Paul Benson

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For the federal judge, see Paul Benson (judge).
Paul Benson
Personal information
Full namePaul Andrew Benson[1]
Date of birth (1979-10-12) 12 October 1979[1]
Place of birthSouthend-on-Sea, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current clubLuton Town
(on loan from Swindon Town)
Number26
Youth career
Southend United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2005White Ensign59(96)
2005–2010Dagenham & Redbridge165(69)
2010–2012Charlton Athletic33(10)
2012–Swindon Town31(12)
2012–2013→ Portsmouth (loan)7(2)
2013→ Cheltenham Town (loan)16(4)
2013–→ Luton Town (loan)21(10)
National team‡
2007England C1(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:15 26 January 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:30, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Paul Andrew Benson (born 12 October 1979) is an English footballer who plays for Conference Premier side Luton Town on loan from Swindon Town. He plays as a striker.

Career

Dagenham & Redbridge

Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex,[1] Benson was on the books of Southend United as a youth player. He was signed by Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still on 1 July 2005 after Still saw him play for White Ensign of the Essex Olympian League, where he scored 96 goals in 59 league games (107 goals in 65 games in all competitions) in just two seasons with the club.[2] Benson's first season with the Daggers was frustrating as he was not a regular first team player, scored only one Conference goal, and was out for three months with a broken leg.[3] However, the 2006–07 season saw a complete reversal, as he earned a spot in Dagenham's first team and finished the season as both the team and Conference National top scorer with 28 goals, leading the Daggers' successful campaign for promotion to League Two. The following year, Dagenham's first in The Football League, Benson scored nine goals, though was injured for half the season.

The 2008–09 season saw Benson end in the top five goal scorers in the Football League Two and come second in the player of the season poll for Dagenham. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Benson scored a goal at Wembley Stadium as Dagenham defeated Rotherham United in the play-off final to clinch a place in League One for the 2010–11 season.

Charlton Athletic

On 31 August 2010, Benson completed a move to League One side Charlton Athletic.[4] After making 27 appearance and scoring 10 goals for Charlton in his first season, Benson's first-team chances were limited behind Charlton strikers Paul Hayes, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Jason Euell and Yann Kermorgant. Notts County made a bid to sign him, which Charlton accepted, although the move collapsed after they failed to agree personal terms.[5][6] On 2 January 2012, Benson transferred to Swindon Town as part of a swap deal in exchange for Leon Clarke.[7]

Swindon Town

Benson joined a Swindon side chasing promotion to League One. His arrival coincided with a 10-game winning run which was the platform from which the Robins' won the title under the guidance of Paolo Di Canio. Benson's first goal for Swindon came when he scored the winner in the club's FA Cup Third Round victory over Premier League side Wigan Athletic, although replays showed he was in an offside position. Benson's goalscoring form was rewarded on 9 March 2012 when he was named League Two Player of the Month for February after scoring five goals in five games and being widely praised by manager Paolo Di Canio.[8] Di Canio, in a post-match press conference, was quoted as saying that "Paul Benson at 70% is better than any other striker in this league at 150%".[9] On 28 April 2012, he scored twice as Swindon beat Port Vale 5–0 and were crowned champions of League Two in the process.[10]

Loan to Portsmouth

On 15 November 2012, Benson joined League One side Portsmouth on an initial one-month loan deal.[11] His first goal came in a Boxing Day home league match against Crawley Town.[12] In the following match he netted again, against Yeovil Town.[13] He returned to Swindon in January 2013.[14]

Loan to Cheltenham Town

Benson then joined League Two side Cheltenham Town on 29 January 2013 in a loan move until the end of the 2012–13 season. He made his debut four days later in a 2–1 victory over Torquay United. Benson scored his first goal for the club on 12 February, tapping the ball past goalkeeper Paul Smith in another 2–1 victory, this time against Southend United. He ended the season with four goals in 18 appearances for the club.

