Rhys Bennett

Rhys Gordon Bennett (born 1 September 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League One side Gillingham. He primarily plays as a central defender, although he has also been deployed in defensive midfield, and as a full-back.

Rhys Bennett
Bennett in 2015
Personal information
Full name Rhys Gordon Bennett[1]
Date of birth (1991-09-01) 1 September 1991
Place of birth Bolton, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Defender / defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Gillingham
Number 18
Youth career
Radcliffe Borough
0000–2009 Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Falkirk (loan) 19 (0)
2012–2016 Rochdale 110 (6)
2016–2018 Mansfield Town 84 (4)
2018–2020 Peterborough United 50 (4)
2020–2021 Carlisle United 24 (5)
2021– Gillingham 15 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:42, 11 December 2021 (UTC)

Born in Bolton, Lancashire, he began his career as a youth player with Radcliffe Borough, before moving to Bolton Wanderers. He went professional in 2009, spending three years with Bolton, where he regularly played in the club's reserve side, but he failed to make the first team and was sent out on loan to Falkirk in July 2011. Bennett stayed at Falkirk throughout the 2011/12 campaign, making 25 appearances for the club in all competitions. In the summer of 2012, Bennett made a permanent transfer to then-League Two side Rochdale, where he has notably made over 100 league appearances.

Club career

Bolton Wanderers

Bennett started his professional career at Bolton Wanderers, regularly playing in the reserve side and wearing the captain's armband on occasions.[2] Having not made an appearance for the first team he was sent out on loan to Falkirk in July 2011 by manager Owen Coyle.

Falkirk (loan)

On 6 July 2011, it was announced that Falkirk had signed Bennett on a six-month loan,[3] which was extended until the end of the season on 9 January 2012.[4] Bennett made his debut on 23 July 2011, scoring a 26th-minute opener against Brechin City in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

He made his league debut on 6 August in a 1–0 loss against Raith Rovers.[5]

During his time with The Bairns, Bennett helped the side win the Ramsdens Cup, when they defeated Hamilton Academical 1-0 in the final.

Rochdale
Bennett playing for Rochdale in 2015

On 11 June 2012, Rochdale announced that Bennett had signed a one-year contract at the club effective on 1 July 2012.[6] He made his debut on 4 September in a 2–2 draw against Fleetwood Town in the Football League Trophy. The game went to a penalty shoot-out which Rochdale won 4–2 and progressed to the second round.[7] He made his league debut on 15 September in a 2–1 win away to AFC Wimbledon.[8]

He scored his first goal for the club on 1 December, in a 3–2 defeat to York City.[9]

Mansfield Town

Bennett joined Mansfield Town on a free transfer in June 2016.[10]

He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2017–18 season.[11]

Peterborough United

Bennett joined Peterborough United on a free transfer in May 2018. He followed in the footsteps of former Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans in the same season.[12]

Carlisle United

On 12 November 2020, Bennett joined Carlisle United on a short-term deal until January 2021.[13] On 5 January 2021, Bennett signed an extended deal to remain at the club until the end of the 2020/21 season.[14]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 11 December 2021 [15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bolton Wanderers 2011–12 Premier League 0000000000
Falkirk (loan) 2011–12 Scottish First Division 19010302[lower-alpha 1]1251
Rochdale 2012–13 League Two 33220002[lower-alpha 2]0372
2013–14 League Two 220300000250
2014–15 League One 39251101[lower-alpha 2]0463
2015–16 League One 16220102[lower-alpha 2]0212
Total 110612120501297
Mansfield Town 2016–17[16] League Two 46210106[lower-alpha 2]0542
2017–18[17] League Two 38230101[lower-alpha 2]0432
Total 844402070974
Peterborough United 2018–19[18] League One 37430104[lower-alpha 2]0454
2019–20[19] League One 13010004[lower-alpha 2]0180
Total 504401080634
Carlisle United 2020–21[20] League Two 24510001[lower-alpha 2]0265
Gillingham 2021–22[21] League One 15010202[lower-alpha 2]0200
Career total 3021923110025136021
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy

Honours

Falkirk

References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  2. "Bennett Makes Falkirk Debut". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  3. "Falkirk snap up Bolton kid Rhys Bennett on season-long loan deal". Daily Record. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  4. "Bennett's Falkirk Loan Extended". bwfc.co.uk. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  5. "Brechin City 1–2 Falkirk". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  6. "Rochdale sign Bolton Wanderers defender Rhys Bennett" BBC Sport. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  7. "Rochdale 2–2 Fleetwood" BBC Sport. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  8. "AFC Wimbledon 1–2 Rochdale" BBC Sport. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  9. "Rochdale 2–3 York" BBC Sport. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  10. "Mansfield Town sign defender Rhys Bennett from Rochdale". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  11. "Mansfield Town release Rhys Bennett and six others transfer-listed". BBC Sport. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  12. "Posh make second summer signing". Peterborough United. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  13. "Carlisle United sign former Peterborough United defender". BBC Sport. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. "Rhys Bennett: Carlisle defender extends deal until the end of the season". BBC Sport. 5 January 2021.
  15. Rhys Bennett at Soccerbase
  16. "Games played by Rhys Bennett in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  17. "Games played by Rhys Bennett in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  18. "Games played by Rhys Bennett in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  19. "Games played by Rhys Bennett in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  20. "Games played by Rhys Bennett in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  21. "Games played by Rhys Bennett in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  22. "Falkirk 1-0 Hamilton Accies". BBC. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
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