Bentley honoured by AFC Telford

Jim Bentley (left) accepts his father Jack's 'Legend' award from Telford chairman Lee Carter

The son of late striker Jack Bentley has spoken of the honour it was to have his father inducted into AFC Telford United's Hall of Fame.

Bentley, who also had the east side of the ground named after him, scored 431 goals in over 800 games from 1963.

"It's a great honour, and he would have been very proud," said son Jim at Wednesday's awards ceremony.

Also named as Legends were two former goalkeepers, Bobby Irvine and Kevin Charlton, and midfielder Steve Palmer.

"My dad could have moved on, perhaps to better clubs, but he loved Telford and the people here," Jim Bentley, a defender at Morecambe added.

That sentiment was echoed by Charlton, who starred in Telford's FA Cup giantkilling feats of the late 1970s and 80s.

"It was exactly 100 miles from my front door in Anglesey to the changing rooms, but the feeling in the team was so fantastic that I never wanted to play anywhere else," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

Special tributes were also paid to Stan Storton, the manager who led the team during those cup glory days and made Telford a household name, while the current chairman Lee Carter was also inducted into the Hall of Fame for his part in reviving the club after the demise of the old Telford United four years ago.

That final award had been kept a closely-guarded secret, and Carter admitted: "I'm lost for words.

"I take this award on behalf of everyone who has played a part in taking the club forward, the club we didn't want to die."