Loan to Luton Town

On 26 August 2013, Benson signed for Conference Premier side Luton Town on a season-long loan, with the possibility of a permanent transfer taking place in the summer of 2014.[15] This move saw him link back up with his former Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still, now in charge of Luton. Benson made his debut for the club on 31 August 2013, winning a penalty in a 2–0 away win over Kidderminster Harriers.[16] He was named as the Conference Premier Player of the Month in December 2013 after scoring four goals in four games and contributing to numerous other goals with his hold-up play.[17]

Honours

Dagenham & Redbridge
Swindon Town
Individual

Career statistics

As of match played 25 January 2014.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dagenham & Redbridge 2005–06[18] Conference National 16110—3[lower-alpha 1]1202
2006–07[19] Conference National 462810—2[lower-alpha 2]24930
2007–08[20] League Two 22623002[lower-alpha 3]0269
2008–09[21] League Two 331731103[lower-alpha 3]24020
2009–10[22] League Two 451711104[lower-alpha 4]45122
2010–11[23] League One 3000100040
Total 16569853014919083
Charlton Athletic 2010–11[23] League One 321040003[lower-alpha 3]03910
2011–12[24] League One 1000210031
Total 33104021304211
Swindon Town 2011–12[24] League Two 221121002[lower-alpha 3]02612
2012–13[25] League One 9100321[lower-alpha 3]0133
Total 31122132303915
Portsmouth (loan) 2012–13[25] League One 7200000072
Cheltenham Town (loan) 2012–13[25] League Two 16400002[lower-alpha 5]0184
Luton Town (loan) 2013–14[26] Conference Premier 211021—002311
Career total 27310716783229319126
  1. ↑ 1 appearance and 1 goal in Football League Trophy, 2 appearances in FA Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  4. ↑ 1 appearances in Football League Trophy, 3 appearances and 4 goals in Football League Two play-offs
  5. ↑ 2 appearances in Football League Two play-offs

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0. 
  2. ↑ http://www.daggers.co.uk/maindex.cfm?section=players&page=players Dagenham & Redbridge Roster
  3. ↑ "Daggers marksman aiming high". BBC Sport. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2007. 
  4. ↑ "Charlton Athletic swoop to sign three new players, including former Addick Jonathan Fortune". Kent Online. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Magpies agree Benson fee". Sky Sports. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012. 
  6. ↑ "Benson deal falls through". Sky Sports. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012. 
  7. ↑ Rose, Gary (30 December 2011). "Benson to complete Town move". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 31 December 2011. 
  8. ↑ "Benson named Player of the Month". The Football League. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012. 
  9. ↑ Rose, Gary (1 March 2012). "Di Canio would not swap Benson". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 1 March 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Swindon 5–0 Port Vale" BBC Sport. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Pompey bring duo on loan; Portsmouth News, 15 November 2012
  12. ↑ Portsmouth 1–2 Crawley; BBC Sport, 26 December 2012
  13. ↑ Portsmouth 1–2 Yeovil; 29 December 2012
  14. ↑ Benson denied Pompey stay; Portsmouth News, 11 January 2013
  15. ↑ "Hatters net Benson as ‘imminent’ deal comes to fruition". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 26 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Kidderminster 0–2 Luton". BBC Sport. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Benson on target to make it a Hatters December double". The Football Conference League. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014. 
  18. ↑ "Games played by Paul Benson in 2005/2006". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Games played by Paul Benson in 2006/2007". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  20. ↑ "Games played by Paul Benson in 2007/2008". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Games played by Paul Benson in 2008/2009". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Games played by Paul Benson in 2009/2010". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Games played by Paul Benson in 2010/2011". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Games played by Paul Benson in 2011/2012". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Games played by Paul Benson in 2012/2013". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  26. ↑ "Games played by Paul Benson in 2013/2014". Grimsby Town Mad. Retrieved 27 August 2013. 

External links

Luton Town F.C. – current squad
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