| Full name | Derek Christopher Bellotti |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 25 December 1946 |
| Birth place | East Ham, London, England |
| Death date | 10 March 2026 (aged 79) |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Youthclubs 1 | Queens Park Rangers |
| Youthclubs 2 | Bedford Town |
| Years 1 | 1966–1971 |
| Clubs 1 | Gillingham |
| Caps 1 | 35 |
| Goals 1 | 0 |
| Years 2 | 1970–1971 |
| Clubs 2 | → Southend United (loan) |
| Caps 2 | 3 |
| Goals 2 | 0 |
| Years 3 | 1971–1972 |
| Clubs 3 | Charlton Athletic |
| Caps 3 | 14 |
| Goals 3 | 0 |
| Years 4 | 1972–1974 |
| Clubs 4 | Southend United |
| Caps 4 | 74 |
| Goals 4 | 0 |
| Years 5 | 1974–1975 |
| Clubs 5 | Swansea City |
| Caps 5 | 19 |
| Goals 5 | 0 |
| Years 6 | 1975–1978 |
| Clubs 6 | Maidstone United |
| Years 7 | 1978 |
| Clubs 7 | → Margate (loan) |
| Years 8 | 1978–1979 |
| Clubs 8 | St Blazey |
| Years 9 | 1979–1982 |
| Clubs 9 | Torquay United |
| Caps 9 | 0 |
| Goals 9 | 0 |
| Years 10 | 1982–1983 |
| Clubs 10 | Falmouth Town |
| Years 11 | 1983–? |
| Clubs 11 | Bideford AFC |
| Clubs 12 | Saltash United |
| Years 13 | ?–1988 |
| Clubs 13 | Newquay |
| Years 14 | 1988–? |
| Clubs 14 | Torrington |
| Years 15 | 1997 |
| Clubs 15 | Ilfracombe Town |
| Totalcaps | 145 |
| Totalgoals | 0 |
Derek Christopher Bellotti (25 December 1946 – 10 March 2026) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Career
Derek Bellotti began his career as an apprentice with Queens Park Rangers in September 1963.[1] He turned professional and spent two seasons on loan to Bedford Town before being released at end of the 1965–66 season without making his debut for QPR.
He joined Gillingham in July 1966 and went on to make 35 league appearances for the Gills. In October 1970, he joined Southend United on loan, playing three games, and later that month was transferred to Charlton Athletic for a fee of £5,000.[2] He played 14 league games for Charlton before moving to Southend United again in December 1971, this time on a permanent basis. He was Southend's regular 'keeper, staying at Roots Hall until May 1974 when he joined Swansea City after playing 74 league games for Southend.[1]
Bellotti only stayed at the Vetch Field for one season, playing 19 times in the league, before moving back into non-league football with Maidstone United, spending two months on loan at Margate from January 1978. Later that year, his career outside football took him to live in Abbotskerswell, Devon and he signed for Cornish non-league side St Blazey from where he signed for Torquay United in October 1979 as cover for John Turner and later for Vince O'Keefe. When Torquay scrapped their reserve team in 1982, he left without making a league appearance, joining Falmouth Town.[3] He subsequently played for Bideford, Saltash United, Newquay, and Torrington.
In December 1997, at the age of 50, he played for Ilfracombe Town as a temporary replacement for regular 'Combe goalkeeper, his son Ross, who was also a professional with Exeter City.
After retirement from football, Bellotti served as managing director of Kingfisher Print and Design, a print firm based in Dartington.[1]
Death
Bellotti died on 10 March 2026, at the age of 79.[4]
References
- ^ Swanseacity Archived 24 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed 08/01/08
- ^ Charlton Archived 26 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine accessed 08/01/08
- ^ Thomas, Dave (16 March 2026). "Devon football pays tribute to the hugely popular goalkeeper Derek Bellotti". Torbay Weekly. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Derek Bellotti (1946-2026)". Gillingham F.C.. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
External links
- Swanseacity Archived 24 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Thirty years ago