Trevor Benjamin

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Trevor Benjamin
File:Benjamin, Trevor.jpg
Benjamin in 2009
Personal information
Full name Trevor Junior Benjamin[1]
Date of birth (1979-02-08) 8 February 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Kettering, England
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2000 Cambridge United 123 (35)
2000–2005 Leicester City 81 (11)
2001–2002 → Crystal Palace (loan) 6 (1)
2002 → Norwich City (loan) 6 (0)
2002 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 3 (1)
2003 → Gillingham (loan) 4 (1)
2003–2004 → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 6 (1)
2004 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 10 (5)
2004–2005 → Northampton Town (loan) 4 (2)
2005 Northampton Town 1 (0)
2005 Coventry City 12 (1)
2005–2007 Peterborough United 47 (8)
2005 → Watford (loan) 2 (0)
2006 → Swindon Town (loan) 8 (2)
2007 → Boston United (loan) 3 (0)
2007 → Walsall (loan) 8 (2)
2007–2008 Hereford United 34 (10)
2008 Gainsborough Trinity 3 (0)
2008 Northwich Victoria 2 (0)
2008 Hednesford Town 1 (0)
2008–2009 Wellingborough Town 2 (1)
2009 Kidsgrove Athletic 12 (3)
2009 Tamworth 4 (1)
2009 Harrogate Town 5 (3)
2009 Woking 2 (0)
2010 Sunshine George Cross 0 (0)
2010 Bedlington Terriers 2 (1)
2010 → Wroxham (loan) 3 (0)
2010 → Morpeth Town (loan) 2 (0)
2010–2011 Morpeth Town
2012 Seaton Delaval Amateurs
International career‡
2001 England U21 1 (0)
2002 Jamaica 2 (0)
Managerial career
2010–2011 Morpeth Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 September 2012
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 September 2009

Trevor Junior Benjamin (born 8 February 1979) is an English-born Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a forward from 1995 to 2012.

He is famed for being a prime example of a Journeyman footballer, having represented 29 different teams in his career, and with that making over 350 appearances in the Football League between 1995 and 2008. He also holds the record for the most league clubs played for, which is 16 in total. He most notably spent time in the Premier League with Leicester City, who he joined in 2000 from Cambridge United. He was also capped by England U21 but went on to feature for Jamaica as a full international, where he earned two caps. Benjamin has also played as a professional in the Football League for Crystal Palace, Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Gillingham, Rushden & Diamonds, Brighton & Hove Albion, Northampton Town, Coventry City, Peterborough United, Watford, Swindon Town, Boston United, Walsall and Hereford United.

At the age of 28, Benjamin dropped out of the professional game and firstly signed for Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity. He went on to play for Northwich Victoria, Hednesford Town, Wellingborough Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Tamworth, Harrogate Town and Woking. In 2010 he briefly joined Australian semi-pro side Sunshine George Cross, but failed to make an appearance and returned to the English Non-league game where he went on to feature for Bedlington Terriers, Wroxham and Morpeth Town. Having initially been on loan at Morpeth from Bedlington, he was later appointed player-manager of the club in November 2010 and managed the club until the end of the 2010–11 season.

Playing career

Cambridge United

Benjamin grew up in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, supporting Arsenal with Ian Wright as his idol. His first club was Wellingborough Colts where he excelled as a striker, gaining representative honours with Northamptonshire. His potential was recognised and he played a friendly for Kettering Town, with his brother Richard. Trevor played in their youth team then started scoring regularly for the reserves.

He then signed as a trainee for Cambridge United where he made his professional début as a 16-year-old, against Gillingham in a 0–0 draw, during his time there he scored 46 goals in 146 appearances, which included the winning goal as Third Division Cambridge knocked Premier League Sheffield Wednesday out of the League Cup.

Leicester City

File:Trevor Benjamin.jpg
Benjamin during his time at Leicester City.

Following some impressive displays for Cambridge United, Benjamin signed for Leicester City (where his work rate and goal celebrations saw him become something of a cult figure). He was signed for a fee of £1.3 million by manager Peter Taylor, who snapped up Benjamin as a replacement for the departed Emile Heskey who had joined Liverpool.[2]

He made his debut for Leicester City, as a substitute, in a 0–0 draw with Sunderland, on 1 October 2000. Benjamin holds the record of most appearances made from the bench by any Leicester City player. The striker then went on loan at various clubs, including Crystal Palace,[3] Norwich City[4] and West Bromwich Albion. In January 2005, however, new Leicester City manager Craig Levein made the decision to cancel Benjamin's contract.

Northampton Town and Coventry City

In November 2003 he was loaned out to Rushden & Diamonds.[5] He then joined Northampton Town permanently on 19 January 2005, after a few weeks on loan to the club.[6] Trevor was later signed up by Coventry manager Micky Adams (under whom he had played at Leicester) until the end of the season.

Peterborough United and Hereford United

In the summer of 2006 Benjamin was released again and later signed for Peterborough United on a three-year deal, stating his main motivation was to gain first team football. Benjamin later made loan appearances for Watford, Swindon Town,[7] Boston United and Walsall. Benjamin went on to sign for Hereford United on 1 August 2007.[8] He made his début for the club in a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United on 11 August 2007. His first goal followed a week later, from the penalty spot, in a 2–1 win away at Barnet. He continued his impressive form in the first half of the season and became something of a fans favourite at Edgar Street, scoring his share of goals. However he did not start another match for the Bulls after the defeat to Cardiff at the end of January, which coincided with the arrival of Gary Hooper on loan.

