Ben Purkiss

Ben Purkiss

Purkiss after playing for York City in the 2009 FA Trophy Final
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin John Purkiss[1]
Date of birth1 April 1984[2]
Place of birthSheffield, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Walsall
Number2
Youth career
–2003Sheffield United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003Sheffield United0(0)
2003–2007Gainsborough Trinity113(1)
2007→ York City (loan)8(0)
2007–2010York City112(2)
2010–2012Oxford United23(0)
2011→ Darlington (loan)12(0)
2012Hereford United15(0)
2012–Walsall53(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:06, 17 January 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Benjamin John "Ben" Purkiss (born 1 April 1984) is an English professional footballer who plays for Walsall as a defender.

Club career

Sheffield United

Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire,[2] Purkiss progressed through the Sheffield United youth system and was included in the first team for the 2003–04 season.[3]

Gainsborough Trinity

He was released by United in 2003 and joined Northern Premier League Premier Division team Gainsborough Trinity,[4] choosing to pursue a career in semi-professional football while studying for a degree in French and Law at the University of Sheffield.[5] He made his debut for Gainsborough in a 2–0 defeat to Stalybridge Celtic on 16 August.[6] He played in a 7–1 defeat to Second Division team Brentford in the FA Cup first round on 8 November.[7] Purkiss was targeted by Third Division team Scunthorpe United and was handed a trial at the club in December 2003.[8] He finished the season with 34 appearances for Gainsborough and signed a new one-year contract on 5 May 2004.[9][10] He scored his first goal in a 2–1 defeat to Alfreton Town on 17 August.[11] He completed the 2004–05 season with 37 appearances 1 one goal.[12] His 2005–06 season was restricted to 15 appearances due to his studies in France.[5][13] He started in a 3–1 defeat to League Two team Barnet in the FA Cup first round on 11 November 2006.[14]

York City

Purkiss joined Conference National team York City on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season on 22 March 2007 in time for their play-off push.[4] Purkiss had been considering a move to the club for some time and eventually agreed a deal that included a loan period and a four-figure sum for Gainsborough despite there being only five weeks remaining on his contract.[15] Prior to signing, he had made 35 appearances for Gainsborough that season.[16] Once at York Purkiss went straight into the first team, making his debut as a substitute in York's 1–1 draw with Exeter City.[17] He was offered a permanent contract with York at the end of the season after making eight appearances on loan.[18][19] He finished the 2007–08 season with 46 appearances for York.[20]

Purkiss playing for York City in 2008

He played in the 2009 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough.[21] He finished the season with 47 appearances and two goals for York and was offered a new contract by the club.[22][23] He delayed signing as he wanted to see if the club would retain their key players and he eventually signed a new one-year contract on 8 June.[24][25]

He started in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off Final at Wembley on 16 May 2010, which was lost 3–1 to Oxford United.[26] He finished the season with 47 appearances and one goal for York and was offered a new contract by the club,[27][28] which he rejected.[29]

Oxford United

He signed for Oxford on a two-year contract on 21 May following their promotion to League Two.[30] He made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers as an 11th-minute substitute on 21 August and his first start came in a 1–0 defeat at West Ham United of the Premier League in the League Cup on 24 August.[31][32] He was made available for loan by Oxford in March 2011, and told he could leave the club permanently in the summer.[33] He eventually signed for Conference Premier side Darlington on one-month loan on 5 August,[34] and after making seven appearances for the side the loan was extended for a further two months in September.[35] He returned to Oxford in November following the expiry of his loan at Darlington.[36]

Hereford United

Purkiss left Oxford on 24 January 2012 after being released from his contract and subsequently signed for League Two rivals Hereford United.[37]

Walsall

Purkiss signed for League One club Walsall on a one-year contract, on 6 August after a successful trial[38] and became a first team regular for Walsall at right back.[39]

International career

Purkiss was named in the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in February 2009, for a friendly game against the Malta under-21 team.[40] However, he was forced to pull out of the team due to a stomach muscle injury.[41] He was named on standby in May for an International Challenge Trophy game against the Belgium under-21 team.[42]

He represented Great Britain at the 2009 Summer World Student Games,[43] playing for them in the Bronze Medal match against Japan.[44] Purkiss represented the England national futsal team.[45]

Style of play

Purkiss plays as a right back and Oxford manager Chris Wilder described him as "an athletic footballer who likes to get forward and join in" in 2010.[46]

