Trevor Benjamin

Benjamin grew up in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, supporting Arsenal with Ian Wright as his idol. His first club was Wellingborough Colts where he excelled as a striker, gaining representative honours with Northamptonshire. His potential was recognised and he played a friendly for Kettering Town, with his brother Richard. Trevor played in their youth team then started scoring regularly for the reserves.

He then signed as a trainee for Cambridge United where he made his professional début as a 16-year-old, against Gillingham in a 0–0 draw, during his time there he scored 46 goals in 146 appearances. He also scored both goals (one in the first leg and one in the second leg) as Third Division Cambridge knocked Premier League Sheffield Wednesday out of the League Cup 2–1 on aggregate in September 1998.[2] He also scored as Cambridge knocked second tier Crystal Palace out of the FA Cup in December 1999.[3]

Benjamin during his time at Leicester City.

Following some impressive displays for Cambridge United, Benjamin signed for Leicester City (where his work rate and goal celebrations saw him become something of a cult figure). He was signed for a fee of £1.3 million by manager Peter Taylor, who snapped up Benjamin as a replacement for the departed Emile Heskey who had joined Liverpool.[4]

He made his debut for Leicester City, as a substitute, in a 0–0 draw with Sunderland, on 1 October 2000. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win at Middlesbrough on 18 November 2000,[5] however this proved to be his only goal that season. Benjamin holds the record of most appearances made from the bench by any Leicester City player.

Benjamin then went on loan to three clubs in the 2001–02 season. His first loan spell was at Crystal Palace,[6] where he scored once against Bradford City in six league appearances.[7] He then joined Norwich City[8] making six appearances again before joining West Bromwich Albion,[9] where he scored on his debut against Barnsley and helped them get promoted to the Premier League.[10] Benjamin spent the whole of the 2002–03 season back at Leicester. His next loan spell was at Gillingham in September 2003, where he scored on his debut against West Ham United.[11] In November 2003 he was loaned out to Rushden & Diamonds,[12] scoring once against Port Vale.[13] His next loan was at Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2004.[14] At Brighton he scored five goals in ten league appearances and manager Mark McGhee was keen to extend his loan to the end of the season.[15] However he returned to his parent club in March 2004 and Brighton were promoted in his absence. In January 2005 new Leicester City manager Craig Levein made the decision to cancel Benjamin's contract.

Benjamin joined Northampton Town permanently on 19 January 2005, after a few weeks on loan to the club.[16] Trevor was later signed up by Coventry manager Micky Adams (under whom he had played at Leicester) until the end of the season, scoring once against Watford.[17]

In the summer of 2005 Benjamin was released again and later signed for Peterborough United on a three-year deal, stating his main motivation was to gain first team football. Benjamin later made loan appearances for Watford, Swindon Town,[18] Boston United and Walsall. Benjamin went on to sign for Hereford United on 1 August 2007.[19] He made his début for the club in a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United on 11 August 2007. His first goal followed a week later, from the penalty spot, in a 2–1 win away at Barnet. He continued his impressive form in the first half of the season and became something of a fans favourite at Edgar Street, scoring his share of goals. However he did not start another match for the Bulls after the defeat to Cardiff at the end of January, which coincided with the arrival of Gary Hooper on loan.

On 19 May 2008, Benjamin was released from Hereford United, being told his services will not be needed in the following season, despite being the club's third top goalscorer that season.[20] He joined Conference North club Gainsborough Trinity on non-contract terms in August 2008,[21] a week later after joining Gainsborough Trinity, the Lincolnshire Echo revealed the player had also been training with Cheltenham Town. Despite this Trevor was released by a 'disappointed' Steve Charles after just three appearances for Gainsborough Trinity, with the Blues noting that the Jamaican International had under performed in his games.

Benjamin had trials with Cheltenham Town, Gillingham and AFC Bournemouth at the start of the 2008–09 season, but failed to earn a contract at any of the three clubs.[22][23][24] Bournemouth manager Jimmy Quinn said of the player, "He's not what I'm looking for, he's probably past his sell-by date."[25] On 10 October 2008, Benjamin signed for Northwich Victoria,[26] but was released three weeks later as part of cost-cutting measures.[27] He then made one appearance at Hednesford Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division,[28] after a few games for the club he was released. A couple of weeks later, Benjamin moved further down the non-league ladder to sign for his home town club Wellingborough Town in the United Counties Football League. He scored on his debut in the 2–2 Boxing Day draw with Raunds Town.[29] Recent speculations have linked him, like in the summer of 2008,[30] to Chester City.[31]

However, Benjamin moved on to Kidsgrove Athletic in the Northern Premier League Division One South, making his debut in a 5–2 win against Brigg Town on 14 February 2009.[32] He made 12 league appearances during the 2008–09 season, and another two appearances in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, helping them win the final on 22 April 2009. But Benjamin has recently stated that he would like a return to league football after fully recovering from his eye infection. He is currently on trial with Rushden & Diamonds in a bid to earn a contract for the new season. On 7 August 2009, Trevor Benjamin signed for Conference National newcomers Tamworth, following a successful trial period with the club.[33]

He made his debut the following day in a Conference National away fixture against Stevenage Borough, Benjamin came on as a 79th-minute substitute for midfielder Tom Shaw. The game finished in a 1–1 draw.[34] He moved on to Harrogate Town in the Conference North, making his debut and scoring two goals in a 3–2 loss against Northwich Victoria on 3 October 2009.[35] In his second appearance, against Droylsden, he scored again with a stunning free-kick in the last few minutes of the game. He departed in November after his rolling month-to-month contract was not renewed.

He made his debut for Woking in a 6–0 win against St Albans City in the FA Trophy competition, on 21 November 2009.[36] After another two games for the Cards, he was released prior to 5 December 2009 match against Bishop's Stortford.[37] He joined Bedlington Terriers in Northern League Division One on a free transfer in February 2010.[38] The next month he joined Wroxham in Eastern Counties League Premier Division for a short loan spell.[39]

In September 2010 he was loaned out again, to Terrier's local rivals Morpeth Town. After two goalless appearances, the 3–0 home defeat by Marske United[40] and the 2–1 away defeat by Newton Aycliffe,[41] he was appointed the club's player-manager following the departure of previous manager Tom Wade.[42] Shortly after his release he signed for Seaton Delaval Amateurs.[43]