Ben Thornley

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Ben Thornley
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Thornley
Date of birth April 21, 1975 (1975-04-21) (age 33)
Place of birth    Bury, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Right-Midfield
Club information
Current club Wilmslow Albion
Number N/A
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1993–1998
1995
1996–1998
1998–2001
2001–2002
2002–2003
2003–2004
2004
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–
Manchester United
Stockport County (loan)
Huddersfield Town (loan)
Huddersfield Town
Aberdeen
Blackpool
Bury
Halifax Town
Bacup Borough
Salford City
Wilmslow Albion
009 (0)
010 (1)
012 (2)
127 (8)
030 (3)
012 (0)
005 (0)
003 (0)
00? (?)
00? (?)
00? (?)   
National team2
1996 England U-21 003 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 17:00, 30 December 2006 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of June 2, 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

Benjamin Thornley (born April 21, 1975) in Bury, England, is a footballer who currently plays for Wilmslow Albion in the East Cheshire Sunday Football League Division two.

He is most widely known for his career as a youth and reserve team player at Manchester United, where he played the position left-wing from 1992 to 1998, but he has also served in the position of forward, and with several other teams. At one point in time, he seriously injured his knee.

A tricky right footed left winger who was highly regarded by Alex Ferguson and at one point was expected to break into the first-team at Old Trafford. Although he did make nine league appearances for United serious injuries prevented him from making the expected impact at first-team level. He was one of the standout players of United's highly successful youth team which won the FA Youth Cup in 1991/92 and lost the final the following year. In 1996, he won three caps for England at U-21 level.

After a loan spell at Stockport County, Thornley went on to play 127 games for Huddersfield Town, scoring eight goals. In August 2001 he signed a two-year deal at Aberdeen.[1] He joined Blackpool on an 18-month contract in November 2002,[2] but was released from his contract at the end of the 2002–03 season.[3]

Thornley started 2003–04 at Bury, but joined Halifax Town on non-contract terms in March 2004.[4] He then joined the non-league scene with Bacup Borough where he was joined by former Manchester United F.C. team-mate David May. He spent a season with Bacup Borough before joining Salford City F.C. at the beginning of 2006.[5]

Ben is currently playing for Wilmslow Albion in the East Cheshire Sunday Football League Division Two. Thornley has a younger brother, named Rod, who currently plays for Witton Albion F.C. in the Unibond Premier League.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Thornley wins deal with Aberdeen", BBC Sport, 2001-08-02. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  2. ^ "Blackpool bag Thornley", BBC Sport, 2002-11-28. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  3. ^ "Blackpool release nine", BBC Sport, 2003-05-02. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  4. ^ "Thornley joins Halifax", BBC Sport, 2004-03-01. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  5. ^ "Salford sign Ben Thornley", Salford Advertiser, 2006-01-19. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 

[edit] External links