Ben Heneghan

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

Ben Heneghan
Personal information
Full name Benjamin John Heneghan[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-19) 19 September 1993
Place of birth Manchester, England
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
2010–2012 Everton
2012–2014 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Chester 81 (6)
2016–2017 Motherwell 41 (1)
2017–2020 Sheffield United 0 (0)
2018–2019 → Blackpool (loan) 42 (1)
2019–2020 → Blackpool (loan) 26 (2)
National team
2015–2016 England C 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:48, 09 July 2020 (UTC)

Career

Early years

Heneghan started his career at Everton, where he spent seven years.[2] 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.[3]

Chester

Heneghan joined Chester in August 2014, initially on non-contract terms.[4] On 16 August, he debuted as a half-time substitute against Braintree Town coming on at right back.[5] 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.[6] Two days later he an agreed contract until the end of the season.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] On 19 September, Heneghan scored the winning goal against Eastleigh.[10] During the season Heneghan was reported to be attracting interest from clubs in the Football League and in Scotland,[11] though he had not ruled out remaining with Chester.[12]

Motherwell

On 23 June 2016, Scottish Premiership club Motherwell confirmed the signing of Heneghan on a two-year deal.[13] He made his début in a 2–0 home defeat against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup.[14][15] 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.[16]

Sheffield United

On 31 August 2017, Heneghan signed for Championship club Sheffield United on a three-year contract.[17] He was transfer-listed by Sheffield United at the end of the 2017–18 season.[18]

On 3 July 2018, Heneghan moved to Blackpool on a season-long loan.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 10 March 2020[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup FA Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Apps GoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chester 2014–15 National League 38542- - --21448
2015–16 43110- - --30471
Chester total 8165200 0 00051919
Motherwell 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 3701050 - ---430
2017–18 410030 - ---71
Motherwell total 4111080 0 00000501
Sheffield United 2017–18 Championship 001000 - -––10
2018–19 000000 - -––00
Sheffield United total 001000 0 0000010
Blackpool (loan) 2018–19[23] League One 421003030–1[lower-alpha 1]0491
Blackpool (loan) 2019-20[24] League One 262410020–1[lower-alpha 1]1312
Blackpool total683413050–21803
Career total 1901011311050007222213
  1. Appearance in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Blackpool" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. "Burr happy to have Heneghan on board". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. "Burr brings in ex-Potters defender". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. "Chester sign former Stoke defender Ben Henaghan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  5. "Match report: Braintree Town 1 Chester FC 3". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  6. "Match report: Chester FC 2 Wrexham 1". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  7. "Ben Heneghan: Chester defender signs new contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  8. "Ben Heneghan and Ryan Higgins sign new deals with Chester FC". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  9. "Woking 5 Chester FC 2: Dave Powell's verdict". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  10. "Eastleigh winner the perfect birthday gift for Chester FC defender Ben Heneghan". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  11. "Chester FC: Ben Heneghan reported to be target for four Championship clubs". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  12. "Chester FC: Ben Heneghan not ruling out remaining with Blues beyond this season". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. "Motherwell confirm deals for Ben Heneghan, Richard Tait and Jacob Blyth". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  14. McLaughlin, Chris (16 July 2016). "Motherwell 0–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  15. McGarry, Graeme (18 July 2016). "Heneghan: 'Well focusing on positives as chances pass by in Rangers defeat". Evening Times. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  16. Morgan, Richard (6 August 2017). "Motherwell 1 Rangers 2". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  17. "Deadline day defender signs". Sheffield United F.C. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  18. "Clayton Donaldson: Sheffield United release striker and transfer list seven". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  19. "Ben Heneghan: Blackpool sign defender on season-long loan from Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  20. "Ben Heneghan: Sheffield United defender returns to Blackpool on loan". BBC Sport. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  21. "Former Blackpool loanee Ben Heneghan released by parent club Sheffield United" - Blackpool Gazette, 26 June, 2020
  22. "B.Heneghan". Soccerway. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  23. "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  24. "Games played by Ben Heneghan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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