Kevin Betsy
Betsy in 2008
Personal information
Full name Kevin Eddie Lewis Betsy
Date of birth (1978-03-20) 20 March 1978
Place of birth Woking, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Woking 50 (8)
1998–2002 Fulham 15 (1)
1999 → AFC Bournemouth (loan) 5 (0)
1999 → Hull City (loan) 2 (0)
2002 → Barnsley (loan) 5 (0)
2002–2004 Barnsley 89 (16)
2004 → Hartlepool United (loan) 6 (1)
2004–2005 Oldham Athletic 36 (5)
2005–2007 Wycombe Wanderers 71 (13)
2007–2008 Bristol City 18 (1)
2007 → Yeovil Town (loan) 5 (1)
2008 → Walsall (loan) 16 (2)
2008–2010 Southend United 43 (3)
2009–2010 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 39 (5)
2010–2011 Wycombe Wanderers 48 (6)
2012–2015 Woking 138 (26)
Total 586 (88)
International career
1998 England C 1 (0)
2011 Seychelles 7 (1)
Managerial career
2016–2019 England U16
2019–2020 England U17
2020–2021 England U18
2021–2022 Arsenal U23
2022 Crawley Town
2023– Cambridge United (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kevin Eddie Lewis Betsy (born 20 March 1978) is a football coach and former professional footballer. He is currently assistant head coach at Cambridge United.

He started his career with Woking but went on to make a name for himself with Fulham where he became part of the squad that earned promotions in 1999 and 2001 that made the club a Premier League team. He made one appearance in the top tier of English football, becoming the first Seychellois player to play in the Premier League. He then also spent time on loan with AFC Bournemouth, Hull City, and Barnsley before joining the latter on a permanent deal in 2002. Betsy made 94 league appearances, scoring 15 goals in a two-year period with the Tykes before moving to Hartlepool United. His time with Pool was short and he moved on to Oldham Athletic and then Wycombe Wanderers.[2] In 2007, he signed for Bristol City and whilst there spent loan spells with Yeovil Town and Walsall. A year after signing for City he moved on again to Southend United before returning to Wycombe following a loan spell. In 2012, he re-signed for Woking.

Born in England, Betsy qualified to represent the Seychelles through his grandparents and earned his first cap in 2011.

Following a move into coaching, Betsy worked as a coach for the England U16 team, later taking up similar roles with the U17 and U18 teams. He later spent a season as U23 coach of Arsenal before managing Crawley Town briefly in 2022. In June 2023 Betsy was announced as assistant head coach at Cambridge United.

Playing career

Early career

Betsy started his career at Woking, representing England at semi professional level and being named Conference Player of the Year in 1998. In September 1998, Betsy was signed by Fulham for a fee of £80,000, which would potentially rise to £125,000,[3] with manager Kevin Keegan describing him as one of the best young players he had seen at his age. He made his debut at Anfield against Liverpool in the League Cup[4] and spent three years at Fulham. Betsy's only goal for Fulham came in their victorious 1998–99 Division Two campaign against Millwall.[5] He made five league appearances during Fulham's 2000/01 season after which they were promoted to the Premier League.[6] He made one appearance in the Premiership for Fulham under Jean Tigana in a game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.[7] He had loan spells at AFC Bournemouth and Hull City.

Barnsley and Oldham Athletic

On 1 March 2002, Betsy joined Barnsley on a one-month loan.[8] After five appearances,[9] Betsy was signed by Barnsley for a fee of £200,000 on 28 March 2002.[10][11] He made over 90 appearances for the club and scored 17 goals and was the club's top goal scorer in 2002–03 season with 11 goals from midfield. Betsy had a short loan spell with Hartlepool United in August 2004, making six appearances and scoring once.[12][13] On 8 September 2004, he signed for Oldham Athletic on a contract until the end of the season, after his Barnsley contract was terminated by mutual consent.[14] At Oldham, he scored five goals and was a key member of the team which defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Betsy in action for Bristol City.

Wycombe Wanderers

After turning down Oldham's offer of a new contract, Betsy moved to Wycombe Wanderers in July 2005, signing a two-year contract. Betsy was a regular in the Wycombe team during the 2005–06 season. He was also a regular goalscorer for the club, most notably with a hat-trick against Mansfield Town in September 2005 and in April 2006. Betsy was honoured by his fellow professionals by being named in the Professional Footballers's Association (PFA) "Team Of The Year" for League Two and helped Wycombe reach the play-offs. Betsy's last game for Wycombe was a notable one, the League Cup semi final defeat against the eventual winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Bristol City

