Modern football always tends to get a bad press. But this is a heartwarming story about a club that cares for its own, and digs deep when times get hard.
To say things are tough at Morecambe at the moment would be an understatement. Confusion reigns about the ownership of the club in the midst of a fractious takeover, and the ramifications are far more serious than dropped points. People have mortgages to cover and bills to look after, and they’re not being paid on time.
Imagine what it’s like for Jim Bentley, the 40-year-old coach of the League Two side, when his players and management team look to him for guidance and leadership whilst not being recompensed for their efforts. These are not concerns about leaving individuals out of the team or losing games – this is about people’s livelihoods.
It is a responsibility that Bentley does not take lightly. Despite his tender years, he is an incredibly impressive man. Passionate, considerate, thoughtful and deeply loyal to a club he has been a part of since 2002, the former Shrips defender considers the Globe Arena to be his second home, and many of the fans as personal friends.
Amidst all the financial uncertainly around the club – and following a bereavement in his family – Bentley did something he’d never done before – he lost his temper and was sent to the stands during the game against Cheltenham in December. It was totally out of character and had everything to do with the unbearable stress he was under at the time.
Hit by a two-match touchline ban and £1,000 fine, he accepted the punishment with grace and remorse. But then something truly heartwarming happened. The fans clubbed together to raise money to play the FA’s fine. Bentley was visibly touched by the gesture when presented with the collection.
It was an incredible moment that underlined the bond between a committed club man and the supporters to whom he devotes his professional life. Bentley was keen to repay the kindness of the fans in some way, and that’s when Sky Bet, the sponsors of the Championship, stepped in to help out.
On Saturday, all fans, home and away, will be entitled to a free pie and a pint at the Cambridge United game, courtesy of Bentley and Sky Bet. It’s a way of saying thank you for their unrelenting commitment and generosity of spirit in even the most troubling of times.
When we caught up with ‘Jimbo’, his gratitude to both the supporters and Sky Bet was evident:
“It’s been fantastic with regards to the gesture the supporters made to me, It was the first time I’d ever been done, and I held my hands up and accepted the punishment and warning about my future conduct.
“It was totally out of character, but there’s just been so much going on and it has been so stressful. But it was great gesture from the fans and I can’t thank them enough. And now, thanks to Sky Bet, they’ve made it possible for me to pay them back in some way.
“It was a wonderful thing for the supporters to do, and it’s a great thing for Sky Bet to do too. In this day and age when there’s a lot of negativity surrounding football, it’s a really nice positive story.”
When listening to Bentley wax lyrical about the club – even about the current off-pitch turmoil – his love and dedication shines through:
“It’s very strong. This is my fifteenth season at Morecambe. I’ve been a player, captain, coach, and manger. I’ve got always got on with the fans and they’ve always appreciated how much effort I put into everything I do for the club.
“Sadly we’re in a sticky situation with regards to the ownership of the club. What it has done is pull everyone together. The fans, the players, the staff and the board have all tried to come together to try and sort out the mess that the owners left.
“I’ve got a lot of great friends at Morecambe, it’s like my second home. Some fans came to my wedding – some even came to my father’s funeral – so that’s how close the bond is.”
The Liverpudlian explains that watching the game from the stands helped him realise the groundswell of support behind him:
“I was the first time I was made to watch the game from the director’s box, which is at the highest point in the ground. I was looking over the fans singing my name, and the players winning the match, and it was one of my proudest moments at the club.
“Football is an emotional sport, and I’m an emotional person.”
The evident kinship and camaraderie at League Two level harks back to a simpler time, when megabucks football stars weren’t so far removed from the fan in the stands:
“It’s nice at this level that fans still have that association and relationship with the club. At certain clubs, some supporters go on the team bus to away games to spread the cost – things like that. Players go into the bar after the game and they can mingle with the fans. You’d obviously never get that at Premier League level.”
Such is the mark of the man, Bentley was keen to stress again his gratitude before we left him:
“Make sure you thank the fans from the bottom of my heart, and also Sky Bet for allowing us to give something back.”
We hope we’ve relayed his sentiments, and given due credit to all those involved in a touching story of spirt and good will overcoming adversity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuflFym4fUI&feature=youtu.be
