Harry Benson (footballer)

Harry Lewis Benson (22 January 1883 – 1953) was an English footballer who played for Stoke, Northampton Town and Port Vale.[1]

Harry Benson

Personal information
Full name	Harry Lewis Benson[1]
Date of birth	22 January 1883
Place of birth	Hartshill, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death	1953 (aged 70)[1]
Position(s)	Full-back
Youth career
	Shelton Albion
	Porthill
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1901–1907	Stoke	87	(0)
1907–1908	Northampton Town
1908–1911	Port Vale	43	(0)
Total		130+	(0+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Benson played for non-league Shelton Albion and Porthill, before joining local the Football League side Stoke in 1901.[1] It took him three seasons before he could become a regular under Horace Austerberry; he took over from the injured Charlie Burgess in 1904–05, making 27 appearances.[1] He partnered Burgess in 1905–06 with the pair missing only five games between them.[1] He played six matches in 1906–07 as Stoke were relegated from the First Division, and then departed the Victoria Ground. Benson then moved to Southern League side Northampton Town. He then moved onto the newly reformed Port Vale in December 1908.[2] His first game was against the reserve outfit of Stoke, Vale's rivals and Benson's old club; Vale lost 2–1.[2] He was their first choice left-back between December 1908 and December 1910, but was released in 1911 with 43 North Staffs League appearances to his name.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke	1901–02	First Division	1	0	0	0	1	0
	1902–03	First Division	6	0	0	0	6	0
	1903–04	First Division	13	0	0	0	13	0
	1904–05	First Division	25	0	2	0	27	0
	1905–06	First Division	36	0	2	0	38	0
	1906–07	First Division	6	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		87	0	4	0	91	0
Port Vale	1908–09	North Staffs League	14	0	0	0	14	0
	1909–10	North Staffs League	18	0	0	0	18	0
	1910–11	North Staffs League	11	0	0	0	11	0
	Total		43	0	0	0	43	0
Career total			130	0	4	0	134	0

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 26. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
3. Harry Benson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)