Ken Beamish

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 159 goals in 555 Football League games.

Ken Beamish
Personal information
Full name Kenneth George Beamish[1]
Date of birth (1947-08-25) 25 August 1947
Place of birth Bebington, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
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)
Teams managed
1983–1984 Swindon Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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 then 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 a two-year spell. 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

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 two out of his six seasons with the club. Now managed by Jackie Wright, Rovers struggled in 1971–72, and in March 1972, Beamish switched to league rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Beamish enjoyed a successful start to his Brighton career, as the club won promotion as Third Division runners-up in 1971–72. However the club struggled in the Second Division, and finished in last place in 1972–73. 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 was signed by Gordon Lee's Blackburn Rovers for a £25,000 fee in May 1974.[3] He soon built a good understanding with strike partner Don Martin.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4]

He joined Third Division Port Vale for £12,000 in September 1976 and went straight into the first team. 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. 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 into the Fourth Division.[5] 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.[6]

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, 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, and played just two league games, as Swindon were relegated out of the Third Division in 1981–82.

Throughout his career he played 555 games in the Football League, scoring 159 goals.

Management career

After retiring as a player he became manager of Swindon Town. John Trollope had originally brought Beamish to the club as his assistant.[7] 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.[7] Working on a tight budget, Beamish was given only full season in charge, in which he led the Town to their lowest ever league finish – seventeenth in Fourth Division.[7] However, he did lead the club to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, where former club Blackburn Rovers eliminated Swindon.[8] 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.[7]

He worked at Blackburn Rovers as commercial manager, from 1986 until his retirement in August 2012.[9][10][11]

Statistics

Playing statistics

Source:[12]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tranmere Rovers 1965–66 Fourth Division 10000010
1966–67 Fourth Division 10000010
1967–68 Third Division 2553100286
1968–69 Third Division 361310414114
1969–70 Third Division 46963315513
1970–71 Third Division 401030234513
1971–72 Third Division 291273323917
Total 1784920712721063
Brighton & Hove Albion 1971–72 Third Division 1460000146
1972–73 Second Division 38910114010
1973–74 Third Division 441200104512
Total 962710219928
Blackburn Rovers 1974–75 Third Division 431232535117
1975–76 Second Division 37700734410
1976–77 Second Division 60003292
Total 86193215810429
Port Vale 1976–77 Third Division 371254224418
1977–78 Third Division 421343304916
1978–79 Fourth Division 64002084
Total 8529977210138
Bury 1978–79 Third Division 351641003917
1979–80 Third Division 1440051195
Total 492041515822
Tranmere Rovers 1979–80 Fourth Division 27932003011
1980–81 Fourth Division 3262140387
Total 591553406818
Swindon Town 1981–82 Third Division 20000020
Career total 55515942204519642198

Managerial statistics
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Swindon Town April 1983 June 1984 68 26 17 25 038.2
Total[7] 68 26 17 25 038.2

Honours
Individual
Brighton & Hove Albion
Blackburn Rovers

References
  1. "Ken Beamish". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 374. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. "Ken Beamish picks his dream Blackburn Rovers team to win derby – what's yours?". Lancashire Telegraph. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  4. Jackman, Mike (1994). Blackburn Rovers : the official encyclopaedia. Derby: Breedon. p. 21. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. p. 305. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  6. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 21. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  7. "Manager Profile". swindon-town-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. "Managers Month: No.21 Ken Beamish & No.20 Andy King (1)". thewashbag.com. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  9. "Who's who at Blackburn Rovers". rovers.co.uk. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  10. "From striker to wing wizard". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 June 2003. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  11. "Ken Beamish retires". rovers.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  12. Ken Beamish at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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