Craig Bentham
Encyclopedia
Craig Bentham is an English
footballer who plays as a midfielder
. He started his career at Bradford City
, where he had been from 2001 to 2008. He was loaned out to Farsley Celtic
of the Conference National
in 2008 and he subsequently joined them permanently for a second spell.
youth team in 2004 and regularly captained the reserves side in 2004–05
. He made his full debut on 26 February 2005 for Bradford City in a 1–1 draw with Walsall
, receiving a yellow card. He made only one more appearance that season and has continued to struggle to hold down a first team place. An injury in pre-season prevented Bentham from playing until an FA Cup
game in November of the 2006–07 season, before he became a first team regular during the latter half of the season when City were relegated to League Two
, playing in 18 games.
With his league appearances limited to just two substitute outings in the first half of the 2007–08 season, he signed a one month loan deal at Conference National
side Farsley Celtic
on 3 January 2008. Two days later he made a "very good" debut for Farsley but they lost 3–1 to Histon
after taking a first-half lead. The loan was extended beyond its initial one-month period, before Bentham scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 Conference victory over Woking
on 16 February 2008. He played 16 league games for Farsley Celtic and was later named the club's most influential player in their end of season player awards, but he returned to Bradford City in April 2008. In Bentham's absence, Farsley lost their final six games and were relegated from the Conference National to the Conference North
. He played once more for Bradford City but was one of 13 players to be released by manager Stuart McCall
at the end of the season. He played just 30 league games for Bradford in four years. Six weeks after his release, he rejoined Farsley Celtic, following Tom Penford another midfielder who had been freed by Bradford City.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He started his career at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, where he had been from 2001 to 2008. He was loaned out to Farsley Celtic
Farsley Celtic A.F.C.
Farsley Celtic Association Football Club was an English football club based in Farsley, in the City of Leeds. The club was known by the nicknames of the Villagers and the Celts; their colours were blue and white. Founded in 1908, the club spent their entire existence in non-league football, winning...
of the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in 2008 and he subsequently joined them permanently for a second spell.
Playing career
Bentham graduated from the Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
youth team in 2004 and regularly captained the reserves side in 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
. He made his full debut on 26 February 2005 for Bradford City in a 1–1 draw with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, receiving a yellow card. He made only one more appearance that season and has continued to struggle to hold down a first team place. An injury in pre-season prevented Bentham from playing until an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
game in November of the 2006–07 season, before he became a first team regular during the latter half of the season when City were relegated to League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, playing in 18 games.
With his league appearances limited to just two substitute outings in the first half of the 2007–08 season, he signed a one month loan deal at Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Farsley Celtic
Farsley Celtic A.F.C.
Farsley Celtic Association Football Club was an English football club based in Farsley, in the City of Leeds. The club was known by the nicknames of the Villagers and the Celts; their colours were blue and white. Founded in 1908, the club spent their entire existence in non-league football, winning...
on 3 January 2008. Two days later he made a "very good" debut for Farsley but they lost 3–1 to Histon
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
after taking a first-half lead. The loan was extended beyond its initial one-month period, before Bentham scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 Conference victory over Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
on 16 February 2008. He played 16 league games for Farsley Celtic and was later named the club's most influential player in their end of season player awards, but he returned to Bradford City in April 2008. In Bentham's absence, Farsley lost their final six games and were relegated from the Conference National to the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
. He played once more for Bradford City but was one of 13 players to be released by manager Stuart McCall
Stuart McCall
Andrew Stuart Murray McCall , usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former footballer who played in central midfield. He played a total of 763 league games during his career, the 13th highest of all British footballers...
at the end of the season. He played just 30 league games for Bradford in four years. Six weeks after his release, he rejoined Farsley Celtic, following Tom Penford another midfielder who had been freed by Bradford City.