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Haven't been able to post the last couple of days as I had to travel up to Manchester for a meeting-thought about whether to try and see Nobby,but after over 6 hours on the train each way,decided not to try it.
Had a walk around the town centre and picked up a signed Mike Summerbee and Rodney Marsh autobiography from Waterstones-well worth the trip!
My replies-
Still on the Manchester City topic,I had some cards back signed from Francis Lee which completes my sets of him
Alan Birchenall via Leicester City,again like Francis,I've sent to him before,and these were some final ones I needed signed
Paul Bennett (ex Southampton) signed my cards and sent back a nice letter together with my SAE.
Bennett was a rugged no-nonsense sort of centre-half in the same mould as John McGrath, the man he followed into the senior side. At 6 ft Bennett was not the tallest of centre-halves but he read the game well and was a fearless tackler.
In the 1972-73 season, partnering Jim Steele, he firmly established himself as one of the two central defenders with a run of 31 consecutive appearances during which he scored his only league goal for the club, away to Birmingham City on 21 October 1972.
In 1973-74 Bennett missed only 6 League games and scored a memorable winner - a cracking 30 yard drive with his right foot - to eliminate Blackpool in the Third Round of the FA Cup at the Dell. Unfortunately the club were relegated that same year and when Saints subsequently bought Mel Blyth from Crystal Palace the following September, plus the emergence of the youngsters, Malcolm Waldron and Manny Andruszewski, Bennett found first team opportunities increasingly more elusive.
In 1975-76 Bennett was still very much part of the squad, making 20 outings in the League and playing in the 6th Round FA Cup win at Bradford City , as Southampton moved on to the final on 1 May 1976, when they beat Manchester United to win the F.A. Cup.
After the F.A. Cup was won, Lawrie McMenemy started to build a team to win promotion back to Division 1 and Bennett was no longer part of his plans and after 137 games for the team, he left the Saints moving to Reading and later Aldershot before retiring. He played over 100 games for each club scoring 6 goals.
I wouldnt have got my final reply without the help of one of our members who has my thanks for his help as it also included a smashing letter plus the promise of another photo.
Martin Patching mainly played for Wolves and Watford in his career.
