We are a little pushed for space in today’s column so I will briefly complete my tribute to Rovers’ former C.E.O. Gordon Bennett who sadly passed away a short while ago. I previously mentioned that Gordon worked hard at getting supporters teams and football tournaments organised all over the city of Bristol whilst still being a very active Chairman of Rovers’ teenage fans organisation, the ‘Pirates’. That involved all sorts of organisational talents at which Gordon was adept in every one, travelling many miles on his trusty bicycle, nearly always whilst wearing a suit to and from work! I never did find out how it came about but these talents soon transferred to the Football Club itself when Gordon formed an unlikely partnership with Rovers then ‘ Welsh ‘Scout’ Stan Montgomery.
In brief Stan found ’em, in and around the valleys, and Gordon nurtured them! Most importantly he nurtured their parents into accepting that their beloved offspring would be better off spending their time and skills in Bristol rather than staying home in the principality! So it was that Gordon handed over the by-now highly successful ‘Pirates’ to us ‘followers’ and he set about creating a fantastic ‘Welsh nursery’ that brought a string of brilliant young players into Rovers’ first-team. The likes of Frankie Prince were followed by so many others, David and Geraint Williams, Bryn and the mercurial Wayne Jones, Andy Evans, Martyn Thomas and so many more. At the same time the Bristol-bred boys were not neglected despite the close attention of those ‘south of the river’ along with the powerful Southampton youth academy.
It was not long before Gordon’s organising skills again attracted the attention of the Board and he became Chief Executive during a most turbulent time in Rovers’ history.
Quite how Gordon came to depart his beloved Rovers I never did find out but he went on to equal success at other ‘bigger’ clubs in Norwich City and Aberdeen before finishing up at Plymouth where he sadly ended his days. I have a bucketful of memories of Gordon Bennett and nearly as many simply unrepeatable stories that should never be published! He will never be forgotten by those who knew him and Bristol Rovers will forever be in his debt.
R.I.P. ‘GJB’!