In January 2007, it was announced that Betsy had been signed by League One Bristol City for a fee of £200,000.[15] He was ever present in the city line up helping the Robins gain Promotion to Championship, scoring once in the process against Northampton.[16] Betsy joined Yeovil Town on loan in October 2007.[17] He returned to Bristol City on 7 November as Yeovil could not afford to extend the loan,[18] having scored once for Yeovil against Swansea City.[19] He turned down a loan deal to Cheltenham Town in November 2007.[20] On 31 January 2008, Betsy joined Walsall for the rest of the season on loan.[21]

Southend United and return to Wycombe Wanderers

Betsy signed for Southend United on 7 August 2008, on a two-year contract.[22]

On 1 September 2009, Betsy re-signed for Wycombe Wanderers on a loan until 2 January 2010.[23][24] On 15 January 2010, after a successful loan, Betsy signed for Wycombe on a permanent basis until the end of the season, having been released from Southend.[25] Betsy also led the team in assists with eight, scoring five goals and being voted (OWWSA) Wycombe Supporters Player of the year. In May 2010, Betsy agreed a new two-year deal with the club.[26] Betsy was a regular in the Wycombe promotion side in 2010–11, but found first team opportunities limited in 2011–12, and left the club by mutual consent on 20 December 2011.

Return to Woking

On 17 February 2012, Betsy re-joined Woking as a free agent until the end of the 2011–12 season. After re-joining he has made a big impact in the team and in his fourth game back, he won two penalties in the space of five minutes. He went on to win the Conference South title with Woking having beaten Maidenhead United 1–0 away. After the success at the end of the 2011–12 season, Betsy signed on for another season at Woking. In June 2014, Betsy signed a new one-year contract.[27] He remained at Woking until the end of the 2014–15 season before deciding to stop playing football so he could focus on his coaching career.

International career

Betsy is of Seychellois descent and, after having rejected the chance to play for the Seychelles national team in 2005,[28] was finally called into the squad and made his international debut against a visiting French league side on 3 June 2011, scoring twice in a 3–0 friendly victory.[29] Betsy was called up to the Seychelles squad for the football tournament at the 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games.[30] He started all five of the Seychelles' games in the tournament, scoring in the final against Mauritius, which finished 1–1. Betsy scored again in the resulting penalty shootout, which the Seychelles won 4–3.

Coaching career

In 2016, he was appointed head of England under-15s, having previously coached youth teams at Fulham.[31]

Having moved on to lead the U16 and U17 squads, Betsy was appointed head coach for England U18s on 24 September 2020.[32]

On 3 August 2021, Betsy was appointed head coach of Arsenal U23s.[33] In his single season at Arsenal U23, Betsy took them from a 10th placed finish in 2020–21 under Steve Bould to a 3rd place finish, whilst implementing a "very fluid possession-based style of play" and using various formations, mainly variations on the 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 formations.[34]

On 6 June 2022, Betsy was announced as the new manager of EFL League Two club Crawley Town on an initial two-year contract.[35] However, after a disastrous start to the league season Betsy left the club on 9th October 2022 following a 3-0 defeat to Grimsby Town which left the club bottom of the league. His most notable achievement was a 2-0 win over his former team Fulham in the EFL Cup.[36]

On 29 November 2022, Betsy was appointed as a first team coach for Championship club Wigan Athletic as part of new manager Kolo Touré's entourage,[37] however left the club following Touré's sacking after only seven matches.

On 19 June 2023, Betsy was announced as new assistant head coach at EFL League One club Cambridge United.[38]

Personal life

In 2010, Betsy was studying for a BA Honours Degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University.[39]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Woking 1997–98 Football Conference
1998–99 Football Conference
Total
Fulham 1998–99[40] Second Division 7110101[lower-alpha 1]0101
1999–2000[41] First Division 2000000020
2000–01[42] First Division 5000200070
2001–02[9] Premier League 1000000010
Total 151103010201
AFC Bournemouth (loan) 1999–2000[41] Second Division 5000000050
Hull City (loan) 1999–2000[41] Third Division 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
Barnsley (loan) 2001–02[9] First Division 5000000050
Barnsley 2001–02[9] First Division 5000000050
2002–03[43] Second Division 39610101[lower-alpha 1]0426
2003–04[44] Second Division 451051102[lower-alpha 1]05311
2004–05[13] League One 0000000000
Total 941661203010517
Hartlepool United (loan) 2004–05[13] League One 6100100071
Oldham Athletic 2004–05[13] League One 36530005[lower-alpha 1]0445
Wycombe Wanderers 2005–06[45] League Two 42810105[lower-alpha 2]0498
2006–07[46] League Two 29520702[lower-alpha 1]0405
Total 71133080708913
Bristol City 2006–07[46] League One 171000000171
2007–08[47] Championship 1000100020
Total 181001000191
Yeovil Town (loan) 2007–08[47] League One 5100001[lower-alpha 1]061
Walsall (loan) 2007–08[47] League One 162000000162
Southend United 2008–09[48] League One 41340101[lower-alpha 1]0473
2009–10[49] League One 2000100030
Total 433402010503
Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2009–10[49] League One 201200000221
Wycombe Wanderers 2009–10[49] League One 194000000194
2010–11[50] League Two 45630102[lower-alpha 1]1517
2011–12[51] League One 3000102[lower-alpha 1]161
Total 67103020427612
Woking 2011–12[52] Conference South 12300—00123
2012–13[52] Conference Premier 461310—2[lower-alpha 3]14914
2013–14[52] Conference Premier 46810—2[lower-alpha 3]0498
2014–15[52] Conference Premier 34220—5[lower-alpha 3]1413
Total 1382640009215128
Career total 5368026119032461385

