| Scot Bennett | |
| Fullname: | Scot Andrew Bennett[1] |
| Birth Date: | 30 November 1990[2] |
| Birth Place: | Newquay, England |
| Height: | 1.78m (05.84feet)[3] |
| Position: | Defender / Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Cheltenham Town |
| Clubnumber: | 17 |
| Youthyears1: | –2008 |
| Youthclubs1: | Exeter City |
| Years1: | 2008–2015 |
| Clubs1: | Exeter City |
| Caps1: | 132 |
| Goals1: | 18 |
| Years2: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs2: | Notts County |
| Caps2: | 6 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2015 |
| Clubs3: | → Newport County (loan) |
| Caps3: | 12 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2016 |
| Clubs4: | → York City (loan) |
| Caps4: | 11 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2016–2024 |
| Clubs5: | Newport County |
| Caps5: | 288 |
| Goals5: | 9 |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Clubs6: | Cheltenham Town |
| Caps6: | 2 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 18:40, 17 August 2024 (UTC) |
Scot Andrew Bennett (born 30 November 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for club Cheltenham Town.
Bennett was born in Newquay, Cornwall[4] and started his career with Exeter City's youth system. He made his first-team debut for Exeter as a substitute in the 74th minute of a 1–0 home victory over Swindon Town in League One on 29 March 2011.
Bennett scored his first goal on 26 November 2011 in a 3–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers. Bennett signed a new contract, the length of which was undisclosed, with Exeter in April 2012.[5] In July 2014, Exeter manager Paul Tisdale announced that Bennett would succeed Danny Coles as captain.[6]
Bennett signed for newly relegated League Two club Notts County on a two-year contract on 27 May 2015.[7] On 8 October 2015, he joined Notts County's divisional rivals Newport County on loan until January 2016.[8] He made his debut for Newport when starting in their 3–0 away defeat against Mansfield Town on 10 October 2015. Bennett scored his first goal for Newport on 8 November 2015 in their 2–2 away draw with Brackley Town in the FA Cup first round. He was recalled by Notts County on 31 December 2015.[9]
On 11 March 2016, Bennett joined Notts County's League Two rivals York City on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[10] He debuted the following day when starting York's 1–1 home draw with Barnet.
Bennett's contract at Notts County was cancelled by mutual consent on 2 June 2016,[11] and the same day he rejoined Newport County on a two-year contract.[12] Bennett was part of the Newport squad that completed the 'Great Escape' with a 2–1 victory at home to Notts County on the final day of the 2016–17 season, which ensured Newport's survival in League Two.[13] Bennett signed a new two-year contract with Newport in April 2018.[14] He was part of the team that reached the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019. Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers 1–0 after a goal in the 119th minute.[15]
In June 2020 Bennett was released by Newport County at the end of the 2019–20 season due to the club's Coronavirus pandemic financial concerns.[16] Bizarrely, in July 2020 Bennett was selected as Newport's Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season.[17] On 4 August 2020 Bennett rejoined Newport on a one-year contract.[18] Bennett played for Newport in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 which Newport lost to Morecambe, 1–0 after a 107th minute penalty.[19] In June 2021 his Newport contract was extended for a further two years.[20] In June 2023 Bennett's Newport contract was extended for a further year.[21]
On 4 June 2024, the club confirmed that Bennett would be departing the club on 30 June 2024 upon the expiration of his contract.[22]
Bennett signed for newly relegated League Two club Cheltenham Town on 14 June 2024, linking up with his former manager at Newport, Michael Flynn.[23]
Bennett plays as a defender or midfielder.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Exeter City | 2008–09 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | League One | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13 | League Two | 43 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 6 | ||
| 2013–14 | League Two | 45 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15 | League Two | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 3 | ||
| Total | 132 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 141 | 18 | |||
| Notts County | 2015–16 | League Two | 6 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Newport County (loan) | 2015–16 | League Two | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| York City (loan) | 2015–16 | League Two | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Newport County | 2016–17 | League Two | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | League Two | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | League Two | 38 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | League Two | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | League Two | 38 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | League Two | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | League Two | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | League Two | 45 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 0 | ||
| Total | 288 | 9 | 27 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 352 | 11 | |||
| Cheltenham Town | 2024–25 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 451 | 27 | 33 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 528 | 30 | |||