Ben Garrity

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Not to be confused with Ben Geraghty.

Ben Garrity
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Matthew Garrity[1]
Date of birth (1997-02-21) 21 February 1997 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth Liverpool, England[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 8
Youth career
2004–2013 NSC Junior
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–201? Oyster
201?–2018 Lower Breck
2018–2020 Warrington Town 46 (12)
2020–2021 Blackpool 0 (0)
2020–2021 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 29 (2)
2021– Port Vale 19 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:17, 11 December 2021 (UTC)

Benjamin Matthew Garrity (born 21 February 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Port Vale.

He began his career playing non-League football at Merseyside-based clubs NSC Junior, Oyster and Lower Breck, winning Lower Breck's Player of the Season award in 2016–17. He joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Warrington Town in 2018 and impressed enough to win a move to Blackpool in January 2020, turning professional in the English Football League shortly before the age of 23. He spent the 2020–21 season on loan at Oldham Athletic and was sold on to Port Vale in June 2021.

Career[]

Early career[]

Garrity spent his early career with NSC Junior, playing for the club in the Walton & Kirkdale Junior Football league from 2004 to 2013.[3] He then moved on to Oyster, a Sunday league team in Liverpool, and Liverpool County Premier League side Lower Breck.[3] He made 29 appearances for Lower Breck in the 2016–17 season, scoring eight goals and making eight assists, and was named as the club's Player of the Season.[4] He scored seven goals and made five assists from 28 appearances in the 2017–18 campaign.[5]

"I was playing Sunday and Saturday league football since I was a kid. I went into academies, but not for six weeks or anything like that, just little ones and I wouldn’t go back when I was younger. I’m not saying I would have kicked on and been in those academies, I just didn’t really like getting told what to do when I was younger.

— Garrity reflecting on his youth in 2021.[6]

Warrington Town[]

Garrity was signed by Warrington Town in 2018.[7] He signed a new two-year deal with the club in June 2019 despite attracting interest from higher level clubs and was described as "irreplaceable" by manager Paul Carden.[8] He spent 18 months with Warrington in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, scoring 17 goals in 54 league and cup games for the club, including two goals in their 'super play-off' defeat to King's Lynn Town at the end of the 2018–19 season.[9][10][11] He missed just two league games during his time at Cantilever Park and was the club's top-scorer mid-way through the 2019–20 campaign.[12] Upon leaving the club he said that he loved his time at Warrington and was disappointed not to have helped them achieve promotion.[7] He became the first Warrington player to move directly into the English Football League in more than 20 years.[13]

Blackpool[]

Garrity turned professional with Blackpool on 31 January 2020, signing an 18-month contract, after Blackpool paid an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £25,000.[14][15] The transfer saw him move up four divisions to join the League One side.[16] Manager Simon Grayson said the club had tracked Garrity for several months.[17] He scored on his debut for the club, in a friendly game against Crewe Alexandra.[18]

He was allowed to leave Bloomfield Road on loan after telling manager Neil Critchley he was desperate to play first-team games.[19] On 2 September 2020, Garrity moved on loan to Oldham Athletic for the 2020–21 season after spending two weeks on trial at Boundary Park.[20][21] He made his debut for the club three days later in the EFL Cup, opening the scoring in a 3–0 victory over Carlisle United, heading home a Bobby Grant free-kick.[22] On 17 October, he scored his first League Two goal in a 2–1 win away at Bolton Wanderers.[23] He added further goals against Hampton & Richmond Borough in the FA Cup and Barrow in the league, leading him to be described as a "lucky charm" for the club by the Warrington Guardian's Matt Turner.[24][25][10] By January he was one of seven loan signings made by manager Harry Kewell, which left him at a disadvantage as EFL rules meant only five loanees could be named in matchday squads and four of the loanees were seen as key players.[26] He also missed two months of the season due to injury, but was praised by new manager Keith Curle for his work-rate upon his return to action in early April.[27] Garrity ended his loan spell with the "Latics" with four goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.[2]

Though Garrity never made a competitive appearance for Blackpool, the club took an option to extend his contract shortly before his sale to Port Vale.[28]

Port Vale[]

On 4 June 2021, it was announced that Garrity would join League Two side Port Vale for an undisclosed fee.[29] Manager Darrell Clarke described him as a "young, hungry and ambitious footballer with great energy and fitness levels".[30] He scored his first goals for the "Valiants" on 11 September, his brace securing a 2–1 victory away at Swindon Town; Clarke praised Garrity for his serious professionalism after the match, pointing out that "he has tests to make sure he is getting the right food into his system".[31] He went on to score the only goal of the game against Scunthorpe United and was nominated for September's Player of the Month award.[32] On 7 December, he was played as a forward after Vale suffered an injury crisis that left them short of recognized strikers, and scored two goals to secure a 2–1 win at Bristol Rovers.[33]

