Phillip Bonnyman (born 6 February 1954) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Anniesland Waverley, Rangers, Hamilton Academical, Carlisle United, Chesterfield, Grimsby Town, Stoke City, Darlington and Dunfermline Athletic. He won the Anglo-Scottish Cup with Chesterfield in 1981. During his time in England, he scored 84 goals in 543 league and cup appearances. He later coached at Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical and Port Vale, and had two spells as manager at Highland League side Huntly.
Playing career Born in Glasgow, Bonnyman played for Anniesland Waverley, before being signed to Rangers by Jock Wallace. He made one appearance for "Gers", making his debut at the age of 18 against Stenhousemuir at Ibrox Stadium in a League Cup second leg match on 4 October 1972; Rangers lost the game 2–1 but won the tie 6–2 on aggregate. He went on to play for Hamilton Academical, before joining Carlisle United in March 1976. In his first full season at Carlisle he side suffered relegation to the Third Division. He spent five seasons at Brunton Park making 176 appearances scoring 33 goals before moving to Third Division rivals Chesterfield in March 1980 after being signed on transfer deadline day by manager Arthur Cox. He became a popular player at Saltergate for his performances for the club. He spent three seasons there making 124 appearances scoring 29 goals. He helped the club to win the Anglo-Scottish Cup in its final year, 1981, with a 2–1 victory over Notts County. Chesterfield's financial problems saw him move on to Second Division Grimsby Town in August 1982.
At Grimsby, Bonnyman became a regular under Dave Booth until he resigned in October 1985. Bonnyman then went out on loan to Stoke City where he played seven matches in 1985–86. He returned to Grimsby where he played one more season before linking up with Dave Booth at Darlington. After two seasons a Darlington he left to become player/coach at Dunfermline Athletic.
Style of play Bonnyman was a midfielder with excellent heading and close control skills who could shoot with both feet, though lacking in pace and poor at tackling.
Coaching career Bonnyman then became assistant manager of Dunfermline and later Hamilton Academical before becoming community manager of Hamilton. He became manager of Highland League side Huntly in November 1997, guiding them to the title in 1997–98. Shortly after this success, he left to become assistant manager to John Rudge at Port Vale. However, chairman Bill Bell forced Rudge to sack Bonnyman. He made a return to Huntly as they narrowly missed out winning the title in 1998–99 finishing four points behind Peterhead. After a poor 1999–2000 season, both Bonnyman and chairman Mike Hendry left Huntly. Bonnyman then became assistant manager at Forfar Athletic in December 2000 and later attended university and worked as a mortgage adviser.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRangers1972–73Scottish Division One0000100010Carlisle United1975–76Second Division90000000901976–77Second Division3712141004331977–78Third Division3384020004381978–79Third Division4573021005081979–80Third Division28105420003514Total152261451020017633Chesterfield1979–80Third Division1130000001131980–81Third Division42860418160101981–82Third Division46142220305316Total9925826111112429Grimsby Town 1982–83Second Division4012030304811983–84Second Division2931020003231984–85Second Division3783051004591985–86Second Division2930020113241986–87Second Division160300010200Total15115901215117717Stoke City (loan)1985–86Second Division7000000070Darlington 1987–88Fourth Division3830030404531988–89Fourth Division122000000122Total505003040575Career total4597131732420254284
Honours Chesterfield Anglo-Scottish Cup: 1981
References