Ben Garratt

Ben Garratt

Garratt with Crewe Alexandra in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Benjamin Jack Garratt [1]
Date of birth	(1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 (age 29) [2]
Place of birth	Market Drayton, England [1]
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.89 m) [3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Nantwich Town
Youth career
0000–2013	Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2019	Crewe Alexandra	223	(0)
2013	→ Stafford Rangers (loan)	8	(0)
2019–2023	Burton Albion	88	(0)
2024–	Nantwich Town	0	(0)
International career
2010–2011	England U17	3	(0)
2012	England U18	1	(0)
2012	England U19	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:52, 11 December 2022 (UTC)

Benjamin Jack Garratt (born 25 April 1994) is an English professional football goalkeeper who currently plays for Nantwich Town .

He began his career at Crewe Alexandra, making his senior debut in April 2013, shortly after finishing a loan spell at Stafford Rangers. He also won caps for England at youth level and was a squad member at two tournaments for the under-17's in 2011. He established himself as Crewe's first-choice goalkeeper over the next two seasons and then went on to be named as the club's Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. He left the club in May 2019 after 246 appearances, signing for Burton in October 2019.

Playing career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Market Drayton, Shropshire, Garratt graduated through the Academy at Crewe Alexandra to sign a 2+1⁄2-year professional contract in January 2013; manager Steve Davis noted that "we haven't had a goalkeeper to get excited about for a while". ^[4] He joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Stafford Rangers on loan the following month and made eight appearances at Marston Road. ^{[2] [5] [6]} He made his senior debut for Crewe on 27 April 2013, in a League One tie against Walsall, two days after his 19th birthday, in a starting 11 comprised completely of Academy graduates; he kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory at Gresty Road. ^{[7] [8]}

He faced competition from Steve Phillips and Alan Martin during the 2013–14 season and featured 27 times before he signed a new two-year deal with Crewe in May 2014; he was also named as 'Breakthrough Player of the Year' at the club's annual awards. ^{[9] [10]} At the start of the 2014–15 season he saw off competition from Scott Shearer to establish himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. ^[11] He was nominated for December's League One Player of the Month award after having kept a clean sheet against league leaders Bristol City and "producing stunning saves against both Oldham and Preston". ^[12] However he broke his leg during a defeat at Barnsley on 21 February. ^[13] Despite missing the final three months of the campaign with his injury, he was named as the club's Player of the Year and was also voted as Players' Player of the Year. ^[14] He was an ever-present in the 2015–16 relegation campaign and won his second consecutive Player of the Year award. ^[15]

In March 2017, Garratt signed a new two-year deal to stay with the "Railwaymen" until the summer of 2019. ^[16] He was an ever-present again in the 2016–17 League Two season. He featured 40 times in the 2017–18 season and on 5 May once again appeared in a Crewe starting 11 who were all Crewe Academy graduates – he was also one of two players (with George Ray) to feature in both starting elevens. ^[17] He was also named as the club's Community Player of the Year in March 2018. ^[18] He was benched in favour of Dave Richards at the start of the 2018–19 season, before winning his place back and making 42 appearances in all competitions. ^[19] However he was released by Crewe in May 2019. ^[20] Manager David Artell had offered him a new contract but withdrew the offer after Garratt missed the offer's deadline. ^[21]

Burton Albion

After training with Shrewsbury Town and playing in pre-season for Bury, Garratt trained with Blackburn Rovers and then Port Vale at the start of the 2019–20 season. ^{[22] [23]} He then signed for Burton Albion in October 2019, making his Burton debut in an EFL Trophy tie against Mansfield Town on 12 November 2019. He was released by the club at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Nantwich Town

On 22 February 2024, Garratt signed for Northern Premier League Division One West club Nantwich Town. ^{[24] [25]}

International career

Garratt won caps for England at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level, and was selected by head coach John Peacock for the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup squads. ^[26]

Style of play

Garratt has been described as a very consistent goalkeeper. His major strengths are shot-stopping, agility, decision making and distribution. ^[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 March 2021.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Crewe Alexandra	2012–13 [28]	League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2013–14 [29]	League One	26	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
	2014–15 [30]	League One	30	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
	2015–16 [31]	League One	46	0	1	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	49	0
	2016–17 [32]	League Two	46	0	2	0	2	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	53	0
	2017–18 [33]	League Two	36	0	1	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	40	0
	2018–19 [34]	League Two	38	0	1	0	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	42	0
	Total		223	0	8	0	6	0	9	0	246	0
Stafford Rangers (loan)	2012–13 [6]	NPL Premier Division	8	0	0	0	—		0	0	8	0
Burton Albion	2019-20 [35]	League One	3	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	4	0
	2020-21 [36]	League One	18	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	19	0
	Total		21	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	23	0
Career total			252	0	8	0	7	0	10	0	277	0

1. Appearance/s and goal/s in the Football League Trophy
2. Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.

Honours

Individual

• Crewe Alexandra F.C. Player of the Year: 2015, 2016 ^[15]

References

1. "Ben Garratt". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 460. ISBN   978-0-7553-6356-8.
3. "Ben Garratt". Burton Albion F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
4. "Crewe Alexandra: Ben Garratt potential excites boss Davis". BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
5. "Crewe keeper Ben Garratt joins Stafford Rangers". The Sentinel. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
6. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2012/2013 for Stafford Rangers". Stafford Rangers F.C. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
7. Scott, Ged (24 April 2013). "Crewe Alexandra: Dario Gradi's academy dream set to come true". BBC Sport . Retrieved 27 April 2013.
8. "Crewe 2-0 Walsall". BBC Sport. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
9. "Davis considering Garratt option". Signal 2. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
10. "Garratt Signs New Deal". www.crewealex.net. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
11. Powell-CREW, Dave (11 June 2015). "Crewe Alex keeper Ben Garratt ready for next level, says James Collins". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
12. "Garratt Nominated". www.crewealex.net. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
13. Morse, Peter (4 May 2015). "Crewe Alex awards are in safe hands with Ben Garratt". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
14. "Award Winners 2014/15". www.crewealex.net. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
15. "Ben Garratt - Goalkeeper - First Team - Crewe Alexandra". www.crewealex.net. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
16. "Ben Garratt: Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper signs new contract". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
17. "Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
18. "Garratt Chosen As Our EFL Community Player Of The Year". www.crewealex.net. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
19. Morse, Peter (11 February 2019). "Crewe Alex: David Artell's thoughts on keeper Ben Garratt". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
20. Morse, Peter (7 May 2019). "Crewe Alex: Ben Garratt released and George Ray to exit as retained list announced". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
21. "Artell: "Time Ran Out For Ben Over Decision"". www.crewealex.net. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
22. Morse, Peter (30 August 2019). "Former Crewe Alex keeper Ben Garratt linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
23. Baggaley, Michael (29 September 2019). "Former Crewe Alex keeper Ben Garratt is training with Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
24. "Dabbers sign former Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt". Nantwich Town. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
25. "Carden adds quality with Pratt and Garratt". Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle. 28 February 2024. p. 37.
26. "2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup squads" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
27. "Ben Garratt; linked with Tottenham and Aston Villa and ready to make the next step?". Proven Quality. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
28. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
29. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
30. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
31. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
32. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
33. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
34. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
35. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
36. "Games played by Ben Garratt in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 March 2021.