Ben Tilney Explained

Ben Tilney
Fullname:Benjamin Rowland Tilney[1]
Birth Date:28 February 1997[2]
Birth Place:Luton, England
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:Carrick Rangers
Clubnumber:39
Youthyears1:2004–2014
Youthclubs1:Milton Keynes Dons
Years1:2014–2018
Clubs1:Milton Keynes Dons
Caps1:6
Goals1:0
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Histon (loan)
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Brackley Town (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Brackley Town (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2018–2021
Clubs5:Larne
Caps5:51
Goals5:9
Years6:2021
Clubs6:Portadown (loan)
Caps6:24
Goals6:3
Years7:2021–
Clubs7:Carrick Rangers
Caps7:103
Goals7:4
Club-Update:1 June 2024

Benjamin Rowland Tilney (born 28 February 1997) is an English footballer who plays as a left wing-back for NIFL Premiership club Carrick Rangers.

Tilney has had previous spells with Portadown, Larne, Milton Keynes Dons, Brackley Town and Histon.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Tilney joined Milton Keynes Dons' academy in 2004, progressing through several age groups and featuring several times for the club's development squad. In an April 2013 interview, he revealed that Lionel Messi was his football idol, that La Liga was his favourite league and that his favourite position was in central attacking midfield.[3] In October 2014, he signed professional terms with the club until June 2016.[4] On 11 September 2015, he joined Southern Premier side Histon, initially on a one-month deal which was later extended.[5] On 13 October, he scored his first goal as a professional in a 4–1 win over AFC Rushden & Diamonds.[6] On 26 March 2016, Tilney joined National League North side Brackley Town on a one-month loan, and made three appearances for the club.[7] [8]

He made his first team debut for the Dons on 9 August 2016, and marked his debut with a 25-yard goal in a 3–1 win over Newport County in an EFL Cup match at Rodney Parade.[9] On 14 February 2017, Tilney made his league debut, starting in a 0–0 draw away to Bury.[10] On 14 June 2017, Tilney's contract was extended until summer 2018.[11] On 8 August 2017, Tilney re-joined National League North club Brackley Town on a season-long loan, but was recalled early in January 2018.[12]

Larne

On 8 June 2018, NIFL Championship club Larne announced that Tilney would be joining the club on 1 July 2018 following the expiration of his contract with Milton Keynes Dons.[13] Tilney scored his first goal for the club on 1 September 2018, the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over PSNI.[14] On 9 March 2019, Tilney scored in a 3–0 win over Ballinamallard United to clinch promotion for the club to the NIFL Premiership.[15] He finished the season with 37 appearances and 10 goals in all competitions from left-back and was named in the NIFL Championship Team of the Year for the 2018–19 season.[16]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milton Keynes Dons2014–15ben-tilney/371109">League One0000000000
2015–16Championship0000000000
2016–17League One6000213[17] 0111
2017–18League One0000000000
Total60002130111
Brackley Town (loan)2015–16ben-tilney/371109"/>National League North500050
2017–18ben-tilney/371109"/>National League North50002[18] 070
Total1000020120
Larne2018–19[19] NIFL Championship3093[20] 01[21] 03[22] 13710
2019–20ben-tilney/371109"/>NIFL Premiership210101000230
Total5194020316010
Career total6794041818311

Honours

Larne

2018–19[15]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Retained List 2015-16. English Football League. 3 January 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161202052144/http://www.efl.com/documents/professional-retained-report-2015-16549-3151378.pdf. 2 December 2016. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Ben Tilney. 11v11. 3 January 2017.
  3. Web site: 9 questions with Ben Tilney, a potential great. MattysFootyThoughts.wordpress.com. 30 April 2013 . 27 October 2016.
  4. News: Tilney turns pro, Ben Tilney, MK Dons, MK Dons Academy. 7 October 2016. www.mkdons.com. 21 October 2014.
  5. Web site: MK Dons youngster Ben Tilney joins Histon on loan. CitiBlog. 7 October 2016. 11 September 2015.
  6. News: Tilney extends Stutes stay. 7 October 2016. www.mkdons.com. 14 October 2015.
  7. News: Ben heads to Brackley. 7 October 2016. mkdons.com. 26 March 2016.
  8. News: Ben's Histon bounce back against Bedworth, Ben Tilney, Histon, Bedworth United. 7 October 2016. www.mkdons.com. 28 October 2015.
  9. News: Defender Tilney's memorable debut, MK Dons, Ben Tilney, Newport County MK Dons, EFL Cup. 7 October 2016. mkdons.com. 11 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Bury 0-0 MK Dons . Milton Keynes Dons Official Site . 14 February 2017 . 14 February 2017 .
  11. Web site: Five young pros to remain at Stadium MK . Milton Keynes Dons . 14 June 2017 . 14 June 2017 .
  12. Web site: Ben joins Brackley on loan . Milton Keynes Dons . 8 August 2017 . 8 August 2017 .
  13. Web site: Hassin returns & MK Dons graduates sign . Larne FC . 8 June 2018 . 9 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180611204433/http://www.larnefootballclub.co.uk/club/297253/News/view/956513 . 11 June 2018 . dead .
  14. Web site: Larne stay unbeaten after Newforge victory . nifootballleague.com . 1 September 2018 . 8 October 2018 .
  15. Web site: Champions Larne seal promotion to NI's top flight . ITV News . 9 March 2019 . 22 March 2019 .
  16. Web site: NI FOOTBALL AWARDS 2019: BLUEFIN SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE YEAR . nifootballleague.com . 3 May 2019 . 12 May 2019 .
  17. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.
  18. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy.
  19. Web site: NIFL - All Results . nifootballleague.com . 8 October 2018 .
  20. Appearance(s) in Irish Cup.
  21. Appearance(s) in NIFL League Cup.
  22. Appearance(s) in County Antrim Shield.