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Trevor Benjamin

Norwich Career: 2002 (5 appearances) (on loan from Leicester)
Current Club:
Date of Birth: 08/02/1979 (Kettering)
Nationality: English / Jamaican

Biography

Leicester striker Trevor Benjamin joined the Canaries on loan on 7th January 2002 to cover for the injured Iwan Roberts. He made his Norwich debut on 10th February against West Bromwich Albion.

His first club was Wellingborough Colts were he excelled as a striker gaining representative honours with Northamptonshire. His potential was recognised and played a friendly for Kettering Town, then a conference side, at age 14. After this he joined his brother, Richard, at Rushden, 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 their he scored 46 goals in 146 appearances.That earned him a £1.5million move to Leicester in the summer of 2000, but he has found life tough at the highest level, scoring just once for The Foxes in 38 appearances, although only 13 of those have been starts. After a frustrating spell on the sidelines, he joined Crystal Palace on loan in mid-December 2001, and scored one goal in six appearances there - in a 2-1 win at Bradford - before returning to Filbert Street.

"It's come out of the blue really but it's nice to get back out and play again and I'm looking forward to it," said Benjamin. "When I was a young lad with Cambridge I often used to come to here to play. My agent Neil Featherby is also from Norwich so I know quite a bit about the place. I obviously spoke to Neil beforehand and he said it was a good club so I'm delighted to be here. I've enjoyed playing in the Premiership because that's where everyone wants to be but at the moment it's not going for me and I've just got to keep my head up and get on with it. At Palace I was just enjoying playing again on a regular basis. I hoped I might be in the team when I came back but I wasn't - that's the way it goes in football, you have your ups and downs. I haven't thought about the long-term situation. I just want to do well here, get some goals and see what happens from then on." Benjamin went on the expand on his reasons for joining the Canaries on his own personal website www.eworldsports.co.uk/trevorbenjamin/ - "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to start playing regular football again, score a few goals and show everyone exactly what I'm capable of," he said. "I had no hesitation in joining Norwich because they are a big club who are flying in the First Division this season and I'm hoping that I can score the goals that will further cement their position at the top end of the table. I'm only here for a month but once that period comes to a close, I would like to think that I will have attracted the attention of a number of clubs - including Norwich - and maybe even Leicester, who haven't said that my career at Filbert Street is over."

"I needed this opportunity because playing five or ten minutes in the Leicester first-team was no good to me. I had become frustrated because I wasn't getting the opportunity to show Dave Bassett what I could do in the heat of a Premiership match, no matter how hard I was trying in training. However, with the club's current predicament at the foot of the table, I can understand their decision to opt for more experienced players, so hopefully this move is in the best interests of all parties. Naturally, I'm disappointed with the way things have turned out at Filbert Street. I was signed by Peter Taylor as a raw player from the lower leagues with bags of potential, and was hoping that over a period of time, he would shape me into an established Premier League striker. Unfortunately, his departure from the club left my own chances hanging in the balance, so I'm delighted to now have this second chance at Norwich. I'm now focused on playing well against West Brom, a club that was interested in signing me earlier in the season. That will add extra spice to the game for me and I'm sure The Hawthorns will be packed out. I'm already getting a buzz at the prospect of playing in front of big crowds again, so let's hope I can stick one in the back of the net."

Failing to score in his five appearances for the Canaries, and a return to fitness for Iwan Roberts saw Trevor return to Filbert Street on 11th March 2002. With Leicester deciding against retaining Trevor for the 2002/03 season, he needed to find another stage on which to display his talents and joined Gary Megson's West Bromwich Albion on loan for the remainder of the 2001/02 season.

Following Leicester's relegation and Micky Adams' appointment as Leicester manager, Benjamin re-established himself in Leicester's first team squad, playing in the early games of the 2002/03 season. However he dropped into the second string and by November 2002, he was a target for Sheffield United. He returned to the first team and put in some valuable performances as Leicester secured a return to the top flight. Previously an England Under-21 making his only appearance as a substitute against Mexico at Filbert Street, He made his international début for Jamaica on the 20th of November 2002 against Nigeria, in Lagos.

