TT BLOG

Steve Harris – @Byehorse

RIP TONY BEDEAU

Tony Bedeau spent 11 years with Torquay United between 1995 and 2006 before returning to the club in the summer of 2007. He made over 300 appearances for the Gulls’ and was United’s top scorer in the 1999-00 season.

Bedeau, who hailed from Shepherd’s Bush in West London, first arrived at Plainmoor in the summer of 1995 after he was released by Chelsea and was handed his debut by Don O’Riordan in a 0-0 draw with Cardiff City on September 8, 1995. He was one of four teenagers who were handed their debuts during the course of the 1995-96 season, in which the Gulls only retained their Football League status after Stevenage Borough’s Broadhall Way home was deemed not to meet League standards. They included future Swansea City manager Garry Monk, Matthew Gregg and Wayne Thomas.

Bedeau then remained involved in the first team under Eddie May, O’Riordan’s successor, and Kevin Hodges before he signed his first professional contract on the eve of the 1997-98 campaign. Bedeau spent much of the season playing second fiddle behind Rodney Jack, Andy McFarlane and Jason Roberts, during his loan spell, as the Gulls reached the Division Three Play-off final where they lost to Colchester United, in which he came on as a sub for Steve McCall.

In the 1998-99 season, he became a regular starter under Hodges’ successor Wes Saunders, appearing up front alongside Scott Partridge and then Eifion Williams. In addition to this, he was also a teammate of Chris Waddle and Neville Southall, and the former even recommended him to Sheffield Wednesday, who tabled a £50,000 bid for him.

However, it would be the 1999-00 campaign that would prove to be Bedeau’s finest season at Plainmoor, as he topped the Gulls’ goalscoring charts with 16 goals in all competitions. During the course of the season, United also reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in a decade, where they faced Queens Park Rangers, his local club, at Loftus Road and drew 1-1 to force a replay back at Plainmoor.

In the replay, Bedeau gave the Gulls the lead and looked as though the headline writer’s might have had their dream script: ‘Shepherd’s Bush boy beats the Rs’. Sadly, it wasn’t to be as QPR came back to win 3-2 on the night.

On the last day of the season, United went into their final home game of the campaign needing to beat Northampton Town to reach the Play-offs. Bedeau netted the Gulls’ opening goal to get them off to a dream start. However, the Cobblers, who themselves needed to win to clinch automatic promotion, came back to win 2-1.

The 2000-01 season then proved to be a campaign of great highs and great lows for Bedeau. After missing early part of the season through injury, he returned in a Worthington Cup first round, second leg tie against Gillingham, where he netted twice as the Gulls won the tie 3-2, but bowed out as they lost 4-3 on aggregate. He later attracted interest from Oxford United and Rochdale but remained with the Gulls. It would also be another season where he would see a change of manager as Wes Saunders was sacked and replaced by Colin Lee on a temporary basis. Bedeau also found himself deployed in a wide role, which was where he played in United’s final day decider against Barnet at Underhill, which the Gulls famously won 3-2.

However, talks between Lee and chairman Mike Bateson broke down when it came to Lee being named as manager on a permanent basis and Bateson appointed former Derby County manager Roy McFarland instead. McFarland and Bedeau never seemed to see eye-to-eye and he found himself transfer listed, he even joined Barnsley, who were in Division One – now Championship, on loan.

Nevertheless, after McFarland left the club in the summer of 2002, Bedeau received a new lease of life under Leroy Rosenior and was part of the Gulls’ squad who won automatic promotion in the 2003-04 campaign. He also received a call-up for Grenada, where he featured alongside his former Plainmoor colleague Jason Roberts.

The latter part of his time with the Gulls saw Bedeau deployed in a variety of roles, including striker, right winger as even as a right back. He was rewarded for his long service with the Gulls with a testimonial against Plymouth Argyle ahead of the 2005-06 season and was also voted as the League Two player of the month for March 2006.

After finishing as top scorer again in 2005-06 with 11 goals in all competitions, Bedeau left United for Walsall in the summer of 2006, but returned a year later under Paul Buckle and stayed for the 2007-08 campaign. In returning to Plainmoor, he joined a select band of players who was a teammate of both Alex Russell and Jason Fowler and Lee Mansell and Kevin Nicholson; the others include Steve Woods, Matt Hockley, Kevin Hill and Martin Gritton.

He then returned to London, when he joined Kingstonian before retiring from football where he remained until his untimely recent passing.

This sudden and terrible news has shaken everyone associated with our club and the thoughts of everyone at TT are with Tony’s family at this time. A Torquay United hero taken far too soon.

RIP Tony, thank you for the memories.

COYY – STEVE

Rachel Malloch – Supporters have heroes and clubs produce legends, entertainers, and we had that in Tony Bedeau, with pace, skill and goals aplenty. Such awful, sad news, thoughts with his family and friends. Tony, Tony Bedeau.

Chris Wade – This is devastating news. One of my first favourite players and somebody who gave his all. It’s so, so sad. Love and best wishes to his family

Dom Roman – RIP Tony, such an exciting player for United, could find a goal out of nothing and at his best, electrify any afternoon or evening at Plainmoor. Terrible news.

Helen Chamberlain – Feeling the physical pain of this. Adored him. He loved the club, he loved playing for Torquay, he was one of us.

Brian Healy – Devastating news this morning that my former colleague passed away at such a young age. An absolute gentleman and a pleasure and a privilege to share the pitch with, it’s true the best go to soon. RIP Tony Bedeau absolute @TUFC1899 legend.

Paul Mulhern – In modern football the word legend is used too often. In the case of Tony Bedeau it wasn’t used often enough. His time @TUFC1899 will sit in the clubs history forever. Yet most who knew him judged him as the man he was. RIP Tony. Irreplaceable on and off field.

Jason Roberts – I cannot believe this news…RIP Beds