Ben Thompson (footballer, born 1995) explained

Ben Thompson
Fullname:Ben Rhys Thompson[1]
Birth Date:1995 10, df=y[2]
Birth Place:Sidcup, England
Height:1.8m (05.9feet)
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Stevenage
Clubnumber:24
Youthyears1:2012–2014
Youthclubs1:Millwall
Years1:2014–2022
Clubs1:Millwall
Caps1:142
Goals1:9
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Portsmouth (loan)
Caps2:23
Goals2:2
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Gillingham
Caps3:17
Goals3:1
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Peterborough United
Caps4:26
Goals4:1
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Stevenage
Caps5:14
Goals5:2
Club-Update:23:08, 1 December 2023 (UTC)

Ben Rhys Thompson (born 3 October 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Stevenage.

Early life

Thompson was born in Sidcup, south-east London.[3]

Career

Millwall

He made his senior debut for Millwall on 26 August 2014, as a 76th-minute substitute for Jimmy Abdou in a 0–2 home defeat to Southampton in the second round of the League Cup.[4] He was also an unused substitute for the final two games of the 2014–15 Championship season, which ended in relegation to League One. Thompson scored his first Millwall goal against League Two side Wycombe Wanderers, scoring from an excellent effort 25 yards outside the box in a 1–2 FA Cup loss.

On 17 August 2018, Thompson joined EFL League One club Portsmouth on a season-long loan.[5] Ben Thompson was recalled on 6 January 2019 back to his parent club Millwall.[6]

With his playing time limited to just 5 appearances in the 2021–22 season on 31 January 2022 it was announced by Millwall that Thompson had cancelled his contract by mutual consent.[7]

Gillingham

He immediately joined up with his former Millwall manager, Neil Harris, at EFL League One club Gillingham, signing a short-term contract until the end of the 2021–22 season.[8] He made his debut for the Kent side in a 1–0 away league loss to Ipswich Town on 5 February 2022.[9] Following the club's relegation at the end of the 2021–22 season, Thompson left the club.[10]

Peterborough United

On 14 June 2022, Thompson signed for League One club Peterborough United on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[11] He scored his first goal for Peterborough in a 3–0 win against Morecambe

Stevenage

On 28 June 2023, Thompson signed for League One club Stevenage.[12]

Style of play

Thompson has been described by Neil Harris, who has managed him at Millwall and Gillingham, as a player with "ball carrying ability, tenaciousness and aggression".[13]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall2014–15Championship00001010
2015–16League One28121006[14] 0362
2016–17League One38040203[15] 0470
2017–18Championship30322082
2018–19Championship13410144
2019–20Championship2810020301
2020–21Championship3032020343
2021–22Championship20003050
Total14291131309017512
Portsmouth (loan)2018–19League One2323110273
Gillingham2021-22League One1710000171
Career total1821214413010021916

Honours

Millwall

2017[16] Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Millwall . 23 September 2020 . English Football League . 42.
  2. Web site: Ben Thompson . 1 April 2019 . Millwall F.C..
  3. Web site: Ben Thompson . 1 April 2019 . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises.
  4. News: 26 August 2014 . Millwall 0–2 Southampton . BBC Sport . 3 May 2015.
  5. News: 17 August 2018 . Ben Thompson: Portsmouth sign Millwall midfielder on loan . BBC Sport . 17 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Cross . Huw Thomas . 8 January 2019 . 'Worse than a breakup text' - Pompey fans react to Thompson's Millwall recall . 28 May 2021 . This Is Local London . en.
  7. Web site: Ben Thompson departs Millwall. 2022-02-06. www.millwallfc.co.uk. 31 January 2022 . en-gb.
  8. Web site: Gills sign Ben Thompson .
  9. Web site: Report Ipswich Town 1-0 Gillingham. 2022-02-06. www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. en-gb.
  10. Web site: Retained list confirmed. www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 9 May 2022. 9 May 2022.
  11. Web site: Posh Secure Signature Of Former Lions Man. www.theposh.com. 14 June 2022. 14 June 2022.
  12. Web site: Ben Thompson signs for Stevenage. www.stevenagefc.com. 28 June 2023. 28 June 2023.
  13. 1490034905824247816. TheGillsFC. NH: "The players want to be structured and they want to learn and get better. "Thommo [Ben Thompson] is a top player; he hasn't played a lot of Football over the last 12 months but we saw glimpses of his ball carrying ability, tenaciousness and aggression.". Gillingham F.C.. Gillingham F.C..
  14. Three appearances in the Football League Trophy and three in the League One play-offs
  15. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  16. News: Hunt . Josh . 20 May 2017 . Bradford City 0–1 Millwall . BBC Sport . 27 May 2018.
  17. Web site: Ben Thompson named Football League Young Player of the Month. 2022-02-06. www.efl.com. en-gb.