Ben Heneghan
Personal information
Full name Benjamin John Heneghan[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-19) 19 September 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Fleetwood Town
Number 16
Youth career
2010–2012 Everton
2012–2014 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Stoke City 0 (0)
2014 → Droylsden (loan) 8 (0)
2014–2016 Chester 81 (6)
2016–2017 Motherwell 41 (1)
2017–2020 Sheffield United 0 (0)
2018–2020 → Blackpool (loan) 68 (3)
2020–2022 AFC Wimbledon 64 (4)
2022–2023 Sheffield Wednesday 10 (0)
2023– Fleetwood Town 20 (0)
International career
2015–2016 England C 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:42, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

Benjamin John Heneghan (born 19 September 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for Fleetwood Town. He previously played for Chester, Motherwell, Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as loan spells with Blackpool.

Career

Early years

Heneghan started his career at Everton, where he spent seven years.[3] In 2012, he made the move to Stoke City, where he was a regular in the Under-21 Premier League and had a loan spell at struggling Northern Premier League side Droylsden. He didn't make a senior appearance for Stoke and was released at the end of the 2013–14 season. He then spent time on trial at Oldham Athletic and Accrington Stanley.[4]

Chester

Heneghan joined Chester in August 2014, initially on non-contract terms.[5] On 16 August, he debuted as a half-time substitute against Braintree Town coming on at right back.[6] On 30 August, Heneghan made his first start for Chester, against Gateshead replacing captain Matty Brown. He maintained his place in the squad playing mostly as a right back. On 24 September, Heneghan scored his first professional goal, a 94th-minute winner against Cross-border derby rivals Wrexham.[7] Two days later he an agreed contract until the end of the season.[8] Heneghan switched to his preferred central back position in January, when Chester finally signed right back Ryan Higgins. On 30 March, Heneghan and Higgins signed new contracts until the end of the 2015–16 season.[9] Heneghan finished the season as a first choice centre back playing 44 matches and scoring eight goals, including valuable ones against Stockport County and Southend United in FA Cup matches.

Heneghan started the 2015–16 season building a strong partnership in the middle of the defence with the experienced Ian Sharps, but was sent-off in the fifth game of the campaign as Chester lost 5–2 to Woking.[10] On 19 September, Heneghan scored the winning goal against Eastleigh.[11] During the season Heneghan was reported to be attracting interest from clubs in the Football League and in Scotland,[12] though he had not ruled out remaining with Chester.[13]

Motherwell

On 23 June 2016, Scottish Premiership club Motherwell confirmed the signing of Heneghan on a two-year deal.[14] He made his début in a 2–0 home defeat against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup.[15][16] The defender spent a year in Scotland, playing exactly 50 games in all competitions, scoring one goal in a 2–1 home loss in the Scottish Premiership against Rangers.[17]

Sheffield United

On 31 August 2017, Heneghan signed for Championship club Sheffield United on a three-year contract.[18] He made his first and what turned out to be only appearance for Sheffield United in an FA Cup tie against Preston North End in January 2018.[19] He was transfer-listed by Sheffield United at the end of the 2017–18 season.[20]

On 3 July 2018, Heneghan moved to Blackpool on a season-long loan.[21] After a difficult start, Heneghan settled into a defence that regularly kept clean sheets and became a fans favourite by the end of the season.

On 23 August 2019, Heneghan returned to Blackpool on a loan deal until January.[22] In January, this was extended until the end of the season.

Heneghan left Sheffield United at the end of the 2019–20 season, having been released on a free transfer.[23]

AFC Wimbledon

On 19 November 2020, Heneghan joined League One club AFC Wimbledon, having been a free agent following his release by Sheffield United. The length of contract was not disclosed.[24] He made his debut for Wimbledon as a substitute against Rochdale on 21 November 2020.[25] In his second appearance for the club he scored his first goal, in a 2–1 defeat to Gillingham on 24 November.[26]

Sheffield Wednesday

On 14 June, it was announced Heneghan would join League One side Sheffield Wednesday following the expiry of his AFC Wimbledon contract.[27] He made his Wednesday debut, starting against Portsmouth on 30 July 2022.[28] In a match against Lincoln City on 22 October 2022, he would go on to pick up a season-ending knee injury.[29][30] Following promotion back to the EFL Championship it was confirmed that Heneghan would be released following the end of his contract.[31]

