Graham Benstead

Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, Benstead began his career as a part-time player at Wimbledon and then entered the youth system at Queens Park Rangers.^[4][5] He signed his first professional contract in 1981.^[5] He had to wait until 8 January 1983 to make what would be his only appearance for the club, which came with a start in a 3–2 FA Cup third round defeat to West Bromwich Albion.^[6] After a loan spell with Norwich City late in the 1984–85 season, Benstead joined the newly relegated Second Division club at the end of the campaign for an initial £10,000 fee, with up to £35,000 in add-ons.^[7]

After promotion straight back to the First Division in 1985–86 and in the face of competition from new £100,000 signing Bryan Gunn, Benstead began the 1986–87 season as Norwich City's first-choice goalkeeper, but a shoulder injury suffered in November 1986 effectively ended his Carrow Road career.^[7] After loan spells with Colchester United and Sheffield United, he joined the latter club on a permanent contract for a £35,000 fee in 1988.^[5]

Benstead was a regular for Sheffield United during the 1988–89 season, at the end of which the club celebrated promotion to the Second Division after a second-place finish.^[5][8] He lost his place to Simon Tracey during the 1989–90 season and made just one further appearance for the club before moving to Third Division Brentford in July 1990 for a £60,000 fee,^[9] with a further £10,000 to be paid after 25 appearances.^[5] Benstead had a successful first season with Brentford, missing just one match, keeping 23 clean sheets and winning the club's Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards.^[10][11][12] Despite suffering from hamstring and knee injuries,^[13] things were even better during the 1991–92 season, when the Bees finished the campaign as champions of the Third Division.^[11][14]

Despite missing four months of the 1992–93 First Division season with knee ligament damage and a hamstring injury,^[15] Benstead made 32 appearances during the campaign,^[11] which ended with relegation straight back to the Second Division.^[14] Benstead rejected the new contract offered to him during the 1993 off-season and was made available for loan.^[16] He failed to see eye-to-eye with new manager David Webb and made just seven early-1993–94 season appearances before joining Conference high-flyers Kettering Town on loan in October 1993.^[5][17] The deal was made permanent in December 1993, with Benstead signing on a free transfer.^[17] Benstead made 144 appearances during just over three seasons at Griffin Park.^[5]

Benstead's 18 months with Conference club Kettering ended with second and sixth-place finishes respectively and he dropped down to the Southern League Premier Division to move to Northamptonshire rivals Rushden & Diamonds in June 1995.^[18][19] He had an excellent 1995–96 season, helping the club to the Premier Division title and promotion to the Conference.^[19][20] Benstead made just seven appearances during the 1996–97 season and had a non-playing spell with Kingstonian,^[21] before making a surprise return to Brentford in July 1997, as player/goalkeeping coach on a week-to-week contract.^[19][22][23] Minor surgery required by first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Dearden meant that Benstead made his second debut for the club in a 3–1 defeat to York City on 11 October 1997.^[23][24] He made one further appearance in an FA Cup first round replay versus former club Colchester United on 25 November,^[24] before being released by new manager Micky Adams in January 1998.^[23]

Benstead joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Basingstoke Town in 1998 and wound down his career with spells at Chertsey Town, Farnborough Town and Stevenage Borough.^[23]

Benstead was capped once by England youth and won three caps for England Semi-Pro in 1994.^[22][25][26]

Benstead has worked as a goalkeeping coach at Brentford, Basingstoke Town, Chertsey Town, Farnborough Town, Stevenage Borough and Frimley Green.^[3][23][27] He served as caretaker manager of Farnborough Town for one match and in 2004 was assistant to manager Graham Westley at Stevenage Borough.^[27][28]

Benstead works as a self-employed painter and decorator.^[29]