On 19th September 2003, Trevor joined Gillingham on a month's loan and immediately made an impact scoring in the 2-0 defeat of West Ham the following day. On 12th November, he embarked on another loan trip - this time to Rushden & Diamonds for a month. When this loan came to an end, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion on loan. Trevor settled well on the South Coast scoring five goals in ten appearances but he was recalled to the Walkers Stadium on 11th March to boost up a Leicester side fighting relegation and without Frank Sinclair, Paul Dickov and Keith Gillespie following the accusation of sexual assault that was brought against them in Spain. At the end of the season, he was linked with a move to Hull City, newly promoted from Division Three. Hull's manager Peter Taylor had signed Benjamin for the Foxes.

On 19th September 2004, Trevor was linked with a move to Watford according to the News of the World. The following day, he was linked with a move to Rotherham. In the end he did not move until the last day of 2004 when he joined Northampton initally on loan. He made his debut the following day, scoring the opener in a 2-0 victory. A permanent transfer was agreed on 20th January 2005.

On 15th February 2005, Trevor left Northampton, replaced initially by Danny Crow, to team again with Micky Adams now manager at Coventry City. He made his debut in a 2-1 win at Reading on 19th February 2005. On 8th July 2005, he was signed by Peterborough United on a three year contract. He returned to the Championship in mid-September 2005, joining Watford on a month's loan. He returned to London Road but on 30th January 2006, was loaned to Swindon Town until the end of the 2005/6 season.

He was linked with a move to Brentford in January 2007 but instead joined Boston on a month's loan in February 2007. On 22nd March 2007, he joined Walsall on loan until the end of the 2006/7 season. Returning to London Road, Trevor was given a free transfer in early May 2007. He joined Hereford on 2nd August 2007. He was named the League Two Player of the Month for September 2007 for scoring four goals in five games. His ten goals helped Hereford to promotion from League Two as they finished third in 2007/8 behind MK Dons and Peterborough.

However promotion proved to be a double-edged sword for Benjamin as he was one of four players released by The Bulls on 20th May 2008. The others were goalkeeper Ryan Esson, midfielder Jordan Fitzpatrick and striker Marcus Palmer.

After a trial with Cheltenham and Chester and interest from Crawley and Kettering, he signed on 15th August for Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity on non-contract terms. He played three games for Gainsborough Trinity before they parted company when it was discovered he was also training with Cheltenham Town. Benjamin then spent time on trial in September 2008 with Gillingham and Stevenage before joining Bournemouth where he played in a reserve team match on 23rd September against Cheltenham's second string which featured triallist Darren Kenton

On 10th October 2008, Trevor signed for Conference strugglers Northwich Victoria. He was released by Northwich after just three weeks as part of a cost-cutting exercise. He has been linked with a move to Kings Lynn and Kettering but signed for Hednesford Town of the Unibond Premier League on 14th November 2008. He left a few weeks later to join Wellingborough Town of the United Counties League. He made his debut for his hometown club on Boxing Day in a 2-2 draw with Raunds Town. 29 year old Benjamin has started up his own industrial cleaning business in Wellingborough and is playing for "the Doughboys" to keep fit before signing for a club higher up the football pyramid.

In February 2009, he signed for Kidsgrove Athletic of the Northern Premier League.

In July 2009, Trevor joined Conference newcomers Gateshead on trial. Gateshead boss Ian Bogie said: "Benjamin has played at the highest level of domestic football and at 30 should still have plenty to offer. His career has stalled over the past couple of years but he has proven ability and will come to Gateshead with a point to prove. He will play at Dunston on Tuesday and at home to a Sunderland X1 on Saturday. We are in the market for two more strikers and if he shapes up then he will have a future at Gateshead."

Trevor then trialled with Rushden & Diamonds, playing against Notts Forest in a pre-season friendly. A trial with Lowestoft followed at the beginning of August, with Benjamin playing in a 5-0 pre-season win over Diss. At the same time, he was trialling with Tamworth who then completed his signing on 7th August 2009.

After a short spell with Harrogate in the Conference North, Benjamin signed for Conference South side Woking on 20th November 2009. After three matches, he was released. In late December of 2009, Benjamin signed for Bradford Park Avenue, according to Wikipedia but this was proved incorrect and he in fact signed for bedlington Terriers.

In March 2010, Trevor returned to Norfolk signing for Ridgeons League side Wroxham on loan. He made his debut in the 2-0 home defeat to Needham Market on 13th March 2010.

At the start of the 2010/11 season, Benjamin joined Morpeth Town, of the Northern League Division Two, as Player-Manager. He left in May 2011 and then played for Seaton Delavel. He is now retired.


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