Alfred Bentley (28 October 1931 â 15 October 1996) was an English professional association football goalkeeper.
He started his career with Snowdown Colliery Welfare before moving into the Football League with Coventry City in 1955âÂÂ56. After a spell with Margate he returned to league football in 1958 with Gillingham, making 42 appearances in the Football League. In 1962 he joined Tunbridge Wells United before going on to Hastings United, finishing his playing career back at Snowdown in the 1966âÂÂ67 season.
After retiring from playing Bentley had managerial spells with Canterbury City (1970âÂÂ1975), Ramsgate (1975âÂÂ76), Dover (1976âÂÂ1980) and Folkestone (1980âÂÂ1984). Bentley then returned to Canterbury City as manager-director towards the end of the 1983âÂÂ84 season, he remained there until the end of the 1984âÂÂ85 season before being replaced by Carl Gilbert.
During the 1987âÂÂ88 season he had another spell at Canterbury City as caretaker manager. He then went back to Folkestone as manager in the summer of 1990, before resigning at the end of September 1990.
Bentley returned to Canterbury City for the start of the 1991âÂÂ92 season, although he was sacked in January 1992.
He returned to his old club, Snowdown Colliery Welfare, for the start of the 1992âÂÂ93 season. He was part of a three-man management team, working with Roy Hare and Alan Jones. He would become Snowdown Colliery Welfare's chairman for the 1993âÂÂ94 season.
Bentley ran the Red Lion public house in Dover from 1982 to 1987 and again during 1992. He sadly died in 1996, shortly before his 65th birthday.