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Ken Beamish

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Ken Beamish
Personal information
Full name Kenneth George Beamish[1]
Date of birth (1947-08-25) 25 August 1947 (age 77)[2]
Place of birth Bebington, England[3]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[4]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Stork
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1972 Tranmere Rovers 178 (49)
1972–1974 Brighton & Hove Albion 96 (27)
1974–1976 Blackburn Rovers 86 (19)
1976–1978 Port Vale 85 (29)
1978–1979 Bury 49 (20)
1979–1981 Tranmere Rovers 59 (15)
1981–1982 Swindon Town 2 (0)
Total 555 (159)
Managerial career
1983–1984 Swindon Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kenneth George Beamish (born 25 August 1947) is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days, he was a forward, and he scored a total of 198 goals in 642 league and cup games throughout a sixteen-year career in the Football League.

He started his career at Tranmere Rovers in 1965, and in six years at the club would make close to 200 appearances. From March 1972, he spent three years with Brighton & Hove Albion, making around 100 appearances. In May 1974 he signed with Blackburn Rovers for £25,000, and went on to play close to 100 games with the club in two years. Bought by Port Vale for £12,000 in September 1976, he was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1977–78, and was the club's top scorer for two consecutive seasons. Sold to Bury for £35,000 in September 1978, he played around 50 games before he moved back to Tranmere Rovers in 1979. In 1981, he transferred to Swindon Town before he announced his retirement the following year. He later served as Swindon's manager in the 1983–84 campaign.

Playing career

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Tranmere Rovers

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Beamish started his career with Fourth Division Tranmere Rovers in 1966, under the management of Dave Russell. Rovers missed out on promotion at the end of 1965–66 after finishing behind fourth-place Colchester United on goal average. Promotion was achieved in 1966–67, after the club finished fourth, four points ahead of Crewe Alexandra. Tranmere retained their Third Division status in 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, and 1970–71. Beamish was the club's top scorer in two out of his six seasons. Now managed by Jackie Wright, Rovers struggled in 1971–72.

Brighton & Hove Albion

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On 9 March 1972 – transfer deadline day, Beamish switched to league rivals Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of £25,000 plus Alan Duffy, and saw his wages doubled.[5][6] The club were already performing well with the strike duo of Willie Irvine and Kit Napier. However, the management felt that Beamish would offer more "bite" up front.[6] Beamish enjoyed a successful start to his Brighton career, as he contributed six goals in twelve starts and two substitute appearances as the club won promotion as Third Division runners-up in 1971–72.[5] Coach Ray Crawford stated that Beamish's goals helped the club to get over the line and clinch promotion.[6] However, the club struggled in the Second Division, and finished in last place in 1972–73. Playing in a strike partnership with Barry Bridges, his nine Second Division goals made him the club's joint-top scorer.[6][5] Manager Pat Saward was replaced by Brian Clough, but the 1973–74 campaign was also difficult, as Brighton avoided their second-successive relegation by eight points. Beamish finished as top-scorer with twelve goals but was not included on an end-of-season trip to Spain as Clough was reportedly dissatisfied with his lack of balance and poise.[5][3] He said that he discovered he had been transfer-listed from his neighbour, who had heard the news on the radio.[6]

Blackburn Rovers

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Beamish was signed by Gordon Lee's Blackburn Rovers for a £25,000 fee in May 1974.[7] He soon built a good understanding with strike partner Don Martin.[8] The 1974–75 season was successful, as Blackburn were promoted to the Second Division as champions of the Third Division, with Beamish claiming 11 of he and Martin's 26 goal haul.[8] Rovers finished mid-table in 1975–76 under the stewardship of Jim Smith. A popular player, fans would chant "Beamo, Beamo" years after he left Ewood Park.[8]

Port Vale

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He joined Third Division Port Vale for £12,000 in September 1976 and went straight into the first team.[9] He became the club's top scorer in the 1976–77 season with 18 goals in 44 games; three of these goals came against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on 3 January.[9] He was voted Player of the Year for his 16 goals in 49 games in the 1977–78 season; he scored ten goals more than his closest rival Jeff Hemmerman, as the club were relegated to the Fourth Division.[10] He started the 1978–79 campaign with four goals in four consecutive games before he was sold on to Third Division Bury for £35,000 in September 1978.[9]

Later career

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He helped the "Shakers" to avoid relegation in 1978–79, as he scored 20 goals in 49 league games for the club before he returned to Tranmere Rovers in November 1979 for a fee of £10,000;[3] Rovers were now back in the Fourth Division and managed by John King. Rovers suffered in 1979–80 and 1980–81, and had to apply (successfully) for re-election under Bryan Hamilton in 1981. He then transferred to Swindon Town on a free in May 1981,[3] and played just two league games, as Swindon were relegated out of the Third Division in 1981–82.

