Paul Benson

Paul Benson

Southend born Paul Benson started his footballing journey in Essex, joining his local club Southend, failing to break into the first team, therefore Paul took a few steps back down the Football Pyramid, signing for White Ensign, who at that time were competing in the Essex Olympian League. 

Paul was a relative late bloomer when it came to breaking into professional football, with his first professional forms coming when John Still, the Dagenham & Redbridge manager, who had quite the eye for non league talents. Paul was 26 and had just scored 107 goals in 65 matches in all competitions, with 96 of those goals coming in league matches. Paul went on to enjoy a successful 5 years at Dagenham & Redbridge following a tough start for Benson, where he endured a broken leg and therefore struggled to hold down a regular first team place. In the 2006/07 season, Paul made his mark, helping Dagenham & Redbridge to promotion to League 2 through his goalscoring exploits, notching 28 goals. Benson then seamlessly found his feet in League 2 with Dagenham & Redbridge, before helping them reach and win the playoff final, achieving a spot in League 1, defeating Rotherham with Benson notching a goal. Benson had made 175 appearances for Dagenham & Redbridge, notching 75 goals. 

His performances for Dagenham, drew the attention of multiple league clubs, with Benson moving to League 1 Charlton ahead of the 2010/11 season, where his first team chances were limited due to strong depth in the first team, after just 18 months he moved to Swindon on a part exchange deal in the 2011/12 January transfer window, falling out of favour and moving out on loan to Portsmouth in November of the 2012/13 season, followed by a loan to Cheltenham. 

Ahead of the 2013/14 season, Paul made a season long loan move to Luton Town, with the aim of joining permanently. He was joining up with his former Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still, who was putting together a team at Luton, who would go onto storm the National League, with Benson the final part of the puzzle. Benson became an instant fan favourite at Luton Town, with his strong performances, hold up play, and ability to find the back of the net, forming a tremendous partnership with Andre Gray, Benson scoring 17 goals, assisting a further 14 goals with Andre scoring 30 goals. After achieving promotion, Paul signed a 2 year deal with the Hatters. 

Unfortunately a broken leg, at home to Mansfield, limited his game time in the 2014/15 season, before a change of management, with John Still leaving and being replaced by Nathan Jones, limiting Benson's appearances in the 2015/16 although he still managed to finish the season with 5 goals in all competitions that season. At the end of the season, Benson was released, with his contract now concluded, moving back to Dagenham & Redbridge who had dropped back down to the National League, before dropping further down the leagues with stints at Boreham Wood and Bedford Town.

His move to Bedford Town was initially in a dual player and coach capacity, with Benson then retiring to become a youth coach at Bedford, before moving to Luton Town for similar coaching roles, becoming the Academy manager at Luton Town.