# Derek Bellotti

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**Derek Christopher Bellotti** (25 December 1946 – 10 March 2026) was an English professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played as a [goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football)).

## Career

Derek Bellotti began his career as an apprentice with [Queens Park Rangers](/source/Queens_Park_Rangers_F.C.) in September 1963.[1] He turned professional and spent two seasons on loan to [Bedford Town](/source/Bedford_Town_F.C.) before being released at end of the 1965–66 season without making his debut for QPR.

He joined [Gillingham](/source/Gillingham_F.C.) in July 1966 and went on to make 35 league appearances for the Gills. In October 1970, he joined [Southend United](/source/Southend_United_F.C.) on loan, playing three games, and later that month was transferred to [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.) 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](/source/Roots_Hall) until May 1974 when he joined [Swansea City](/source/Swansea_City_A.F.C.) after playing 74 league games for Southend.[1]

Bellotti only stayed at the [Vetch Field](/source/Vetch_Field) for one season, playing 19 times in the league, before moving back into [non-league football](/source/Non-league_football) with [Maidstone United](/source/Maidstone_United_F.C.), spending two months on loan at [Margate](/source/Margate_F.C.) from January 1978. Later that year, his career outside football took him to live in Abbotskerswell, Devon and he signed for [Cornish](/source/Cornwall) non-league side [St Blazey](/source/St_Blazey_A.F.C.) from where he signed for [Torquay United](/source/Torquay_United_F.C.) in October 1979 as cover for John Turner and later for [Vince O'Keefe](/source/Vince_O'Keefe). When Torquay scrapped their reserve team in 1982, he left without making a league appearance, joining [Falmouth Town](/source/Falmouth_Town_F.C.).[3] He subsequently played for [Bideford](/source/Bideford_F.C.), [Saltash United](/source/Saltash_United_F.C.), [Newquay](/source/Newquay_A.F.C.), and [Torrington](/source/Torrington_F.C.).

In December 1997, at the age of 50, he played for [Ilfracombe Town](/source/Ilfracombe_Town_F.C.) as a temporary replacement for regular 'Combe goalkeeper, his son Ross, who was also a professional with [Exeter City](/source/Exeter_City_F.C.).

After retirement from football, Bellotti served as managing director of Kingfisher Print and Design, a print firm based in [Dartington](/source/Dartington).[1]

## Death

Bellotti died on 10 March 2026, at the age of 79.[4]

## References

1. [Swanseacity](http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071224045109/http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/) 24 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed 08/01/08

1. [Charlton](http://ds.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/thirty22.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080126133921/http://ds.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/thirty22.htm) 26 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine accessed 08/01/08

1. Thomas, Dave (16 March 2026). ["Devon football pays tribute to the hugely popular goalkeeper Derek Bellotti"](https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/sport/2039685/devon-football-pays-tribute-to-the-hugely-popular-goalkeeper-derek-bellotti.html). *Torbay Weekly*. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

1. ["Derek Bellotti (1946-2026)"](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/derek-bellotti-1946-2026). *Gillingham F.C.*. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

## External links

- [Swanseacity](http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071224045109/http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/) 24 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- [Thirty years ago](https://web.archive.org/web/20080126133921/http://ds.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/thirty22.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Derek Bellotti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Bellotti) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Bellotti?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.