Non-league

On 19 May 2008 Benjamin was released from Hereford United, being told his services will not be needed in the following season, despite being the club's third top goalscorer that season.[9] He joined Conference North club Gainsborough Trinity on non-contract terms in August 2008,[10] a week later after joining Gainsborough Trinity, the Lincolnshire Echo revealed the player had also been training with Cheltenham Town. Despite this Trevor was released by a 'disappointed' Steve Charles after just three appearances for Gainsborough Trinity, with the Blues noting that the Jamaican International had under performed in his games.

Benjamin had trials with Cheltenham Town, Gillingham and Bournemouth at the start of the 2008–09 season, but failed to earn a contract at any of the three clubs.[11][12][13] Bournemouth manager Jimmy Quinn said of the player, "He's not what I'm looking for, he's probably past his sell-by date."[14] On 10 October 2008, Benjamin signed for Northwich Victoria,[15] but was released three weeks later as part of cost-cutting measures.[16] He then made one appearance at Hednesford Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division,[17] after a few games for the club he was released. A couple of weeks later, Benjamin moved further down the non-league ladder to sign for his home town club Wellingborough Town in the United Counties Football League. He scored on his debut in the 2–2 Boxing Day draw with Raunds Town.[18] Recent speculations have linked him, like in the summer of 2008,[19] to Chester City.[20]

However, Benjamin moved on to Kidsgrove Athletic in the Northern Premier League Division One South, making his debut in a 5–2 win against Brigg Town on 14 February 2009.[21] He made 12 league appearances during the 2008–09 season, and another two appearances in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, helping them win the final on 22 April 2009. But Benjamin has recently stated that he would like a return to league football after fully recovering from his eye infection. He is currently on trial with Rushden & Diamonds in a bid to earn a contract for the new season. On 7 August 2009, Trevor Benjamin signed for Conference National newcomers Tamworth, following a successful trial period with the club.[22]

He made his debut the following day in a Conference National away fixture against Stevenage Borough, Benjamin came on as a 79th-minute substitute for midfielder Tom Shaw. The game finished in a 1–1 draw.[23] He moved on to Harrogate Town in the Conference North, making his debut and scoring two goals in a 3–2 loss against Northwich Victoria on 3 October 2009.[24] In his second appearance, against Droylsden, he scored again with a stunning free-kick in the last few minutes of the game. He departed in November after his rolling month-to-month contract was not renewed.

He made his debut for Woking in a 6–0 win against St Albans City in the FA Trophy competition, on 21 November 2009.[25] After another two games for the Cards, he was released prior to the 5 December 2009 match against Bishop's Stortford.[26] He joined Bedlington Terriers in Northern League Division One on a free transfer in February 2010.[27] The next month he joined Wroxham in Eastern Counties League Premier Division for a short loan spell.[28]

In September 2010 he was loaned out again, to Terrier's local rivals Morpeth Town. After two goalless appearances, the 3–0 home defeat by Marske United[29] and the 2–1 away defeat by Newton Aycliffe,[30] he was appointed the club's player-manager following the departure of previous manager Tom Wade.[31] Shortly after his release he signed for Seaton Delaval Amateurs.[32]

International career

Benjamin was selected for the England under-21s, making his only appearance as a substitute against Mexico at Filbert Street on 24 May 2001.[33]

He made his international début for Jamaica on 20 November 2002 against Nigeria, in Lagos.

Personal life

After retiring from competitive football Benjamin has launched his own brand of goalkeeping gloves called Locust UK.[34]

Career statistics

Club performance
Club League Level Season League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cambridge United Division Three 4 1995–96 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Division Three 4 1996–97 7 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 1
Division Three 4 1997–98 25 4 3 1 2 0 0 0 30 5
Division Three 4 1998–99 42 10 2 1 5 4 3 2 52 17
Division Two 3 1999–00 44 20 5 3 2 0 0 0 51 23
Leicester City Premier League 1 2000–01 21 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 25 1
Premier League 1 2001–02 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Division One 2 2002–03 35 8 1 0 3 1 0 0 39 9
Premier League 1 2003–04 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Championship 2 2004–05 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 2
Crystal Palace Division One 2 2001–02 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Norwich City Division One 2 2001–02 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
West Bromwich Albion Division One 2 2001–02 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Gillingham Division One 2 2003–04 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Rushden & Diamonds Division Two 3 2003–04 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Brighton & Hove Albion Division Two 3 2003–04 10 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 5
Northampton Town League Two 4 2004–05 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2
Coventry City Championship 2 2004–05 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1
Peterborough United League Two 4 2005–06 20 1 2 1 0 0 2 1 24 3
League Two 4 2006–07 27 7 3 0 2 2 1 0 33 9
Watford Championship 2 2005–06 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Swindon Town League One 3 2005–06 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 2
Boston United League Two 4 2006–07 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Walsall League Two 4 2006–07 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 2
Hereford United League Two 4 2007–08 34 10 6 1 2 0 1 0 43 11
Gainsborough Trinity Conference North 6 2008–09 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Northwich Victoria Conference 5 2008–09 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Hednesford Town NPL Premier 7 2008–09 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Wellingborough Town UCL Premier 9 2008–09 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Kidsgrove Athletic NPL South 8 2008–09 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 3
Tamworth Conference 5 2009–10 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Harrogate Town Conference North 6 2009–10 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3
Woking Conference South 6 2009–10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Bedlington Terriers NL Division One 9 2009–10 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
NL Division One 9 2010–11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Wroxham ECL Premier 9 2009–10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Morpeth Town NL Division Two 10 2010–11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career totals 396 89 26 7 19 7 7 3 448 106

References

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  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ http://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/10941316.Trevor_Benjamin_knows_size_of_task_facing_Westfields_in_Saturday___s_FA_Vase_fourth_round_tie_at_Morpeth_Town/

External links

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