Derek Bellotti
Encyclopedia
Derek Christopher Bellotti (born December 25, 1946 in East Ham
, London
) is an English
former professional football goalkeeper.
Derek Bellotti began his career as an apprentice with Queens Park Rangers
in September 1963. He turned professional and spent two seasons on loan to Bedford Town
before being released at end of the 1965-66 season without making his debut for QPR.
He joined Gillingham
in July 1966 and went on to make 35 league appearances for the Gills. In October 1970 he joined Southend United
on loan, playing 3 games and later that month was transferred to Charlton Athletic
for a fee of £5,000. He played 14 league games for Charlton before moving to Southend United
again in December 1971, this time on a permanent basis. He was Southend's regular keeper, staying at Roots Hall until May 1974 when he joined Swansea City after playing 74 league games for Southend.
He only stayed at the Vetch Field for one season, playing 19 times in the league, before moving back into non-league football with Maidstone United
, spending two months on loan at Margate
from January 1978. He subsequently moved to Cornish
non-league side St Blazey from where he signed for Torquay United
in September 1981 as cover for Vince O'Keefe
. In 1982 he left without making a league appearance, joining Falmouth Town. He subsequently played for Bideford, Saltash United
, Newquay
and Torrington
.
In December 1997, at the age of 50, he played for Ilfracombe Town
as a temporary replacement for regular 'Combe goalkeeper, his son Ross, who was also a professional with Exeter City
.
Bellotti is currently managing director of Kingfisher Print and Design, a print firm based in Dartington
.
East Ham
East Ham is a suburban district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football goalkeeper.
Derek Bellotti began his career as an apprentice with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in September 1963. He turned professional and spent two seasons on loan to Bedford Town
Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
before being released at end of the 1965-66 season without making his debut for QPR.
He joined Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in July 1966 and went on to make 35 league appearances for the Gills. In October 1970 he joined Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on loan, playing 3 games and later that month was transferred to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
for a fee of £5,000. He played 14 league games for Charlton before moving to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
again in December 1971, this time on a permanent basis. He was Southend's regular keeper, staying at Roots Hall until May 1974 when he joined Swansea City after playing 74 league games for Southend.
He only stayed at the Vetch Field for one season, playing 19 times in the league, before moving back into non-league football with Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
, spending two months on loan at Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
from January 1978. He subsequently moved to Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
non-league side St Blazey from where he signed for Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in September 1981 as cover for Vince O'Keefe
Vince O'Keefe
James Vincent "Vince" O'Keefe is an English former professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for a number of Football League clubs between 1975 and 1993, making over 300 appearances.-Blackpool:...
. In 1982 he left without making a league appearance, joining Falmouth Town. He subsequently played for Bideford, Saltash United
Saltash United F.C.
Saltash United Football Club is a football club based in Saltash, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title two times in their history...
, Newquay
Newquay F.C.
Newquay F.C. is a football club based in Newquay, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, nicknamed "The Peppermints". They were the founding members of the South Western League in 1951, and remained there until 2007 when they joined the South West Peninsula League Division One West...
and Torrington
Torrington F.C.
Torrington F.C. are a football club based in Great Torrington, Devon, England.Torrington's home shirt is green with white hoops, which is worn with white shorts and green and green socks with white hoops. Their away shirt is yellow with blue stripes down the arms, which is worn with blue shorts and...
.
In December 1997, at the age of 50, he played for Ilfracombe Town
Ilfracombe Town F.C.
Ilfracombe Town F.C. is a football club based in Ilfracombe, Devon, England. The club was founded in 1902 as Ilfracombe F.C. and became a founder member of the North Devon League in 1904. In 1920, the Town suffix was added to the club's title. In 1922, the club switched to the East Devon League...
as a temporary replacement for regular 'Combe goalkeeper, his son Ross, who was also a professional with Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
Bellotti is currently managing director of Kingfisher Print and Design, a print firm based in Dartington
Dartington
Dartington is a village in Devon, England. Its population is 1,917. It is located west of the River Dart, south of Dartington Hall and about two miles from Totnes...
.