Trevor Benjamin

Trevor Junior Benjamin (born 8 February 1979) is a former professional footballer and manager who played as a forward.

He is famed for being a prime example of a journeyman footballer, having represented 29 teams in his career, and making over 350 appearances in the Football League between 1995 and 2008.

He also holds the record for the most league clubs played for, which is 16.

He also scored both goals (one in the first leg and one in the second leg) as Third Division Cambridge knocked Premier League Sheffield Wednesday out of the League Cup 2–1 on aggregate in September 1998.

He also scored as Cambridge knocked second tier Crystal Palace out of the FA Cup in December 1999.

Following some impressive displays for Cambridge United, Benjamin signed for Leicester City (where his work rate and goal celebrations saw him become something of a cult figure).

He was signed for a fee of £1.3 million by manager Peter Taylor, who snapped up Benjamin as a replacement for the departed Emile Heskey who had joined Liverpool.

He most notably spent time in the Premier League with Leicester City, who he joined in 2000 from Cambridge United.

He was capped by England U21 but went on to feature for Jamaica as a full international, where he earned two caps.

Benjamin has also played as a professional in the Football League for Crystal Palace, Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Gillingham, Rushden & Diamonds, Brighton & Hove Albion, Northampton Town, Coventry City, Peterborough United, Watford, Swindon Town, Boston United, Walsall and Hereford United.

At the age of 28, Benjamin dropped out of the professional game and firstly signed for Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity.

He went on to play for Northwich Victoria, Hednesford Town, Wellingborough Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Tamworth, Harrogate Town and Woking.

He made his debut for Leicester City, as a substitute, in a 0–0 draw with Sunderland, on 1 October 2000.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win at Middlesbrough on 18 November 2000, however this proved to be his only goal that season.

Benjamin holds the record of most appearances made from the bench by any Leicester City player.

Benjamin then went on loan to three clubs in the 2001–02 season.

His first loan spell was at Crystal Palace, where he scored once against Bradford City in six league appearances.

He then joined Norwich City making six appearances again before joining West Bromwich Albion, where he scored on his debut against Barnsley and helped them get promoted to the Premier League.

Benjamin spent the whole of the 2002–03 season back at Leicester.

His next loan spell was at Gillingham in September 2003, where he scored on his debut against West Ham United.

In November 2003 he was loaned out to Rushden & Diamonds, scoring once against Port Vale.

His next loan was at Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2004.

At Brighton he scored five goals in ten league appearances and manager Mark McGhee was keen to extend his loan to the end of the season.

However he returned to his parent club in March 2004 and Brighton were promoted in his absence.

In January 2005 new Leicester City manager Craig Levein made the decision to cancel Benjamin's contract.

Benjamin joined Northampton Town permanently on 19 January 2005, after a few weeks on loan to the club.

Trevor was later signed up by Coventry manager Micky Adams (under whom he had played at Leicester) until the end of the season, scoring once against Watford.

In the summer of 2005 Benjamin was released again and later signed for Peterborough United on a three-year deal, stating his main motivation was to gain first team football.

Benjamin later made loan appearances for Watford, Swindon Town, Boston United and Walsall.

Benjamin went on to sign for Hereford United on 1 August 2007.

He made his début for the club in a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United on 11 August 2007.

His first goal followed a week later, from the penalty spot, in a 2–1 win away at Barnet.

He continued his impressive form in the first half of the season and became something of a fans favourite at Edgar Street, scoring his share of goals.

In 2010, he briefly joined Australian semi-pro side Sunshine George Cross, but failed to make an appearance and returned to the English Non-league game where he went on to feature for Bedlington Terriers, Wroxham and Morpeth Town.

Having initially been on loan at Morpeth from Bedlington, he was later appointed player-manager of the club in November 2010 and managed the club until the end of the 2010–11 season.

Benjamin grew up in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, supporting Arsenal with Ian Wright as his idol.

His first club was Wellingborough Colts where he excelled as a striker, gaining representative honours with Northamptonshire.

His potential was recognised and he played a friendly for Kettering Town, with his brother Richard.

Trevor played in their youth team then started scoring regularly for the reserves.

He then signed as a trainee for Cambridge United where he made his professional début as a 16-year-old, against Gillingham in a 0–0 draw, during his time there he scored 46 goals in 146 appearances.