office for at least a fourtnight as he was poundering on his desicion to become Citys 13th post-war manager. His superstitios mind may have proved him right because he only lasted until the end of that season.

To Chairman Swales, Benson was only a caretaker and the poor results during Bensons regime was a "welcoming" excuse to move him out of the office. In the end City was relegated to Division 2, and Benson was axed in favour of Billy McNeill.

Benson later rejoined John Bond at Burnley, where he again moved into the manager seat when Bond was dismissed in 1984. He later became Barnsleys Chief Scout under Mel Macin and went on to coach non-League football.