BENNETT, Neil Robert
born. 29.10.1980, Dewsbury, England
Goalkeeper. Bennett began his career as a trainee with Sheffield Wednesday, but was released never having played in their first team. He moved into part-time football with English non-league side Ossett Town, beofre moving to north to Airdrieonians. He was signed by future Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall when the Diamonds were sturggling to field a full side. Season 2001-02 saw h
im make 11 appearances for the Diamonds as they pushed champion’s Partick Thistlea all the way to the title. Airdrieonians folded in the summer of 2002 and Bennett moved south to Barrow. He strtaed in the first team at Barrow but by November he had been released. He then had unsuccessfull spells at Bradford City and Rochdale AFC. In July 2003 he moved to League of Ireland side Derry City, during a successful trial he played in the Candymen’s centenary game aginst a start studded Barcelona (where Thistle & Derry City legend Johnny MacKenzie was guest of honor) and also played against Apoel Nicosia in the UEFA Cup, but he could not reach agreement with the club over a contract and he returned to Lanarkshire and signed for Albion Rovers. He spent season 2003-04 in Coatbridge making 27 appearances for the Rovers. He returned to full-time football when he signed an initial six month contract for now 1st Division Partick Thistle in July 2004. Bennett was 3rd choice keeper behind Kenny Arthur and Stephen Pinkowski. He had a loan spell of a few days at Forfar Athletic with a injury to Pinkowski forcing his recall, he never managed a game for Forfar. His only game for the Jags top team came when new manger Dick Campbell , played him in a 2-1 defeat to Raith Rovers in March, this game hit the headlines because for some of the non playing Jags squad going to a near by pub to watch the grand national, this resulted in 3 players being disciplined by the club. Bennett did enough in this game to impress manager Campbell who handed him a new 1 year contract. The following pre-season he was vying for the gloves with Arthur and replaced Arthur three times in pre-season games, he started one game a 4-0 mauling away to Brechin City, shortly after this he returned to England. He rejoined Northern Premier League side Ossett Town where he remained until moving to local rivals Ossett Albion in December 2006.