Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Gary Michael Bennett | ||
Date of birth | 20 September 1963 | ||
Place of birth | Kirkby, Lancashire, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
Playing position | Striker | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Skelmersdale United | |||
Kirkby Town | |||
1984–1985 | Wigan Athletic | 20 | (3) |
1985–1988 | Chester City | 126 | (36) |
1988–1990 | Southend United | 42 | (6) |
1990–1992 | Chester City | 80 | (15) |
1992–1995 | Wrexham | 121 | (77) |
1995–1996 | Tranmere Rovers | 29 | (9) |
1996–1997 | Preston North End | 24 | (4) |
1997 | Wrexham | 15 | (5) |
1997–1999 | Chester City | 48 | (13) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Gary Bennett (born 20 September 1963) is an English retired professional footballer. He played for six different clubs in the Football League, with the majority of appearances being made for Chester City and Wrexham.
Bennett began his football career playing for Skelmersdale United and his local team Kirkby Town. Bennett began his full-time playing career when he joined Wigan Athletic, playing in the Preston League in October 1984. At the end of the season, Bennett appeared at Wembley Stadium for Wigan in the final of the Freight Rover Trophy, which ended in a 3–1 win over Brentford. However, Bennett was soon on the move as he followed manager Harry McNally to Chester City, where 'Psycho', as he was known, scored 13 league goals in 43 appearances as the club achieved promotion from Division Four.
Bennett scored 23 times in 1986–87 but his season was overshadowed by his tackle in an FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday that left opponent Ian Knight with his leg broken in 7 places. The matter was eventually settled out of court a decade later. In November 1988 Bennett moved on to Southend United for £25,000 (scoring against Chester in Southend's 4–2 win later in the month) but by March 1990 he was back at Chester, again for a £25,000 fee. He remained there until the end of the 1991–92 season, scoring the winner at Stoke City in April 1992 that effectively sealed Division Three survival for Chester.