Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ben Easton Close [1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 8 August 1996||
Place of birth | Portsmouth, England [3] | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [4] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Doncaster Rovers | ||
Number | 33 | ||
Youth career | |||
Portsmouth | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2021 | Portsmouth | 138 | (14) |
2015 | → Poole Town (loan) | 7 | (1) |
2017 | → Eastleigh (loan) | 9 | (0) |
2021– | Doncaster Rovers | 71 | (8) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:53, 24 September 2023 (UTC) |
Ben Easton Close (born 8 August 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.
Born in Portsmouth, Close signed a two-year scholarship deal after spending many years in Portsmouth's youth categories. [3] He was an unused substitute for a first team game on 3 May 2014 for a league game against Plymouth Argyle. [5]
On 9 May 2014, Close was offered a one-year professional contract with the club, alongside Bradley Tarbuck. [6] On 12 September 2014, he made his professional debut, coming on as a 43rd minute substitute for Nigel Atangana in a 3–1 away win against Yeovil Town, for the campaign's Football League Trophy. [7]
Close made his League Two debut on 16 September, again from the bench in a 3–0 home success against Dagenham & Redbridge. [8] After playing only 4 games for Pompey in 2016–17, on 31 January 2017, he joined National League side Eastleigh on loan until the end of the season. [9]
On 26 May 2017 Close signed a new one-year contract at Pompey, with the club holding an option for an additional year. [10] On 17 December, after becoming a starter under new manager Kenny Jackett, he extended his contract until 2020. [11]
On 2 March 2019, Close scored his first professional brace in a 5–1 home victory over Bradford City. [12]
Close signed for Doncaster Rovers on a three-year deal on 7 June 2021. [13]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Portsmouth | 2014–15 | League Two | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
2015–16 | League Two | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
2016–17 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
2017–18 | League One | 40 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
2018–19 | League One | 34 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 46 | 9 | |
2019–20 | League One | 29 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 44 | 6 | |
2020–21 | League One | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
Total | 138 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 190 | 18 | ||
Poole Town (loan) | 2014–15 | SFL - Premier Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Eastleigh (loan) | 2016–17 | National League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Doncaster Rovers | 2021–22 | League One | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
2022–23 | League Two | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
Total | 45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
Career total | 197 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 257 | 21 |
Portsmouth
Marlon Pack is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Portsmouth. He formerly played for Bristol City, Cardiff City and Cheltenham Town.
John Edward Marquis is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town.
Aiden Anthony O'Brien is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shelbourne. Born in England, he represented the Republic of Ireland national team. O'Brien began his career with Millwall, who loaned him out to five different clubs. After making 188 league appearances for Millwall, he moved to Sunderland, before moving on to Portsmouth and finally Shrewsbury, where he had two further loan spells.
Louis Clyde William Thompson is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive-midfielder for EFL League One club Stevenage. He is a former Wales U21 international.
Ashley Grant Harris is an English footballer who plays for AFC Portchester as a striker or winger.
Jed Fernley Wallace is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger for EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion.
Joseph Gerard Rafferty is a professional footballer who plays for EFL League One club Rotherham United.
Ryan Bird is an English footballer who plays as a centre-back or forward for Bracknell Town. He played in the Football League for Portsmouth, Cambridge United, Hartlepool United, Yeovil Town and Newport County.
Lee Evans is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Blackpool and the Wales national football team.
Marcus Anthony Myers-Harness is an Irish-English footballer who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Derby County, on loan from Premier League club Ipswich Town.
Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker. He also represented the England U19 side.
Colby David Bishop is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Portsmouth.
Adam John May is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for National League club Forest Green Rovers.
Connor Stuart Ogilvie is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back or centre back for EFL Championship club Portsmouth.
Dion James Donohue is a Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder and full back who plays for Cymru Premier club Caernarfon Town, for who he also serves as captain.
Thomas Richard Lowery is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Portsmouth.
Sean Aidan Raggett is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Rotherham United.
Callum Joseph Lang is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Portsmouth.
Joshua Saul Martin is an English professional footballer who last played as a winger for EFL Championship club Portsmouth.
Jade Jay Mingi is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Stockport County.