Ryan Bennett

Grimsby Town

Bennett was born in Orsett, Essex. He came to prominence in 2006 when Grimsby Town's youth team manager at the time, Neil Woods swooped to sign him after he was let go by the youth setup at Ipswich Town. Initially joining the club as part of the youth team midway through the 2006–07 campaign, he was soon promoted to the first team, managed at the time by Alan Buckley. Bennett would make his professional debut as an 88th-minute substitute, replacing Danny Boshell in a 2–1 win over Milton Keynes Dons in April 2007. 21 days later he became the club's youngest ever captain, aged only 17 years old when Grimsby's all-time record appearance holder John McDermott passed him the skippers armband after being substituted in the local derby with Lincoln City. In the summer of 2007 Bennett had re-established himself as one of the club's favoured centre backs, and in this he was handed the number 5 shirt for the coming season. He scored his first goal in professional football on the opening day of the 2007–08 season when his header from six yards opened the scoring in the 1–1 draw with Notts County at Blundell Park. He won the club's Player of the Month award in August. In that same season, Bennett largely was favoured in the place of club captain Justin Whittle in the heart of Town's defence, and he went on to play in the club's Football League Trophy final defeat to Milton Keynes Dons at Wembley Stadium. In May 2008, Bennett was given the "Supporters Young Player of…

Bennett was called up for the England national under-18 team that faced Austria at Victoria Park on 16 April 2008. It was his first England call-up. He played the full game in the 2–0 victory. On 29 September 2011, Bennett was called up to the under-21 team for the first time by Stuart Pearce. He made his debut in a 2–1 win away to Norway on 10 October 2011.

As of match played 27 April 2024

Grimsby Town

Football League Trophy runner-up: 2007–08 Peterborough United

Football League One play-offs: 2011 Norwich City

Football League Championship play-offs: 2015 Wolverhampton Wanderers

EFL Championship: 2017–18