Graham Benstead
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Graham Mark Benstead[1] | ||
Date of birth | 20 August 1963 | ||
Place of birth | Aldershot, England | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Frimley Green (goalkeeping coach) | ||
Youth career | |||
Wimbledon | |||
–1981 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1981–1985 | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | (0) |
1985 | → Norwich City (loan) | 1 | (0) |
1985–1988 | Norwich City | 15 | (0) |
1987 | → Colchester United (loan) | 18 | (0) |
1988 | → Sheffield United (loan) | ||
1988–1990 | Sheffield United | 47 | (0) |
1990–1993 | Brentford | 112 | (0) |
1993 | → Kettering Town (loan) | ||
1994–1995 | Kettering Town | ||
1995–1997 | Rushden & Diamonds | 45 | (0) |
1997 | Kingstonian | 0 | (0) |
1997–1998 | Brentford | 1 | (0) |
1998–1999 | Basingstoke Town | 19 | (0) |
1999 | → Chertsey Town (loan) | ||
2000–2003 | Farnborough Town | 5 | (0) |
2003–2004 | Stevenage Borough | 0 | (0) |
National team | |||
England Youth | |||
1994 | England Semi-Pro | 3 | (0) |
Teams managed | |||
Farnborough Town (caretaker) | |||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Graham Mark Benstead (born 20 August 1963 in Aldershot, Hampshire) is a retired professional footballer who made over 110 appearances as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Brentford. He also played League football for Sheffield United, Colchester United, Norwich City and was capped by England at youth and semi-pro level. Benstead is currently goalkeeping coach at Frimley Green.[3]
Club career[]
Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City (1981–1988)[]
A goalkeeper, Benstead began his career as a part-time player at Wimbledon and then entered the youth system at Queens Park Rangers.[4][5] He signed his first professional contract in 1981.[5] He had to wait until 8 January 1983 to make what would be his only appearance for the club, which came with a start in a 3–2 FA Cup third round defeat to West Bromwich Albion.[6] After a loan spell with Norwich City late in the 1984–85 season, Benstead joined the newly relegated Second Division club at the end of the campaign for an initial £10,000 fee, with up to £35,000 in add-ons.[7]
After promotion straight back to the First Division in 1985–86 and in the face of competition from new £100,000 signing Bryan Gunn, Benstead began the 1986–87 season as Norwich City's first-choice goalkeeper, but a shoulder injury suffered in November 1986 effectively ended his Carrow Road career.[7] After loan spells with Colchester United and Sheffield United, he joined the latter club on a permanent contract for a £35,000 fee in 1988.[5]
Sheffield United and Brentford (1988–1993)[]
Benstead was a regular for Sheffield United during the 1988–89 season, at the end of which the club celebrated promotion to the Second Division after a second-place finish.[5][8] He lost his place to Simon Tracey during the 1989–90 season and made just one further appearance for the club before moving to Third Division Brentford in July 1990 for a £60,000 fee,[9] with a further £10,000 to be paid after 25 appearances.[5] Benstead had a successful first season with Brentford, missing just one match, keeping 23 clean sheets and winning the club's Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards.[10][11][12] Despite suffering from hamstring and knee injuries,[13] things were even better during the 1991–92 season, when the Bees finished the campaign as champions of the Third Division.[11][14]
Despite missing four months of the 1992–93 First Division season with knee ligament damage and a hamstring injury,[15] Benstead made 32 appearances during the campaign,[11] which ended with relegation straight back to the Second Division.[14] Benstead rejected the new contract offered to him during the 1993 off-season and was made available for loan.[16] He failed to see eye-to-eye with new manager David Webb and made just seven early-1993–94 season appearances before joining Conference high-flyers Kettering Town on loan in October 1993.[5][17] The deal was made permanent in December 1993, with Benstead signing on a free transfer.[17] Benstead made 144 appearances during just over three seasons at Griffin Park.[5]
Non-League football and return to Brentford (1993–1997)[]
Benstead's 18 months with Conference club Kettering ended with second and sixth-place finishes respectively and he dropped down to the Southern League Premier Division to move to Northamptonshire rivals Rushden & Diamonds in June 1995.[18][19] He had an excellent 1995–96 season, helping the club to the Premier Division title and promotion to the Conference.[19][20] Benstead made just seven appearances during the 1996–97 season and had a non-playing spell with Kingstonian,[21] before making a surprise return to Brentford in July 1997, as player/goalkeeping coach on a week-to-week contract.[19][22][23] Minor surgery required by first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Dearden meant that Benstead made his second debut for the club in a 3–1 defeat to York City on 11 October 1997.[23][24] He made one further appearance in an FA Cup first round replay versus former club Colchester United on 25 November,[24] before being released by new manager Micky Adams in January 1998.[23]
Return to non-League football (1997–2004)[]
Benstead joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Basingstoke Town in 1998 and wound down his career with spells at Chertsey Town, Farnborough Town and Stevenage Borough.[23]
International career[]
Benstead was capped by England youth and won three caps for England Semi-Pro in 1994.[22][25]
Coaching career[]
Benstead has worked as a goalkeeping coach at Brentford, Basingstoke Town, Chertsey Town, Farnborough Town, Stevenage Borough and Frimley Green.[3][23][26] He served as caretaker manager of Farnborough Town for one match and in 2004 was assistant to manager Graham Westley at Stevenage Borough.[26][27]
Personal life[]
Benstead works as a self-employed painter and decorator.[28]
Honours[]
- Sheffield United
- Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1988–89[9]
- Brentford
Rushden & Diamonds
- Southern League Premier Division: 1995–96[19]
Individual
- Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 1990–91[12]
- Brentford Players' Player of the Year: 1990–91[12]
Career statistics[]
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Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Queens Park Rangers | 1982–83[6] | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
Norwich City (loan) | 1984–85[29] | First Division | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
Norwich City | 1986–87[29] | First Division | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
