Steven Bennett (footballer)

Steven Bennett (born 21 November 1991) is an English former footballer who played as a striker in the Football League.

Steven Bennett
Personal information
Full name Steven Bennett
Date of birth (1991-11-21) 21 November 1991 (age 33)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Barnsley 4 (0)
2020–2021 Wombwell Town 4 (3)
Ossett Town
Athersley Recreation
Grimethorpe LLUK
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:49, 15 July 2021 (UTC)

Career

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Bennett made his debut for Barnsley on 26 December 2010, in the Football League Championship match against Burnley, coming on as a second-half substitute for Andy Gray. He made three more appearances for Barnsley before being released by the club in May 2011 with four other players.[1]

Following his departure from Barnsley, Bennett played for non-league sides Ossett Town, Athersley Recreation[citation needed], Grimethorpe LLUK.

He joined Wombwell Town at the start of the 2021–21 season and scored three times in four appearances for the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League side.[2][3]

Personal life

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He is the younger brother of former Lincoln City footballer Lee Bennett. The duo played together at Ossett Town, Athersley Recreation and Wombwell Town.[4]

Later life

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In 2013 Bennett was jailed for three years for robbery and affray; after his release, he worked in telecoms.[5]

In September 2019, Bennett was driving an HGV on the M56 near Lymm when he caused a chain reaction crash; two people died and five were injured.[6][7] He was charged in July 2020 with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.[6] In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of death by careless driving;[8] the following August, at the start of his scheduled trial on the two charges of causing death by dangerous driving, he changed his plea to guilty.[7][9] The court heard evidence that he had been distracted by his mobile phone, which he had been plugging and unplugging on its charger while using it as a satnav. On 16 September 2021, Bennett was sentenced to five years in prison and his licence was suspended.[5][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Martin Devaney is among five players let go by Barnsley". BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Growing Strong in Uncertain Times – A 2020/21 Review". Wombwell Town FC.
  3. ^ "A-Z OF WOMBWELL TOWN PLAYERS". Wombwell Town FC.
  4. ^ "Growing Strong in Uncertain Times – A 2020/21 Review". Wombwell Town FC.
  5. ^ a b Chris Slater (16 September 2021). "Ex-footballer who killed Manchester couple after ploughing into them on M56 while trying to use his phone as a sat nav is jailed". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b Adam Everett (30 July 2020). "Ex-footballer charged with causing deaths of married couple by dangerous driving". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Steven Bennett: Ex-footballer lorry driver jailed for fatal crash". BBC News. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  8. ^ Luke Traynor (2 September 2020). "Former Barnsley footballer admits 'careless driving' deaths of married couple". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  9. ^ Nathan Okell (9 August 2021). "Ex-footballer admits causing deaths by dangerous driving on M56". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
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