Benjamin Matthew Hirst (born 21 October 1997) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Ben Hirst
Hirst training with York City in 2014
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Matthew Hirst[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-21) 21 October 1997 (age 27)[1]
Place of birth York, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
0000–2014 York City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 York City 3 (0)
2015Scarborough Athletic (loan) 3 (0)
2016 Pickering Town 0 (0)
Total 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hirst started his career in York City's youth system, making his first-team debut in 2014. He had a loan spell with Northern Premier League Division One North club Scarborough Athletic in 2015, before being released by York in 2016. Hirst had a short with Pickering Town in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, before retiring from football to pursue his business interests in Commercial cleaning. & Domestic Cleaning - Oven & Carpets.

Career

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Born in York,[2] Hirst played for York & District Schoolboys and was named their Most Valuable Player at an end of season awards ceremony in June 2013.[3] He later joined York City's youth system and became a first-year scholar in the summer of 2014.[4][5] He made his first-team debut aged 16 as a 73rd-minute substitute for Ryan Jarvis in a 1–1 away draw with Tranmere Rovers in the opening match of the 2014–15 season on 9 August 2014.[6] Having made five first-team appearances, he signed a professional contract with York in November 2014, tying him to the club until the summer of 2016.[7]

Hirst joined Northern Premier League Division One North club Scarborough Athletic on a one-month loan on 29 September 2015, with his chances at York limited.[8][9] He made his debut that day, as a substitute in a 4–2 away defeat to Clitheroe.[9] He returned to York in November 2015, having made four appearances for Scarborough.[10] Hirst was released by York when his contract expired at the end of 2015–16.[11]

After a successful trial, Hirst joined Northern Counties East League Premier Division club Pickering Town in the summer of 2016.[12][13] In August 2016, he retired from football after deciding to focus on his carpet cleaning business.[13]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
York City 2014–15[6] League Two 3 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 5 0
2015–16[14] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 0
Scarborough Athletic (loan) 2015–16[15] NPL Division One North 3 0 1[b] 0 4 0
Pickering Town 2016–17[16] NECL Premier Division 0 0 0 0
Career total 6 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 9 0
  1. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ben Hirst". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "York City FC youth team profiles". York City F.C. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  3. ^ "York & District Schoolboys under-15s footballers honoured". The Press. York. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ "York City boss waits on injured defender Dave Winfield". The Press. York. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  5. ^ Flett, Dave (4 November 2014). "Diego De Girolamo recalled by Sheffield United from loan at York City". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Games played by Ben Hirst in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  7. ^ "York City academy striker Ben Hirst signs first pro deal". BBC Sport. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  8. ^ Flett, Dave (30 September 2015). "York City striker Ben Hirst goes out on loan to Scarborough Athletic". The Press. York. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  9. ^ a b Baines, Will (29 September 2015). "Boro beaten by clinical Clitheroe". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Hirst and Assenso loans come to an end". Scarborough Athletic F.C. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  11. ^ Flett, Dave (10 May 2016). "Updated with Penn quotes: Dave Winfield, Russell Penn, Luke Summerfield and Michael Ingham offered new contracts at York City". The Press. York. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. ^ Appleyard, Ian (20 June 2016). "Former York City striker training with Pickering Town". The Press. York. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  13. ^ a b Appleyard, Ian (11 August 2016). "Former York City striker Ben Hirst unable to commit to Pickering Town". The Press. York. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Games played by Ben Hirst in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Boro knocked back by Clitheroe". Scarborough Athletic F.C. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
    "Defeat to the Mintcakes leaves bitter taste". Scarborough Athletic F.C. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
    "Boro beaten by Mossley". Scarborough Athletic F.C. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
    "Boro lose out to Radcliffe". Scarborough Athletic F.C. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Matches for Ben Hirst". Pickering Town F.C. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
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