Style of play

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Beamish was a forward noted for his courage and aggression, though lacking in technical skill.[6]

Managerial career

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After retiring as a player, he became manager of Swindon Town. John Trollope had originally brought Beamish to the club as his assistant.[2] After Trollope's unsuccessful venture into management came to an end, Beamish took over the reins from him towards the end of the 1982–83 season.[2] Working on a tight budget, Beamish was given only one full season in charge, in which he led the Town to their lowest ever league finish – seventeenth in Fourth Division.[2] However, he did lead the club to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, where former club Blackburn Rovers eliminated Swindon.[11] When his contract expired at the end of the 1983–84 season, new sponsors Lowndes Lambert demanded a big-name manager, and Beamish was replaced by Lou Macari.[2]

He worked at Blackburn Rovers as a commercial manager from 1986 until his retirement in August 2012.[12][13][14] He later worked with AFC Fylde.[3]

Personal life

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He married Lesley, and in 1973 the couple were living with daughter Kirstie at Saltdean, Sussex.[5] He later lived in Euxton and got involved with local charitable causes.[3]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tranmere Rovers 1965–66 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1966–67 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1967–68 Third Division 25 5 3 1 0 0 28 6
1968–69 Third Division 36 13 1 0 4 1 41 14
1969–70 Third Division 46 9 6 3 3 1 55 13
1970–71 Third Division 40 10 3 0 2 3 45 13
1971–72 Third Division 29 12 7 3 3 2 39 17
Total 178 49 20 7 12 7 210 63
Brighton & Hove Albion 1971–72 Third Division 14 6 0 0 0 0 14 6
1972–73 Second Division 38 9 1 0 1 1 40 10
1973–74 Third Division 44 12 0 0 1 0 45 12
Total 96 27 1 0 2 1 99 28
Blackburn Rovers 1974–75 Third Division 43 12 3 2 5 3 51 17
1975–76 Second Division 37 7 0 0 7 3 44 10
1976–77 Second Division 6 0 0 0 3 2 9 2
Total 86 19 3 2 15 8 104 29
Port Vale 1976–77 Third Division 37 12 5 4 2 2 44 18
1977–78 Third Division 42 13 4 3 3 0 49 16
1978–79 Fourth Division 6 4 0 0 2 0 8 4
Total 85 29 9 7 7 2 101 38
Bury 1978–79 Third Division 35 16 4 1 0 0 39 17
1979–80 Third Division 14 4 0 0 5 1 19 5
Total 49 20 4 1 5 1 58 22
Tranmere Rovers 1979–80 Fourth Division 27 9 3 2 0 0 30 11
1980–81 Fourth Division 32 6 2 1 4 0 38 7
Total 59 15 5 3 4 0 68 18
Swindon Town 1981–82 Third Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 555 159 42 20 45 19 642 198

Managerial statistics

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Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Swindon Town April 1983 June 1984 68 26 17 25 038.2
Total[2] 68 26 17 25 038.2

Honours

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Brighton & Hove Albion

Blackburn Rovers

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Ken Beamish". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Manager Profile". swindon-town-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Beamish". BRFCS.com - By Blackburn Rovers fans, for Blackburn Rovers fans. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. ^ Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 374. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e Rapper, Goldstone (10 July 2013). "Meet the Girl Behind the Man: Lesley Beamish". The Goldstone Wrap. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Goalscorer Ken Beamish dumped by Clough without a word". In parallel lines. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Ken Beamish picks his dream Blackburn Rovers team to win derby – what's yours?". Lancashire Telegraph. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e Jackman, Mike (1994). Blackburn Rovers : the official encyclopaedia. Derby: Breedon. p. 21. ISBN 9781873626702. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 21. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  10. ^ a b Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. p. 305. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  11. ^ "Managers Month: No.21 Ken Beamish & No.20 Andy King (1)". thewashbag.com. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  12. ^ "Who's who at Blackburn Rovers". rovers.co.uk. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  13. ^ "From striker to wing wizard". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 June 2003. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  14. ^ "Ken Beamish retires". rovers.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  15. ^ Ken Beamish at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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