Phil Beal (born 8 January 1945) is an English former footballer who played as a central defender.

Phil Beal
Personal information
Full name Philip Beal
Date of birth (1945-01-08) 8 January 1945 (age 79)
Place of birth Godstone, England
Position(s) Central defender
Youth career
Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1975 Tottenham Hotspur 333 (1)
1975–1977 Brighton & Hove Albion 10 (0)
1977 Ilford
1977 Los Angeles Aztecs 23 (3)
1978 Memphis Rogues 22 (0)
1979–1980 Crewe Alexandra 4 (0)
Chelmsford City
1980 Oxford City 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Tottenham Hotspur

edit

Beal was born in Godstone, Surrey. He played for Surrey boys and England Youth before signing as an amateur for Tottenham Hotspur in 1960 and became a professional at the club in 1962.

He made his debut as a defender against Aston Villa in 1963, and went on to make 16 appearances in that season.

By the start of the following season Danny Blanchflower had retired with Beal taking on the former captain's right half position. With the team in transition, he only made eight appearances that season.

The versatile player filled a variety of defensive positions and featured in 21 matches in 1965–66, started in 26 games in 1966–67, but did not feature in the 1967 FA Cup Final because of an injury. By the late 1960s he had fully established himself in the side and consistently showed his calm, authoritative and composed style.

 
Beal attempts to make a goal-line clearance which leads to the first goal by Feyenoord in the second leg of the 1974 UEFA Cup final

Beal played in both League Cup winning sides against Aston Villa in 1970-71[1] and Norwich City in 1972-73. He played in both matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1972 UEFA Cup Final in which he collected a winners' medal, and in both legs of the 1974 UEFA Cup Final against Feyenoord.

Beal finished his career with Spurs in 1975 and made 420 appearances including three as substitute in all competitions, and scoring just one goal.[2]

Later career

edit

After leaving Spurs he played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Crewe Alexandra, Los Angeles Aztecs[3] and Memphis Rogues.[3]

After football

edit

Today, Beal is a match day host at White Hart Lane.[4]

Honours

edit

Tottenham Hotspur

References

edit
  1. ^ Cup final teams Retrieved 18 October 2008
  2. ^ Tottenham Hotspur A-Z of players Retrieved 18 October 2008
  3. ^ a b North American Soccer League players Retrieved 20 October 2008
  4. ^ Where are they now ? Retrieved 18 October 2008
edit