Ben Goodliffe
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben David Goodliffe (born 19 June 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Southend United
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ben David Goodliffe[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 June 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Watford, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Southend United | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | |||
| –2016 | Boreham Wood | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2017 | Boreham Wood | 4 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 33 | (1) |
| 2019–2024 | Sutton United | 155 | (8) |
| 2024–2025 | Colchester United | 11 | (3) |
| 2025–2025 | → Southend United (loan) | 22 | (3) |
| 2025– | Southend United | 23 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| England Colleges | |||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:30, 8 August 2021 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Early career
Born in Watford,[2] Goodliffe played youth football for Tottenham Hotspur but was released at age 16 and joined Boreham Wood's academy.[3][4] He made his senior debut on 7 February 2017 in a 5–0 FA Trophy win over Sutton United.[4] He went on to make 4 further appearances for the club that season, all of which coming in the National League.[2]
Wolverhampton Wanderers
In March 2017, it was announced that Goodliffe would join Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract at the start of the summer transfer window.[5] He scored once in 12 Premier League 2 appearances across the 2017–18 season.[2] On 31 July 2018, Goodliffe joined National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until January 2019.[6] He made his debut on 4 August 2018 away to former club Boreham Wood, with Goodliffe sent off late on as Dagenham lost 1–0.[7] He scored his first goal for the club on 1 December 2018 with a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2–1 win over Hartlepool United.[8] In January 2019, his loan was extended until the end of the season.[9] He scored once in 33 league matches during the 2018–19 National League.[2] He was released by Wolves at the end of the 2018–19 season.[10]
Sutton United
In July 2019, Goodliffe joined Sutton United of the National League.[11] He scored twice in 35 league appearances during the 2019–20 campaign,[2] which was ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13] Sutton United were promoted to EFL League Two as champions of the National League at the end of the 2020–21 season,[14] with Goodliffe having made 34 appearances and scoring one goal.[2] He was also included in the National League team of the season as number 5.[15] On 29 June 2021, it was announced that Goodliffe had signed a new contract with the club, with his previous contract about to expire.[16] He made his League Two debut on 7 August 2021 in a 2–1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers.[17]
Colchester United
Goodliffe signed for Colchester United on 28 June 2024 on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[18]
On 10 August 2024, during Goodliffe's first league appearance for Colchester against Wimbledon, he scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the match before being forced off through injury after a coming together with a Wimbledon player. Colchester Manager Danny Cowley later confirmed that Goodliffe had dislodged three teeth and suffered two fractures in his mouth during the incident.[19]
On 25 January 2025, Goodliffe joined National League side Southend United on loan for the remainder of the season.[20]
Southend United
On 8 July 2025, Goodliffe signed for Southend United on a permanent basis for a free transfer signing a two-year deal with the club following his previous loan spell at the club during the second half of the prior season.[21]
International career
Goodliffe has captained the England Colleges team.[22] In March 2020, Goodliffe was named in the England C squad for the first time.[23]
Personal life
He is the son of Jason Goodliffe, who played non-League football and was the interim manager of the first team at Sutton United.[24] Goodliffe worked as a personal trainer whilst playing for Sutton United, prior to their promotion to League Two.[14]
Career statistics
- As of match played 7 February 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boreham Wood | 2016–17[25] | National League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2017–18[25] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[26] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 2018–19[25] | National League | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| Sutton United | 2019–20[25] | National League | 35 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2020–21[25] | National League | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22[25] | League Two | 43 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 51 | 3 | |
| 2022–23[27] | League Two | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[28] | League Two | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| Total | 198 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 225 | 9 | ||
| Colchester United | 2024–25[29] | League Two | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 4 |
| Southend United (loan) | 2024–25[29] | National League | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 4[c] | 1 | 23 | 3 | |
| Southend United | 2025–26[30] | National League | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 1[a] | 0 | 25 | 2 | |
| Career total | 255 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 292 | 18 | ||
- Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
- 3 appearances and 1 goal in National League play-offs, 1 appearance in FA Trophy