Jim Beech

Jim Beech

Personal information
Full name	James Beech[1]
Playing position	Centre-half
Youth career
	Smallthorne St. Saviour
	Smallthorne Albion
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1894–1902	Burslem Port Vale	161	(8)
Total		161	(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

James "Jim" Beech was a footballer who played as a centre-half for Burslem Port Vale between 1894 and 1902, making 151 appearances in the Football League.

Playing career

Beech played for Smallthorne St. Saviour and Smallthorne Albion, before joining Burslem Port Vale in May 1894.^[1] He made 14 Second Division appearances in the 1894–95 season, but featured just twice in the 1895–96 campaign.^[1] The club then spent two seasons in the Midland League, and Beech was part of the side that won the Staffordshire Senior Cup in 1898.^[1] Vale were then re-elected into the Football League, and Beech played 31 league games in the 1898–99 season, and scored goals at the Athletic Ground in wins over Burton Swifts, Blackpool, and Lincoln City.^[1] He played 31 league matches in the 1899–1900 and 1900–01 campaigns, and claimed goals against Burton Swifts, Birmingham City, and Glossop.^[1] However, in November 1901 he became seriously ill and retired from football at the end of the 1901–02 season.^[1] His benefit match was held against rivals Stoke on 15 April 1901; Vale won the game 2–1.^[2]

Statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Burslem Port Vale	1894–95	Second Division	14	0	1	0	1	0	16	0
	1895–96		2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	1896–97	Midland League	24	1	2	0	5	0	31	1
	1897–98		18	0	5	1	5	0	28	1
	1898–99	Second Division	31	4	3	0	6	0	40	4
	1899–1900		31	1	4	0	6	0	41	1
	1900–01		31	2	1	0	2	0	34	2
	1901–02		10	0	2	0	1	0	13	0
Total			161	8	18	1	26	0	205	9

Honours

with Burslem Port Vale

• Staffordshire Senior Cup winner: 1898

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 23. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 62. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.