Fleetwood Town

On 21 September 2023, Heneghan joined Fleetwood Town.[32]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 January 2024[33]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 2013–14[33] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Droylsden (loan) 2013–14[34][35] NPL Premier Division 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Chester 2014–15[36] National League 38 5 4 2 – 2[a] 1 44 8
2015–16[37] National League 43 1 1 0 – 5[b] 1 49 2
Total 81 6 5 2 0 0 7 2 93 10
Motherwell 2016–17[33] Scottish Premiership 37 0 1 0 5 0 – 43 0
2017–18[33] Scottish Premiership 4 1 0 0 3 0 – 7 1
Total 41 1 1 0 8 0 0 0 50 1
Sheffield United 2017–18[33] Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 0
2018–19[33] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
2019–20[33] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Blackpool (loan) 2018–19[38] League One 42 1 3 0 3 0 1[c] 0 49 1
2019–20[39] League One 26 2 4 0 0 0 1[c] 1 31 3
Total 68 3 7 0 3 0 2 1 80 4
AFC Wimbledon 2020–21[40] League One 23 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 24 2
2021–22[41] League One 41 2 3 0 3 0 0 0 47 2
Total 64 4 4 0 3 0 0 0 71 4
Sheffield Wednesday 2022–23[42] League One 10 0 0 0 2 0 1[c] 0 13 0
Fleetwood Town 2023–24[43] League One 20 0 2 0 0 0 1[c] 0 23 0
Career Total 292 14 20 2 16 0 11 3 339 19
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
  2. ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in Cheshire Senior Cup
  3. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Blackpool" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Ben Heneghan". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Burr happy to have Heneghan on board". Chester Chronicle. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Burr brings in ex-Potters defender". Chester Chronicle. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Chester sign former Stoke defender Ben Henaghan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Match report: Braintree Town 1 Chester FC 3". Chester Chronicle. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Match report: Chester FC 2 Wrexham 1". Chester Chronicle. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Ben Heneghan: Chester defender signs new contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Ben Heneghan and Ryan Higgins sign new deals with Chester FC". Chester Chronicle. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Woking 5 Chester FC 2: Dave Powell's verdict". Chester Chronicle. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Eastleigh winner the perfect birthday gift for Chester FC defender Ben Heneghan". Chester Chronicle. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Chester FC: Ben Heneghan reported to be target for four Championship clubs". Chester Chronicle. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Chester FC: Ben Heneghan not ruling out remaining with Blues beyond this season". Chester Chronicle. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Motherwell confirm deals for Ben Heneghan, Richard Tait and Jacob Blyth". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  15. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (16 July 2016). "Motherwell 0–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  16. ^ McGarry, Graeme (18 July 2016). "Heneghan: 'Well focusing on positives as chances pass by in Rangers defeat". Evening Times. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  17. ^ Morgan, Richard (6 August 2017). "Motherwell 1 Rangers 2". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  18. ^ "Deadline day defender signs". Sheffield United F.C. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Sheffield United 1–0 Preston". BBC. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Clayton Donaldson: Sheffield United release striker and transfer list seven". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Ben Heneghan: Blackpool sign defender on season-long loan from Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Ben Heneghan: Sheffield United defender returns to Blackpool on loan". BBC Sport. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  23. ^ "Former Blackpool loanee Ben Heneghan released by parent club Sheffield United" – Blackpool Gazette, 26 June 2020
  24. ^ "Glyn signs ‘no-nonsense’ former Blackpool defender" – AFC Wimbledon, 19 November 2020
  25. ^ "Rochdale 0–1 Wimbledon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Gillingham 2–1 Wimbledon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Ben Heneghan agrees Owls switch". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday team news confirmed v Portsmouth as Darren Moore hands three debuts". YorkshireLive. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Ben Heneghan suffers injury blow". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Ben Heneghan reveals 'milestone' in recovery from long-term injury". Football League World. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Owls retained list confirmed". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  32. ^ "Town sign experienced defender Ben Heneghan to the ranks". Fleetwood Town Official Site. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g "B.Heneghan". Soccerway. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  34. ^ https://www.thenpl.co.uk/archive1996-match-info/results/91671/2014-04
  35. ^ https://www.thenpl.co.uk/archive1996-match-info/results/91671/2014-03
  36. ^ http://www.chester-city.co.uk/stats_first1415.asp
  37. ^ http://www.chester-city.co.uk/stats_first1516.asp
  38. ^ "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  39. ^ "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  43. ^ "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

External links

Fleetwood Town F.C. – current squad
Categories