Paul Benson

Dagenham & Redbridge

Born in Southend, Essex, Benson was on the books of Southend United as a youth player. He was signed by Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still on 1 July 2005 after Still saw him play for White Ensign of the Essex Olympian League, where he scored 96 goals in 59 league matches (107 goals in 65 matches in all competitions) in just two seasons with the club. Benson's first season with Dagenham was frustrating as he was not a regular first-team player, scoring only one Conference National goal, and was out for three months with a broken leg. However, the 2006–07 season saw a complete reversal, as he earned a spot in Dagenham's first-team and finished the season as both the team and Conference National top scorer with 28 goals, leading the club's successful campaign for promotion to League Two. The following year, Dagenham's first in the Football League, Benson scored nine goals, though was injured for half the season. The 2008–09 season saw Benson end in the top five goal scorers in League Two and come second in the player of the season poll for Dagenham. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Benson scored a goal at Wembley Stadium as Dagenham defeated Rotherham United in the play-off final to clinch a place in League One for the 2010–11 season.

Charlton Athletic

On 31 August 2010, Benson completed a move to League One club Charlton Athletic. After making 27 appearances and scoring 10 goals for Charlton in his first season, Benson's first-team…

From Benson's arrival at Bedford Town in June 2018 until the summer of 2019, where he was a player-coach at Bedford, he worked at Luton Town's academy, coaching the U13 squad. From the summer 2019, he was hired as assistant to professional development phase lead coach, Dan Walder, helping with the U16s and U18s on a daily basis. He was appointed as academy manager at Luton Town in May 2023.

As of end of 2018–19 season

Dagenham & Redbridge

Football League Two play-offs: 2010 Conference National: 2006–07 Swindon Town

Football League Two: 2011–12 Football League Trophy runner-up: 2011–12 Luton Town

Conference Premier: 2013–14 Individual

Football League Two Player of the Month: February 2012 Conference Premier Player of the Month: December 2013