Ian Tracey Benjamin (born 11 December 1961) is an English former professional footballer who made nearly 500 appearances in the Football League between 1979 and 1994, playing primarily as a forward.

Career

Benjamin joined Sheffield United as a youngster and then made a move to

West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion Football Club () is an English professional Association football, football club based in West Bromwich, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English foo ...

for £100,000. Whilst a West Bromwich Albion player he played in a benefit match for Len Cantello, that saw a team of white players play against a team of black players. He struggled in his early days and it was not until he joined Peterborough United that he became a first team regular. He then joined the Cobblers, and after a spell in midfield, he moved up

front Front may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Front'' (1943 film), a 1943 Soviet drama film * '' The Front'', 1976 film Music *The Front (band), an American rock band signed to Columbia Records and active in the 1980s and e ...

and won the player of the year award. He fitted in well with

Graham Carr William Graham Carr (born 25 October 1944) is an English former professional footballer, manager and scout. He is currently an associate director for Northampton Town. Club career Carr, a half-back, joined his first professional club, Nor ...

's side, but he later lost his place as the manager believed he had better options available for Northampton. Benjamin later joined a number of clubs. He helped Southend United to promotion and scored against Bury, but was with Luton Town when they were relegated. In 1996 he dropped into non-League, signing for Chelmsford City and later

Bury Town Bury Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club, based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The club are currently members of the and play at Ram Meadow. History Early history The club was established by William Lake at a meetin ...

. His first managerial job was at Corby Town in the late 1990s. He then managed Warboys Town, while working part-time for the Royal Mail postal service, before joining

Soham Town Rangers Soham Town Rangers Football Club is an English football club based in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the and play at Julius Martin Lane. History The club was established in 1947 by a merger of Soham Town and Soham Ran ...

as a player, later becoming joint manager in May 2001. In January 2002 Benjamin was appointed manager of

Wisbech Town Wisbech Town Football Club is a football club based near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. The club are currently members of the and play at the Fenland Stadium. History Although a Wisbech Town existed in the 1890s, the current club was estab ...

.Meet the Fenmen
Fenmen Online He returned to

at the start of the 2005–06 season and led the club to their first

Eastern Counties League The Eastern Counties Football League, currently known as the Thurlow Nunn League for sponsorship purposes, is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffol ...

title in 2007–08, earning promotion to the Southern League. He left Soham in 2011, after which he worked as a youth coach for Northampton Town and for Swindon Town as a scout. In June 2015 he was appointed manager of Yaxley, with Andy Furnell as his assistant.Ex-Posh strikers take over at Yaxley
Peterborough Today, 9 June 2015 However, on 31 March 2016 Benjamin resigned as Yaxley manager, stating 'I didn't feel all the committee were behind me'. In June 2016 he became manager of Stewarts & Lloyds Corby, where he remained in post until resigning in December 2017.S&L on the hunt for a new boss as Benjamin steps down
Northants Telegraph, 21 December 2017

Honours

Northampton Town * Player of the Season: 1986-87

References

External links

*
Cobblers Greats Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Ian 1961 births Living people Footballers from Nottingham English Football League players English men's footballers Sheffield United F.C. players West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Peterborough United F.C. players Northampton Town F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. players Chester City F.C. players Exeter City F.C. players Southend United F.C. players Luton Town F.C. players Brentford F.C. players Wigan Athletic F.C. players Chelmsford City F.C. players Bury Town F.C. players Soham Town Rangers F.C. players England men's youth international footballers Notts County F.C. players Black British sportsmen English football managers Warboys Town F.C. managers Wisbech Town F.C. managers Corby Town F.C. managers Soham Town Rangers F.C. managers Yaxley F.C. managers Stewarts & Lloyds Corby A.F.C. managers Men's association football forwards Northampton Town F.C. non-playing staff Swindon Town F.C. non-playing staff Association football coaches Association football scouts