Graham Mark Benstead (born 20 August 1963) is an English 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 goalkeeping coach at Frimley Green.[3]
Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, 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]
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]
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]
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]
Benstead was capped by England youth and won three caps for England Semi-Pro in 1994.[22][25]
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]
Benstead works as a self-employed painter and decorator.[28]
Sheffield United
Brentford
Rushden & Diamonds
Individual
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