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Seychelles 201171
Total71
Scores and results list Seychelles' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Betsy goal.
List of international goals scored by Kevin Betsy
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
113 August 2011Stade Linite, Victoria, Seychelles Mauritius1–01–1Indian Ocean Games 2011

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2006). Sky Sports Football Yearbook: 2006–2007. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 560. ISBN 0-7553-1525-1. OCLC 68771078.
  2. ↑ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2013). Non-League Club Directory 2014. Tony Williams Publications. p. 1006. ISBN 978-1-869833-72-5.
  3. ↑ "FOOTBALL: NON-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK: McDermott hired for Woking rescue job". Independent.co.uk. 24 September 1998.
  4. ↑ "Ince kills off Fulham's resistance". The Independent. 28 October 1998. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Fulham headache sends Millwall hangover into fourth day". The Guardian. 22 April 1999. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Clockwatch: Man Utd 3–2 Fulham". BBC. 19 August 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Intellect, Emotions, and Imagination". TheGuardian.com. March 2002.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Deadline day deals". TheGuardian.com. 29 March 2002.
  11. ↑ "Oldham sign Betsy". 8 September 2004.
  12. ↑ "Betsy returning to Barnsley". 31 August 2004.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Oldham sign Betsy". 8 September 2004.
  15. ↑ Robins bag Betsy
  16. ↑ "Bristol City 1–0 Northampton". BBC. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Glovers sign City's Betsy on loan". BBC Sport. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  18. ↑ "City star Betsy ends Yeovil loan". 7 November 2007.
  19. ↑ "Yeovil 1–2 Swansea". BBC. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  20. ↑ "Betsy turns down Cheltenham loan". 13 November 2007.
  21. ↑ "Betsy heads to Walsall". Bristol City F.C. 31 January 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  22. ↑ "Betsy wings into Southend". Southend United F.C. 7 August 2007. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  23. ↑ "King Kev's Back!". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  24. ↑ "Betsy returns to Wycombe on loan". September 2009.
  25. ↑ "Betsy back at Wycombe for season". 15 January 2010.
  26. ↑ "Betsy agrees new Wycombe contract". 25 May 2010.
  27. ↑ "Betsy signs new contract at Woking". BBC Sport.
  28. ↑ "Betsy turns Seychelles down". BBC News. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 10 October 2007.
  29. ↑ "Kev makes Seychelles bow". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  30. ↑ "Wycombe Wanderers lose Kevin Betsy for season kick-off". BBC. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  31. ↑ "The FA appoints Kevin Betsy as England Men's U15s head coach". The Football Association. 14 April 2016.
  32. ↑ "THE COACHING STAFF FOR OUR ENGLAND TEAMS DURING THE 2020-21 SEASON HAS BEEN CONFIRMED". 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "Kevin Betsy joins as our new under-23 head coach". 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  34. ↑ Whitehead, Jacob; de Roché, Art (6 June 2022). "Arsenal U23 head coach Betsy named Crawley Town boss". The Athletic. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  35. ↑ "Crawley name Arsenal's Betsy as new manager". BBC Sport.
  36. ↑ "Crawley sack Betsy with club bottom of League Two". BBC Sport.
  37. ↑ FC, Wigan Athletic. "Kolo Touré appointed Wigan Athletic First Team Manager". Wigan Athletic FC. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  38. ↑ "Kevin Betsy appointed Assistant Head Coach". www.cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  39. ↑ Morris, Sam; Woodward, Ted; Fitch, Sam (19 November 2010). "Footballing classmates square up as Port Vale take on Wycombe". Staffs Live. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  41. 1 2 3 "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  46. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  47. 1 2 3 "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  49. 1 2 3 "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Betsy in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  52. 1 2 3 4 "K. Betsy: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  53. ↑ "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC Sport. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  54. ↑ "Rovers players in team of the season". Bristol Rovers. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
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