Fred Binney
Encyclopedia
Frederick Edward Binney (born 12 August 1946 in Plymouth
) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Torquay United
, Exeter City
, Brighton & Hove Albion
, Plymouth Argyle
and Hereford United
, and in the North American Soccer League
for the St. Louis Stars
.
. He became an apprentice at Devonport Dockyard
and whilst continuing to play for Launceston, also played for John Conway in the Devon Wednesday League. It was playing for John Conway that Binney was spotted by Don Mills
, by now acting as a scout for Torquay United
.
He signed for Torquay as an amateur, before turning professional in October 1966. Whilst a regular scorer for Torquay's reserve side, which played in the Western League
, the form of Robin Stubbs
meant that Binney's debut would have to wait. It finally came in September 1967, a 1-1 draw away to Grimsby Town
, but Binney could not gain a regular place in the side and was loaned to Exeter City
in February 1969, scoring 11 goals in 17 league games.
The following season Binney was still not a regular in the Torquay side, and in March 1970, after scoring 10 goals in 34 league games for the Gulls he moved to Exeter City for a fee of £35,000. In 1972-73, Binney scored 28 league goals for Exeter, making him the joint-top goalscorer for the season, alongside Pop Robson of West Ham United
. The following season, Binney was voted the PFA
Division Four Player of the Year as he scored another 25 times.
Unsurprisingly he was noticed by a number of higher level teams, and in May 1974 was signed by Brian Clough
for Brighton & Hove Albion
for a fee of £25,000 with John Templeman and Lammie Robertson
moving to Exeter in exchange. He had scored 90 goals in 177 league appearances for the Grecians. His second season at the Goldstone Ground was his most successful, Binney scoring 23 league goals as Brighton narrowly missed out on promotion to Division Two
.
, playing for St. Louis Stars
in the NASL
, around now he also played alongside players like Pelé
in New York where he powered a header in front of 68,000 people, before signing for Plymouth Argyle
on a free transfer in October 1977.
His first season with his hometown club was a struggle, both for the team as it battled against being relegated for the second successive season, and for Binney who initially could not hold down his place in the first team.
The following season saw a turn around in Binney's fortunes, 28 goals resulting in the Plymouth Player of the Year award. However, Binney suddenly fell from favour at Plymouth, not fitting in with new manager Bobby Saxton
's plans for Argyle, and in January 1980, after 42 goals in 81 appearances, Binney was transferred to Hereford United
for £37,000.
. In 1982 Lord left for Malaysia and Binney soon followed, working as coach to the Malaysia
national team before returning to Devon
in 1985 as assistant manager to Colin Appleton
at Exeter City. When Appleton was sacked in December 1987, Binney also left becoming Recreation Officer at Plymouth University
where he later became President and coach of the University of Plymouth football club (UPFC) and still is today.
Fred's eldest son, Adam, followed him into football coaching in 2004 as manager of the Longbrooke Football Club in Exeter. His youngest son Rue Binney currently attends Bristol University
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
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...
, 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...
, Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, and in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
for the St. Louis Stars
St. Louis Stars (soccer)
The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on...
.
Early career
Binney was raised in the Barbican area of Plymouth. He was a prolific goalscorer in junior football whilst playing for CM Department juniors and was signed by South Western League side LauncestonLaunceston F.C.
Launceston F.C. are a football club based in Launceston, Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom.They joined the South Western League in 1958, left in 1961, rejoined for another four-season spell in 1966, and again in 1978 - this time they retained membership until 2007 when they joined the newly...
. He became an apprentice at Devonport Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
and whilst continuing to play for Launceston, also played for John Conway in the Devon Wednesday League. It was playing for John Conway that Binney was spotted by Don Mills
Don Mills
Don Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting "new town" and was at the time located outside of Toronto proper. Consisting of residential, commercial and industrial sub-districts, it was planned and developed by...
, by now acting as a scout 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...
.
He signed for Torquay as an amateur, before turning professional in October 1966. Whilst a regular scorer for Torquay's reserve side, which played in the Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
, the form of Robin Stubbs
Robin Stubbs
Robin Gregory Stubbs is an English former professional footballer, born in Quinton, Birmingham, who played as a centre forward...
meant that Binney's debut would have to wait. It finally came in September 1967, a 1-1 draw away to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, but Binney could not gain a regular place in the side and was loaned to 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...
in February 1969, scoring 11 goals in 17 league games.
The following season Binney was still not a regular in the Torquay side, and in March 1970, after scoring 10 goals in 34 league games for the Gulls he moved to Exeter City for a fee of £35,000. In 1972-73, Binney scored 28 league goals for Exeter, making him the joint-top goalscorer for the season, alongside Pop Robson of West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. The following season, Binney was voted the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
Division Four Player of the Year as he scored another 25 times.
Unsurprisingly he was noticed by a number of higher level teams, and in May 1974 was signed by Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
for Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
for a fee of £25,000 with John Templeman and Lammie Robertson
Lammie Robertson
Archibald Lamond Robertson, also known as Lammie Robertson, is a retired Scottish footballer who played in the Football League for Burnley, Bury, Halifax Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, Exeter City, Leicester City, Peterborough United and Bradford City.His last Football League appearance was for...
moving to Exeter in exchange. He had scored 90 goals in 177 league appearances for the Grecians. His second season at the Goldstone Ground was his most successful, Binney scoring 23 league goals as Brighton narrowly missed out on promotion to Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
Big move
In 1977, after 35 league goals in just 70 games and after helping Brighton to promotion in his final season, he moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, playing for St. Louis Stars
St. Louis Stars (soccer)
The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on...
in the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, around now he also played alongside players like Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
in New York where he powered a header in front of 68,000 people, before signing for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on a free transfer in October 1977.
His first season with his hometown club was a struggle, both for the team as it battled against being relegated for the second successive season, and for Binney who initially could not hold down his place in the first team.
The following season saw a turn around in Binney's fortunes, 28 goals resulting in the Plymouth Player of the Year award. However, Binney suddenly fell from favour at Plymouth, not fitting in with new manager Bobby Saxton
Bobby Saxton
Robert "Bobby" Saxton is an English former footballer, manager and coach, now working as a scout for Sunderland F.C..-Biography:...
's plans for Argyle, and in January 1980, after 42 goals in 81 appearances, Binney was transferred to Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
for £37,000.
Coaching
At Hereford he subsequently qualified as a coach and was appointed assistant manager to Frank LordFrank Lord
Frank Lord was an English footballer and manager. He played as a centre-forward, with a goalscoring ratio of nearly 1 goal in every 2 league matches...
. In 1982 Lord left for Malaysia and Binney soon followed, working as coach to the Malaysia
Malaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...
national team before returning to Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in 1985 as assistant manager to Colin Appleton
Colin Appleton
Colin Appleton is a former footballer who played as a wing-half. Appleton began his career at Scarborough, but made his name making 333 appearances for Leicester City during a 12-year period, where he formed a legendary half-back partnership with Frank McLintock and Ian King.He was captain of the...
at Exeter City. When Appleton was sacked in December 1987, Binney also left becoming Recreation Officer at Plymouth University
University of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
where he later became President and coach of the University of Plymouth football club (UPFC) and still is today.
Fred's eldest son, Adam, followed him into football coaching in 2004 as manager of the Longbrooke Football Club in Exeter. His youngest son Rue Binney currently attends Bristol University