Ben Hinchliffe

Ben Hinchliffe (born 9 October 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club Stockport County.

Not to be confused with Ben Hinchliffe (footballer, born 1997).

Ben Hinchliffe
Ben Hinchliffe celebrating winning the National League North with Stockport County in 2019
Personal information
Full name Ben Hinchliffe[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-09) 9 October 1987[2]
Place of birth Preston, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper[4]
Team information
Current team
 Stockport County
Number 1
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Preston North End 0 (0)
2006 → Kendal Town (loan)
2007 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2 (0)
2007–2008 Derby County 0 (0)
2008–2009 Oxford United 7 (0)
2009 → Worcester City (loan)
2009 → Kendal Town (loan)
2009–2011 Bamber Bridge
2011–2012 Northwich Victoria
2012–2016 AFC Fylde 76 (0)
2016– Stockport County 285[5] (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:28, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Hinchliffe was born in Preston, Lancashire.[6]

Career

Preston North End

In April 2006, Hinchliffe was given a one-year professional contract with Preston North End after impressing in the youth and reserve teams.[7] He was loaned out to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Kendal Town at the start of the 2006–07 season. Hinchliffe made 10 appearances, giving some impressive performances before returning to Deepdale in October 2006, and needed knee surgery after picking an injury.[8]

Tranmere Rovers

On recovery, in February 2007, Hinchliffe joined League One team Tranmere Rovers on loan originally for one month as cover after John Achterberg picked up a knee injury,[9] though this was twice extended, initially for another month[10] and then until the end of the season.[11] Hinchliffe made his Tranmere and Football League debut on 28 April 2007, as a 21st minute substitute in the 1–1 draw versus Crewe Alexandra, following fellow goalkeeper Gavin Ward's dismissal for handling outside the box.,[12] Hinchliffe made his full a week later in a 3–1 victory versus Brentford.,[13] his last game at the club. Upon his return to Preston, Hinchliffe was released, along with five other players, on 8 May 2007.[14]

Derby County

On 10 July 2007, Hinchliffe joined newly promoted Premier League side Derby County on a two-year contract, teaming up with former Preston North End manager Billy Davies. He was released from his contract at the end of the 2007/08 season by new manager Paul Jewell.

Move into Non-League

He subsequently joined Oxford United on non-contract terms.[15] After leaving Oxford, Hinchliffe spent time playing for Worcester City and again for Kendal Town[16] before joining Bamber Bridge. In June 2011 he joined Northwich Victoria.[17] He moved on to AFC Fylde in May 2012.[18]

Stockport County

In May 2016, Hinchliffe joined Stockport County[19] and kept 29 clean sheets in his first two seasons with the club.[20] Hinchliffe played every league match as County took the National League North title in 2018–19 and was selected in the league's team of the season.[21] He remained number one choice at Edgeley Park throughout the entirety of County's 2nd stay in the National League. In the 2020–21 season Hinchliffe was selected in the National League team of the season, despite County missing out on promotion, losing in the play-offs to Hartlepool United.[22] Hinchliffe was an integral part of County's title-winning season in 2021–22, a season in which he surpassed the 100 clean sheet barrier, becoming the first goalkeeper in the clubs history to reach such a milestone.[23] He kept another 5 clean sheets as County secured the title with a 2–0 home win against FC Halifax Town.[24]

At the start of the following season he was criticised by manager Dave Challinor for a poor performance after Stockport lost their first League Two game 3–2 at home to Barrow on 30 July 2022.[25] After an injury to on-loan keeper Vítězslav Jaroš, Hinchliffe returned to keep five consecutive clean sheets to help County move clear of the bottom of the table in October. On 20 May 2023, he saved two penalties as Stockport defeated Salford City 3–1 on penalties to go through to the play-off final.[26] During the 2022/2023 season Hinchliffe played enough games to trigger an automatic one-year extension to his contract.[27]

Honours

Stockport County

Individual

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/06/2016 and 30/06/2016". The Football Association. p. 5. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. "B. Hinchliffe: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  3. "Ben Hinchliffe: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  4. "Ben Hinchliffe". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  5. "B. Hinchliffe: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  6. "Ben Hinchliffe". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  7. "Preston offer contracts to trio". BBC Sport. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  8. "Preston midfielder in Kendal move". BBC Sport. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  9. "Tranmere snap up Preston keeper". BBC Sport. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  10. "Tranmere keep PNE keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 22 March 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  11. "Hinchliffe extends Tranmere stay". Sporting Life. 24 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  12. "Crewe 1–1 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 28 April 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  13. "Tranmere 3–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  14. "Preston boss lets five players go". BBC Sport. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  15. "Foster signs new Oxford contract". BBC Sport. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  16. "Latest Transfers". Non League Daily. 29 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  17. "Northwich Victoria agree transfer of Ben Hinchliffe from Bamber Bridge". Northwich Guardian. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  18. "Coasters Sign Keeper Hincliffe". NonLeagueDaily.com. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  19. "Stockport County sign experienced AFC Fylde goalkeeper". Quays News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  20. "Ben Hinchliffe – Player Profile". Stockport County F.C. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  21. "National League Team of the Season". thenationalleague.org.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  22. "2020/21 National League Team of the Season". thenationalleague.org.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  23. "Ben Hinchliffe 100 Clean Sheets". Retrieved 26 March 2022 – via Twitter.
  24. "Match Report: County 2–0 Halifax Town". Stockport County F.C. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  25. Dave Challinor Post-Match Interview – Barrow AFC, retrieved 30 July 2022
  26. "Stockport 2–1 Salford (2–2 agg): Hatters win on penalties to reach League Two play-off final". BBC Sport. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  27. "Stockport County Retained List". Stockport County F.C. 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  28. "National League: 2021/22: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
    "Stockport: Squad details: 2021/22". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  29. "Ben Hinchliffe – Player Profile". Stockport County F.C. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  30. Lomas, John (8 June 2015). "Conference North Team of the Year". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. London: Johnston Press. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  31. "Trio Win Awards". AFC Fylde. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  32. Sam Elliott (10 May 2019). "The Team of the Season for the Vanarama National League North have been announced". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  33. Oliver Osborne (19 June 2021). "The Team of the Season for the Vanarama National League have been announced". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
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