Bennett's Journey from Factory Worker to Wrexham Legend
Bennett's transformation from a factory worker to a football legend highlights his dedication and connection with Wrexham, culminating in a remarkable 47 goals during one season.
The moment reveals much about Reynolds; a bit of history homework illustrates his commitment to the League One club goes beyond financial matters.
However, it likely says more about Bennett, the player overlooked by rivals, who transformed from a factory worker into one of the greatest goalscorers for the north Wales club during the 1990s.
"I used to say I made shirts, but I was too embarrassed to admit I worked on women's blouses," Bennett reflects while recuperating at home after a delayed knee surgery, a procedure stemming from an injury that concluded his career 26 years ago.
The Merseysider started as a cutter but proved to be more adept at putting the ball in the back of the net, which he did consistently at an amateur level before turning professional at the age of 22 following a trial with Wigan.
He then found himself at Chester, Wrexham's cross-border rivals, after Joey Jones, a former Liverpool defender and the assistant to Brian Flynn at the Racecourse, approached him about joining the team.
He was out of contract and invited to tour the Isle of Man during pre-season to see if he was a suitable fit. "But they would only pay me £500 to go," the 61-year-old recalls. "I couldn't risk getting injured and possibly losing a chance of a move somewhere for that, so I said no."
After Wrexham's struggles, a second call came, leading to a passionate connection with the club.
Eventually, Bennett recalls, "I didn't score and got booed for something like the first eight weeks," he chuckles.
"I knew it was sink or swim, but slowly I won them over. Perhaps it was the way in which I entered the football scene, that I wasn't polished, but I just clicked with the fans, and there was something about me and the club. I reached a point where I would go to the ground not hoping to score, but knowing I would."
Bennett's remarkable tally of 47 goals in the 1994-95 season attests to that connection, showcasing not just his immense talent but also his relentless spirit that resonated with the working-class community showcased in recent American documentaries.
