Paul Benson

English footballer & coach (born 1979)

For the federal judge, see Paul Benson (judge) .

Paul Andrew Benson (born 12 October 1979) is an English former professional footballer and coach who played as a striker ; he last played for National League North club Bedford Town .

Playing career

[(https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Benson&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Playing career")
]

Dagenham & Redbridge

[(https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Benson&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Dagenham & Redbridge")
]

Born in Southend , Essex, Benson was on the books of Southend United as a youth player. He was signed by Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still on 1 July 2005 after Still saw him play for White Ensign of the Essex Olympian League , where he scored 96 goals in 59 league matches (107 goals in 65 matches in all competitions) in just two seasons with the club. Benson's first season with Dagenham was frustrating as he was not a regular first-team player, scoring only one Conference National goal, and was out for three months with a broken leg. However, the 2006–07 season saw a complete reversal, as he earned a spot in Dagenham's first-team and finished the season as both the team and Conference National top scorer with 28 goals, leading the club's successful campaign for promotion to League Two . The following year, Dagenham's first in the Football League , Benson scored nine goals, though was injured for half the season.

The 2008–09 season saw Benson end in the top five goal scorers in League Two and come second in the player of the season poll for Dagenham. At the end of the 2009–10 season , Benson scored a goal at Wembley Stadium as Dagenham defeated Rotherham United in the play-off final to clinch a place in League One for the 2010–11 season .

Charlton Athletic

[(https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Benson&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Charlton Athletic")
]

On 31 August 2010, Benson completed a move to League One club Charlton Athletic . After making 27 appearances and scoring 10 goals for Charlton in his first season, Benson's first-team chances were limited behind Charlton strikers Paul Hayes , Bradley Wright-Phillips , Jason Euell and Yann Kermorgant . Notts County made a bid to sign him, which Charlton accepted, although the move collapsed after they failed to agree personal terms.

On 2 January 2012, Benson transferred to Swindon Town as part of a swap deal in exchange for Leon Clarke .

Swindon Town

[(https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Benson&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Swindon Town")
]

Benson joined a Swindon team chasing promotion to League One. His arrival coincided with a 10-match winning run which was the platform from which the Robins' won the title under the guidance of Paolo Di Canio . Benson's first goal for Swindon came when he scored the winner in their FA Cup third-round victory over Premier League team Wigan Athletic , although replays showed he was in an offside position. Benson's goalscoring form was rewarded on 9 March 2012 when he was named League Two Player of the Month for February after scoring five goals in five matches and being widely praised by manager Paolo Di Canio. Di Canio, in a post-match press conference, was quoted as saying that "Paul Benson at 70% is better than any other striker in this league at 150%". On 28 April 2012, he scored twice as Swindon beat Port Vale 5–0 and were crowned champions of League Two in the process.

On 15 November 2012, Benson joined League One club Portsmouth on an initial one-month loan . His first goal came in a Boxing Day home league match against Crawley Town . In the following match he netted again, against Yeovil Town . He returned to Swindon in January 2013.

Benson then joined League Two club Cheltenham Town on 29 January 2013 in a loan move until the end of the 2012–13 season . He made his debut four days later in a 2–1 victory over Torquay United . Benson scored his first goal for the club on 12 February, tapping the ball past goalkeeper Paul Smith in another 2–1 victory, this time against Southend United. He ended the season with four goals in 18 appearances for the club.

Luton Town

[(https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Benson&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Luton Town")
]

On 26 August 2013, Benson signed for Conference Premier club Luton Town on a season-long loan, with the possibility of a permanent transfer taking place in the summer of 2014. This move saw him link

…