Chris Bennion (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Chris Bennion
fullname = Christopher Bennion
height = Height|m=1.88
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|8|30
cityofbirth = Edinburgh
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Dundalk
clubnumber =
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs = Edinburgh Celtic
Heart of Midlothian
years = 1999-2002
2001-2002
2002-2002
2002-2004
2004-
clubs = Middlesbrough
→ Scunthorpe United ("loan")
Scunthorpe United
Shelbourne
Dundalk
caps(goals) = 0 (0) 0 (0)
0 (0)
10 (0)
116 (0)
pcupdate =

Chris Bennion is a 27-year-old Scottish football player who currently plays with Dundalk. He has also played for Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe United and Shelbourne.

Football career

Chris Bennion is a goalkeeper. He began his career with Edinburgh Celtic as a youth and later joined the youth set up at Heart of Midlothian. In 1999 he joined English side Middlesbrough but made just one first team appearance and was loaned out to Scunthorpe United during his time at the Riverside Stadium. In 2002 he signed for League of Ireland side Shelbourne but was second choice keeper at Tolka Park. In 2004 he signed for Dundalk. He is a former Scottish schoolboys' international.

Middlesbrough

Bennion signed for Middlesbrough in 1999. However, he made just one first team appearance in September 2000 against Macclesfield Town in the first leg of the Worthington Cup Second Round. Middlesbrough won the game 2-1 thanks to two late goals from Noel Whelan and Mark Summerbell at the Riverside Stadium. He was fourth choice keeper at the club behind Mark Schwarzer, Mark Crossley and Marlon Beresford. He was then loaned out to Scunthorpe United due to his lack of first team action.

cunthorpe United

In September 2001, Bennion was loaned out to Scunthorpe United as cover for Tommy Evans. He did not make one single appearance for the Third Division side, however in March 2002 his loan deal from Middlesbrough was made permanent as he signed on a free transfer. Just one month later in April 2002, he left Glanford Park for League of Ireland side Shelbourne on a free transfer.

helbourne

In April 2002, Bennion joined Shelbourne in seek of more first team chances. For the remainder of the 2001-02 season, Bennion was deputy to Welsh keeper Steve Williams. He made just 10 league appearances for Pat Fenlon's side and won a League of Ireland Premier Division medal in 2003. He was second choice keeper at Tolka Park and moved to Dundalk in 2004 as a result of little first team action.

Dundalk

Bennion signed for League of Ireland First Division side Dundalk in March 2004. He chose the lillywhites ahead of Premier Division side Longford Town because he wanted regular first team action. He made his debut against Sligo Rovers in March 2004 at Oriel Park. Dundalk won the match 1-0 thanks to a Stephen Geoghegan goal. He played nearly every game during the 2004 season which was a poor season for the club. He is now in his fifth season with Dundalk and seems to have finally settled down in Ireland due to the fact he is a regular in John Gill's side. He has made over 100 appearances at the club.

Honours

*League of Ireland Premier Division: 1
** Shelbourne - 2003

External links

*soccerbase|22407