Harry Benson (footballer)

Harry Lewis Benson (22 January 1883 – 1953) was an English footballer who played for Stoke, Northampton Town and Port Vale.[1]

Harry Benson
Personal information
Full name Harry Lewis Benson[1]
Date of birth (1883-01-22)22 January 1883
Place of birth Hartshill, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death 1953 (aged 70)[1]
Position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Shelton Albion
Porthill
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1901–1907 Stoke 87 (0)
1907–1908 Northampton Town
1908–1911 Port Vale 43 (0)
Total 130+ (0+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Benson played for non-League Shelton Albion and Porthill before joining the local Football League side Stoke in 1901.[1] It took him three seasons before he could become a regular under Horace Austerberry; he took over from the injured Charlie Burgess in 1904–05, making 27 appearances.[1] He partnered Burgess in 1905–06 with the pair missing only five games between them.[1] He played six matches in 1906–07 as Stoke were relegated from the First Division, and then departed the Victoria Ground. Benson then moved to Southern League side Northampton Town. He then moved on to the newly reformed Port Vale in December 1908.[2] His first game was against the reserve team of Stoke, Vale's rivals and Benson's old club; Vale lost 2–1.[2] He was their first-choice left-back between December 1908 and December 1910, but was released in 1911 with 43 North Staffs League appearances to his name.[2]

Career statistics

edit

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke 1901–02 First Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
1902–03 First Division 6 0 0 0 6 0
1903–04 First Division 13 0 0 0 13 0
1904–05 First Division 25 0 2 0 27 0
1905–06 First Division 36 0 2 0 38 0
1906–07 First Division 6 0 0 0 6 0
Total 87 0 4 0 91 0
Port Vale 1908–09 North Staffs League 14 0 0 0 14 0
1909–10 North Staffs League 18 0 0 0 18 0
1910–11 North Staffs League 11 0 0 0 11 0
Total 43 0 0 0 43 0
Career total 130 0 4 0 134 0

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 26. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. ^ Harry Benson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)