Style of play[]

Garrity is an attacking box-to-box midfielder with good energy and fitness levels.[34] He has a strong aerial presence, scoring many of his goals from headers.[35] He has stated that "I am not as good as other people so I know I need to work harder than them, and then over time I will get better".[6]

Personal life[]

Garrity worked as an engineer for five years before becoming a professional footballer in 2020.[6]

Career statistics[]

As of match played 11 December 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Warrington Town 2018–19[36] Northern Premier League Premier Division 21 2 0 0 0 0 3[a] 4 24 6
2019–20[9] Northern Premier League Premier Division 25 10 4 1 0 0 1[b] 0 30 11
Total 46 12 4 1 0 0 4 4 54 17
Blackpool 2019–20[37] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21[38] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2020–21[38] League Two 29 2 3 1 2 1 4[c] 0 38 4
Port Vale 2021–22[39] League Two 19 7 2 0 1 0 3[c] 0 25 7
Career total 94 21 9 2 3 1 11 4 117 28
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the play-offs
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours[]

Individual

References[]

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Oldham Athletic" (PDF). 23 June 2020. p. 32. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Ben Garrity at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b "Local Lad Bolsters Blackpool's Attack Force". Alt Valley. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Profile". www.lowerbreckfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Profile". www.lowerbreckfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Baggaley, Michael (12 September 2021). "Modest Ben Garrity's journey from non-league to Port Vale matchwinner". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b Turner, Matt (6 February 2020). "Garrity leaves Yellows with happy memories but some unfinished business". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  8. ^ Turner, Matt (20 June 2019). "Massive coup for Warrington Town as Garrity signs new deal". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Warrington Town | Appearances | Ben Garrity | 2019–2020 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b Turner, Matt (26 November 2020). "Why ex-Warrington Town star Garrity is proving to be his new club's lucky charm". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  11. ^ Turner, Matt (4 June 2019). "Former Warrington Town midfielder on the move to another Football League club". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  12. ^ Gordon, James (31 January 2020). "Garrity gets Football League move". Warrington Town. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Ben Garrity becomes Warrington's first Football League star in 20 years". The Non-League Football Paper. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Blackpool sign Howe, Moore & Garrity". BBC Sport. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  15. ^ Turner, Matt (31 January 2020). "Blackpool FC sign Ben Garrity from Warrington Town". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  16. ^ Scrafton, Matt (7 February 2020). "Ben Garrity thrilled to make stunning step-up from Warrington to Blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Blackpool Bring In Garrity". Blackpool F.C. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  18. ^ Scrafton, Matt (5 February 2020). "Deadline day signing Ben Garrity scores on first Blackpool appearance in behind-closed-doors game". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  19. ^ Scrafton, Matt (9 September 2020). "Blackpool boss Neil Critchley honest and open with loaned pair Ben Garrity and Joe Nuttall". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Midfielder Garrity joins Oldham on loan". BBC Sport. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  21. ^ "SIGNING: Garrity Completes Loan Move". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Oldham Athletic 3–0 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Oldham overcome Hampton & Richmond test". BBC Sport. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Barrow 3–4 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  26. ^ Lord, Adam (8 February 2021). "How Harry Kewell expects Oldham's loan situation to play out". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  27. ^ Geldard, Suzanne (3 April 2021). "Oldham boss Keith Curle's praise for fit-again Blackpool loanee". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  28. ^ Scrafton, Matt (4 June 2021). "Blackpool midfielder Ben Garrity joins League Two side for undisclosed fee". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Port Vale complete Ben Garrity signing from Blackpool". Port Vale F.C. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Port Vale sign Blackpool's Garrity". BBC Sport. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  31. ^ Baggaley, Michael (11 September 2021). "Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke delivers verdict on win at Swindon". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  32. ^ Baggaley, Michael (5 October 2021). "Port Vale's Clarke and Garrity face rivals in monthly awards". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  33. ^ Baggaley, Michael (8 December 2021). "Modest Ben Garrity making case for new Port Vale role". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  34. ^ Smith, Peter (4 June 2021). "Port Vale confirm Garrity as transfer window hots up". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  35. ^ McAllister, Josh (8 January 2020). "Top scorer Garrity not panicking". Warrington Town. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  36. ^ "Warrington Town | Appearances | Ben Garrity | 2018–2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Games played by Ben Garrity in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  38. ^ a b "Games played by Ben Garrity in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Games played by Ben Garrity in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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