Wally Bellett
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Ronald Bellett | ||
| Date of birth | 14 November 1933 | ||
| Place of birth | Stratford, London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Full back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Retired | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Canvey Island | |||
| Grays Athletic | |||
| – | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1954 | Chelmsford City | ||
| 1954 | Barking Town | ||
| 1954–1958 | Chelsea | 35 | (1) |
| 1958–1960 | Plymouth Argyle | 41 | (1) |
| 1960–1961 | Chelmsford City | ||
| 1961 | Leyton Orient | 0 | (0) |
| 1961–1962 | Chester | 12 | (1) |
| 1962–1963 | Wrexham | 2 | (0) |
| 1963–1964 | Tranmere Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 1964–1966 | Gravesend & Northfleet | ||
| 1966–1974 | Canvey Island | ||
| National team | |||
| England Youth | |||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Walter "Wally" Bellett (born 14 November 1933, Stratford, London) is a former English footballer who played as a full back.
Playing career
Bellett spent time as a youngster with Grays Athletic, Arsenal, Chelmsford City and Barking Town and was called up for the England Youth side.[1] In his early football career he was also based in Malaysia with the Royal Air Force.[1]
He signed professional forms with Chelsea in September 1954 after impressing on trial,[1] making his Football League First Division debut in February 1956 in a 2–2 draw with Manchester City.[1] He will also be remembered as being in the iconic Tom Finney splash photograph with his appearance in it almost being completely obscured. After 35 league appearances for Chelsea he moved to Plymouth Argyle in December 1958, with the season ending with Bellett having helped the Pilgrims finishing as champions of the Football League Third Division. Although Bellett briefly dropped out of professional football when he returned to Chelmsford,[1] he was to quickly be back in the Football League with fairly short spells at Leyton Orient, Chester, Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers.[1]
In 1964 Bellett dropped back into Non-League football with Gravesend & Northfleet, later going on to enjoy a long playing and coaching stint with Canvey Island.[1] Away from football he worked as a car mechanic and lorry driver.[1]