Ian Bennett (footballer)

QPR and Newcastle

Bennett, born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, started his football career as a YTS trainee with Queens Park Rangers in 1988. He turned professional with Newcastle United in March of the same season. Bennett never made a single first-team appearance for either club, he signed for Peterborough United in March 1991.

Peterborough United

Bennett signed for Peterborough United in March 1991. He made 89 appearances for the "Posh" (72 in the League) as they gained successive promotions from the old Fourth and Third Divisions between 1991 and 1993. After two seasons in the then First Division with the Posh, Bennett moved to Birmingham City for £325,000 in December 1993

Birmingham City

Barry Fry signed Bennett for Birmingham City for £325,000 in December 1993. He became the first-choice goalkeeper at Birmingham, and in the 1994–95 season, he was ever-present as the club won the Division Two (third tier) title. for the next five years, making 287 league appearances, before, eventually losing his number one position to Kevin Poole in September 1998 due to injury.

However, Poole also succumbed to injury, enabling Bennett to return to the team until the 1999-00 season, when he was again plagued with injury this time being consistently replaced by Norwegian Thomas Myhre for the last two months of the campaign. A rare highlight of that season occurred during the League Cup when he saved a penalty for Birmingham taken by Alan Shearer. He made some fine saves in a losing cause in the 2001 Football League Cup Final against Liverpool.

Although the signings of Nico Vaesen in summer 2000 and Maik Taylor three years later meant that he was not able to play in goal for as many games as he wanted, Bennett still made his 350th Birmingham appearance against Aston Villa in the 2003–04 season.

In late 2004 he was loaned out to Sheffield United where he impressed manager Neil Warnock in the five games he played as cover for the injured Paddy Kenny. After this he was loaned to Coventry City. During his loan spell, he became the only goalkeeper to be sent off in a competitive league match at Highfield Road, sent off in the 0–0 draw at home with Stoke City.

Leeds United

On 17 June 2005, after 12 years at Birmingham, Bennett transferred to Leeds United who already had Scottish international goalkeeper Neil Sullivan as first-choice goalkeeper. Despite playing the pre-season friendlies, he was limited to four league appearances during the 2005-06 season, obtained deputising for the injured Sullivan.

Sheffield United

In July 2006, Bennett transferred for an undisclosed fee to newly promoted Premiership club Sheffield United, signing on a two-year deal to provide competition to the Blades first-choice goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny. He played the first game of his second spell at the club at Bramall Lane against Reading on 16 September 2006. Despite making his full debut Bennett found first team chances difficult to come by thanks to the fitness and form of Paddy Kenny, making only nine starts in his first two seasons at Bramall Lane. His contract expired at the end of the 2007/08 season but despite reported interest from other clubs he signed a new one-year deal in July.

The following season again saw his first team opportunities limited to only two league starts and appearances the League and FA Cups. Despite this he was offered another one-year contract extension during the 2009 close season.

Huddersfield Town

On 17 June 2010, after leaving Sheffield United, he was signed by Football League One side Huddersfield Town, reuniting with Gary Naysmith and manager Lee Clark who he was with when they were together at Newcastle United.

He made his debut in the 2nd Round of the League Cup against Everton at Goodison Park, as a replacement for Alex Smithies. His first start for the Terriers was on 5 October 2010, in the Football League Trophy match at the Galpharm Stadium against Peterborough United, which Town won 3-2. His first league start came 4 days later in the 3-0 win over Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

He has played more than expected due to injuries to first choice Smithies. In a 2-0 win over Carlisle United on 1 February 2011, Bennett made a brilliant saves twice from François Zoko. After the match, Carlisle United Manager Greg Abbott praises Bennett performance and said: "They were wonder saves and saves change games. If one of those had gone in it would have been different." On 18 May 2011 Bennett saved a penalty in the League One play-off semi-final penalty shootout against Bournemouth, which Huddersfield went on to win 4-2. The following 2011-12 season he saved two penalties in Town's 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park on 25 October 2011. On 3 July 2012, Bennett signed a new two-year contract which will see him stay on until the age of 42.

Coaching career

Bennett's playing contract expired in May 2014. However, after Nick Colgan was appointed as senior Goalkeeping Coach, Bennett was appointed to Colgan's previous role as Goalkeeping Coach for the Huddersfield Town academy.

A year later, Bennett departed the Yorkshire club after five years in order to take up an Academy coaching role at Nottingham Forest.

Honours

Associate Members Cup / Football League Trophy