Kevin Beattie
Encyclopedia
Kevin Beattie is an English
former footballer
, playing at central defence
for both Ipswich Town
and England
in the 1970s and early 1980s.
which consistently challenged for the First Division
title throughout the decade. Kevin was considered the best defender in the league at the time.
in 1975 against Cyprus
in a qualifier for the 1976 European Championships which ended in a 5-0 win. Little more than a month later, he scored with a stunning, looping header later named one of England's greatest fifty goals, as England beat Scotland
5-1, also at Wembley. Beattie played a starring role as Ipswich won the 1978 FA Cup Final
with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal
. He missed their triumph in the 1981 UEFA Cup Final
though after suffering a broken arm in an FA Cup semi-final defeat weeks earlier to Manchester City
.
Robson nicknamed Beattie "The Diamond" on the grounds that he had discovered a gem when his scouts sent him to watch the teenage Beattie play. However, Beattie's career was dogged by persistent knee injuries and accidents - he once missed a number of games through burns suffered when a home bonfire got out of control and after a testimonial in 1982, was forced to retire as his injury problems finally got the better of him. He was still only 28.
He made short-lived comebacks at Colchester United
and Middlesbrough
before finally retiring from professional football. He then had a brief spell playing semi-professionally in Sweden
with Sandvikens IF
.
award.
Beattie had a hard time accepting that his career was over and he has had numerous personal problems since finishing the game, although he has also worked as a coach, scout and on the after-dinner circuit. He suffered a mild stroke in 1998 but made a full recovery. Sir Bobby Robson paid tribute to Beattie, calling him the best English born player that he had ever seen.
Kevin Beattie did not receive a medal following Ipswich Town's UEFA Cup final win as he missed the game due to injury. This was despite the fact that he was instrumental in the club getting to the final. Following an online petition by the writer Rob Finch who published Beattie's autobiography it was announced some 27 years on that Kevin Beattie would finally receive a medal. The presentation - by UEFA President Michel Platini took place at the 2008 UEFA Cup Final between Glasgow Rangers and FC Zenit.
Beattie proudly displayed his UEFA Cup medal a few days later at The Suffolk Show and allowed those who wanted a photo with him to wear the medal.
Like many other ex-Ipswich
players he settled in Suffolk
following his retirement from the game.
Beattie also appeared in the film Escape to Victory
as Michael Caine
's body double.
1982 Boston Cinema Festival for his participation in film Escape to Victory
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, playing at central defence
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
for both Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Through the ranks
Beattie came through the ranks at Ipswich and was the leading light of a talented team raised by Bobby RobsonBobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
which consistently challenged for the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
title throughout the decade. Kevin was considered the best defender in the league at the time.
England debut and "The Diamond"
Equally comfortable as a central defender or left full back, Beattie made his debut for England at WembleyWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in 1975 against Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
in a qualifier for the 1976 European Championships which ended in a 5-0 win. Little more than a month later, he scored with a stunning, looping header later named one of England's greatest fifty goals, as England beat Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
5-1, also at Wembley. Beattie played a starring role as Ipswich won the 1978 FA Cup Final
1978 FA Cup Final
The 1978 FA Cup Final took place on 6 May 1978 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Arsenal and Ipswich Town. While Ipswich were considered underdogs, with Arsenal fielding a number of well-known players, including England striker Malcolm Macdonald, Ipswich won the match 1–0.Ipswich...
with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. He missed their triumph in the 1981 UEFA Cup Final
1981 UEFA Cup Final
The 1981 UEFA Cup Final was the two-legged final of the 1980–81 UEFA Cup, the tenth season of the UEFA Cup, UEFA's second-tier club football tournament. The matches were contested between Ipswich Town of England and AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands; despite losing the second leg of the final 4–2,...
though after suffering a broken arm in an FA Cup semi-final defeat weeks earlier to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
Robson nicknamed Beattie "The Diamond" on the grounds that he had discovered a gem when his scouts sent him to watch the teenage Beattie play. However, Beattie's career was dogged by persistent knee injuries and accidents - he once missed a number of games through burns suffered when a home bonfire got out of control and after a testimonial in 1982, was forced to retire as his injury problems finally got the better of him. He was still only 28.
He made short-lived comebacks at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
before finally retiring from professional football. He then had a brief spell playing semi-professionally in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with Sandvikens IF
Sandvikens IF
Sandvikens IF is a Swedish football club located in Sandviken. The club, formed 6 June 1918, has played 21 seasons in the highest Swedish league, but is currently playing in the fourth highest Swedish league, Division 2. Sandvikens IF are affiliated to the Gestriklands Fotbollförbund...
.
End of a career
Beattie collected just nine full caps, which was small return for a man who was dubbed 'The new Bobby Moore' and 'better than Duncan Edwards.' Indeed, Sir Bobby Robson said he expected Beattie to become England's most capped player. Injuries forced him to pull out of numerous England squads and for a large part of his career he was only able to make sporadic appearances. Admirers included a who's who of English football management, including Sir Bobby Robson, Bill Shankly - who tried to sign him for his Liverpool side, Don Revie and Sir Alf Ramsey, who called him up for England U23 duty after Beattie had played fewer than 10 games as a professional player. He was the inaugural winner of the PFA Young Player of the YearPFA Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
award.
Beattie had a hard time accepting that his career was over and he has had numerous personal problems since finishing the game, although he has also worked as a coach, scout and on the after-dinner circuit. He suffered a mild stroke in 1998 but made a full recovery. Sir Bobby Robson paid tribute to Beattie, calling him the best English born player that he had ever seen.
Kevin Beattie did not receive a medal following Ipswich Town's UEFA Cup final win as he missed the game due to injury. This was despite the fact that he was instrumental in the club getting to the final. Following an online petition by the writer Rob Finch who published Beattie's autobiography it was announced some 27 years on that Kevin Beattie would finally receive a medal. The presentation - by UEFA President Michel Platini took place at the 2008 UEFA Cup Final between Glasgow Rangers and FC Zenit.
Beattie proudly displayed his UEFA Cup medal a few days later at The Suffolk Show and allowed those who wanted a photo with him to wear the medal.
Like many other ex-Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
players he settled in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
following his retirement from the game.
Beattie also appeared in the film Escape to Victory
Escape to Victory
Escape to Victory, known simply as Victory in North America, is a 1981 film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during World War II...
as Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
's body double.
As a player
Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
- Texaco CupTexaco CupThe Texaco Cup was an association football competition involving clubs from England, Ireland and Scotland that had not qualified for European competitions. Irish clubs withdrew from the competition after 1971-72 due to political pressure, and in 1973-74 and 1974-75 competed in a separate Texaco Cup...
1973 - PFA Young Player of the YearPFA Young Player of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
1974 - FA Cup winner 1978
- Football League Division 1 Runners-up: 1980-811980-81 in English footballThe 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
- UEFA Cup Winners medal 1981. Awarded in 2008 following online petition
1982 Boston Cinema Festival for his participation in film Escape to Victory
Escape to Victory
Escape to Victory, known simply as Victory in North America, is a 1981 film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during World War II...
.