1987–88[29] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
Total | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
Colchester United (loan) | 1987–88[30] | Fourth Division | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 19 | 0 |
Brentford | 1990–91[11] | Third Division | 45 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9[b] | 0 | 61 | 0 |
1991–92[11] | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
1992–93[11] | First Division | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
1993–94[11] | Second Division | 5 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
Total | 112 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 142 | 0 | ||
Rushden & Diamonds | 1995–96[19] | Southern League Premier Division | 39 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 6[d] | 0 | 51 | 0 | |
1996–97[19] | Conference | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
Total | 45 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 58 | 0 | |||
Brentford | 1997–98[24] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 113 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 144 | 0 | ||
Basingstoke Town | 1997–98[31] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
1998–99[32] | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 4[f] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |||
Total | 19 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |||
Farnborough Town | 2000–01[33] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[g] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
2001–02[33] | Conference | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[h] | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
2002–03[34] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |||
Stevenage Borough | 2002–03[34] | Conference | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
2003–04[35] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
2004–05[36] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Career total | 182 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 281 | 0 |
- ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy.
- ^ 7 appearances in Football League Third Division play-offs, 2 appearances in Football League Trophy.
- ^ Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup.
- ^ 3 appearances in Northamptonshire Senior Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Southern League Cup, 1 appearance in Northamptonshire Cup.
- ^ Appearance in Southern League Championship Shield.
- ^ 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Full Members' Cup, 1 appearance in Hampshire Senior Cup.
- ^ 2 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Hampshire Senior Cup.
- ^ 2 appearances in Hampshire Senior Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy.
References[]
- ^ "Graham Benstead". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Graham Benstead at Soccerbase
- ^ a b "Experienced Benstead Joins Frimley Green". Pitchero Non-League. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "First, Best, Worst: Graham Benstead". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 380.
- ^ a b "Seasonal Stats – Files – 1982–83". QPRnet. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ a b Norwich City Matchday Programme vs Manchester City 14 February 1987. 1987.
- ^ Sheffield United F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b Bassett, Dave (7 October 2002). Dave Bassett – Settling the Score. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 9781784185114.
- ^ "Played for Both: Norwich City". Brentford FC. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. pp. 476–479. ISBN 9781906796723.
- ^ a b c Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 445.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 82-83.
- ^ a b Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 116-120.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 142.
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 144-146.
- ^ Kettering Town F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b c d e f "Graham Benstead". rdfc1992. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Rushden & Diamonds F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Good squad despite loss". Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ a b Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 20. ISBN 0955294916.
- ^ a b c d e Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 258-263.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Graham Benstead in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "England Matches - The C Team (Semi-Professional & The National Game)". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Mac takes Girvan to Boro -and gives Venables a lesson". News Shopper. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Assistant manager quits Stevenage". 28 October 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Where Are They Now? Brentford Division Three Champions 1991–92". The League Paper. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Graham Benstead at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Player Match List – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "1997/98 matches". Basingstoke FC Online. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "1998/99 matches". Basingstoke FC Online. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Player Details". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Games played by Graham Benstead in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Graham Benstead in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Graham Benstead in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- Canary Citizens by Mark Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7
- Macey, Gordon (1993). Queens Park Rangers – A Complete Record. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 978-1-873626-40-5.
External links[]
- Graham Benstead at Soccerbase
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
- Norwich City F.C. players
- Colchester United F.C. players
- Sheffield United F.C. players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Kettering Town F.C. players
- Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players
- Basingstoke Town F.C. players
- Farnborough F.C. players
- Sportspeople from Aldershot
- England semi-pro international footballers
- Association football goalkeepers
- Chertsey Town F.C. players
- Stevenage F.C. players
- England youth international footballers
- Farnborough F.C. managers
- Stevenage F.C. non-playing staff
- National League (English football) players
- Isthmian League players
- National League (English football) managers
- Southern Football League players
- English Football League players
- English football managers
- Brentford F.C. non-playing staff
- English footballers
- Footballers from Hampshire