Career statistics

Purkiss playing for Oxford United in 2010
As of match played 3 January 2015.
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gainsborough Trinity 2003–04[9] NPL Premier Division 32020—00340
2004–05[12] Conference North 37100—00371
2005–06[13] Conference North 15000—00150
2006–07[16] Conference North 29040—2[lower-alpha 1]0350
Total 113160—201211
York City (loan) 2006–07[19] Conference National 80——0080
York City 2007–08[20] Conference Premier 37000—9[lower-alpha 2]0460
2008–09[22] Conference Premier 39120—6[lower-alpha 1]1472
2009–10[27] Conference Premier 36130—8[lower-alpha 3]0471
Total 120250—2311483
Oxford United 2010–11[47] League Two 23010101[lower-alpha 4]0260
Darlington (loan) 2011–12[2] Conference Premier 12000——120
Hereford United 2011–12[48] League Two 150———150
Walsall 2012–13[49] League One 270102000300
2013–14[50] League One 140200000160
2014–15[51] League One 12020003[lower-alpha 4]0170
Total 530502030630
Career total 3363170302913854
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Appearances in FA Trophy
  2. ↑ Seven appearances in FA Trophy, two in Conference League Cup
  3. ↑ Five appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Appearances in Football League Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "B. Purkiss". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "B. Purkiss". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Sheffield United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Flett, Dave (23 March 2007). "City snap up Bay striker Bell and a couple of full-backs". The Press (York). Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Trinity fly Purkiss in". Non-League Daily. 10 September 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  6. ↑ "Stalybridge Celtic 2–0 Gainsborough". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "Brentford 7–1 Gainsborough". BBC Sport. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "Trinity players in demand". Non-League Daily. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Player Details: Season 2003–2004". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
    "Season 2003/2004:". Sportbox.tv. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  10. ↑ "Archived News and Information 2 to 8 May 2004". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  11. ↑ "Gainsborough 1–2 Alfreton Town". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Player Details: Season 2004–2005". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  14. ↑ "Gainsborough 1–3 Barnet". BBC Sport. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Defender completes York transfer switch". Lincolnshire Echo (Lincoln). 24 March 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2007). Non-League Club Directory 2008. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 210–211. ISBN 9-781869-833572.
  17. ↑ "Exeter 1–1 York". BBC Sport. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  18. ↑ "York boss releases eight players". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 408–409. ISBN 9-781859-836330.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 410–411, 420–421.
  21. ↑ "Stevenage 2–0 York". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2009). Non-League Club Directory 2010. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-1-869833-66-4.
  23. ↑ "York City release seven players". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  24. ↑ "York City can’t keep losing their best players says out-of-contract right-back Ben Purkiss". The Press (York). 12 May 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  25. ↑ "Purkiss signs new York contract". BBC Sport. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  26. ↑ Marshall, Steve (16 May 2010). "Oxford United 3–1 York City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 160–161. ISBN 9-781869-833688.
  28. ↑ "York manager Martin Foyle signs up play-off starters". BBC Sport. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  29. ↑ Flett, Dave (19 May 2010). "Martin Foyle releases seven players as Ben Purkiss turns down York City deal". The Press (York). Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  30. ↑ "Oxford United snap up Ben Purkiss and Alfie Potter". BBC Sport. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  31. ↑ "Wycombe 0–0 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  32. ↑ "West Ham 1–0 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  33. ↑ "Barnet sign Oxford United striker Jack Midson on loan". BBC Sport. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  34. ↑ "Two players out on loan". Oxford United F.C. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  35. ↑ "Darlington extend loan of Oxford United's Ben Purkiss". BBC Sport. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  36. ↑ Stoddart, Craig (9 November 2011). "Campbell exits Quakers, with more to follow". The Northern Echo (Darlington). Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  37. ↑ "Purkiss leaves the U's". Oxford United F.C. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  38. ↑ http://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/article/purkiss-and-featherstone-sign-293617.aspx
  39. ↑ http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=35576
  40. ↑ "McMahon handed England C call-up". BBC Sport. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  41. ↑ "Boyes called to England C squad". BBC Sport. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  42. ↑ "York pair on England C stand-by". BBC Sport. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  43. ↑ Flett, Dave (29 June 2009). "York City full-back Ben Purkiss relishes World Student Games test". The Press (York). Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  44. ↑ "Match report" (PDF). 2009 Summer Universiade. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  45. ↑ Flett, Dave (10 February 2009). "Injury-hit York City full-back Ben Purkiss desperate to keep his England 'C' dream alive". The Press (York). Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  46. ↑ Murray, Jon (21 May 2010). "York's Purkiss switches to Oxford". Oxford Times. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Ben Purkiss in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Ben Purkiss in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Ben Purkiss in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Ben Purkiss in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Ben Purkiss in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 November 2014.

External links

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