Ben Hockenhull

Ben Hockenhull

Hockenhull playing for Brentford B in April 2022.
Personal information
Full name	Ben William Hockenhull [1]
Date of birth	(2001-09-03) 3 September 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Crewe, England
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Position(s)	Central defender
Team information
Current team	Bury
Youth career
2007–2020	Manchester United
2020–2022	Brentford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2024	Tranmere Rovers	3	(0)
2022–2023	→ Warrington Rylands (loan)	19	(0)
2023	→ Chorley (loan)	1	(0)
2023	→ Spennymoor Town (loan)	6	(1)
2024	→ Southport (loan)	13	(0)
2024	Stafford Rangers	4	(0)
2024–	Bury	2	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:03, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Ben William Hockenhull (born 3 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central defender for North West Counties League Premier Division club Bury.

Hockenhull is a product of the Manchester United academy and began his professional career with Brentford. Following two seasons of B team football, his senior career began with Tranmere Rovers in 2022. After failing to break into the first team squad, Hockenhull dropped into non-League football in 2024.

Career

Manchester United

A central defender, Hockenhull entered the Manchester United academy at age six and progressed to sign a scholarship in 2018. ^{[3] [4]} Despite having one year remaining on his scholarship, he departed Carrington in July 2020. ^[5]

Brentford

On 23 July 2020, Hockenhull transferred to the B team at Brentford and signed a two-year contract, with the option of a further year, ^[3] for an undisclosed fee. ^[6] After an injury-hit 2020–21 season spent acclimatising to the rigours of professional football, Hockenhull progressed during the early months of 2021–22 to training with the first team and at times, captaining the B team. ^[7] He was a part of the B team's 2021–22 London Senior Cup-winning squad and transferred away from the club in May 2022. ^[8] During two seasons with Brentford B, Hockenhull made 54 appearances and scored one goal. ^[8]

Tranmere Rovers

On 27 May 2022, Hockenhull signed a two-year contract with League Two club Tranmere Rovers, effective 10 June 2022. ^{[9] [10]} Hockenhull made his debut with a start in a 1–0 EFL Trophy group stage win over Crewe Alexandra on 18 October 2022 and three days later, ^[11] he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Warrington Rylands on a loan that was later extended until the end of the 2022–23 season. ^{[12] [13]} He made 20 appearances in all competitions during his spell. ^[14]

Following 2023–24 pre-season involvement with the first team squad, ^[15] Hockenhull spent much of the regular season away on loan at National League North clubs Chorley, ^[16] Spennymoor Town and Southport. ^{[17] [18] [19]} Hockenhull make three late-season League Two appearances for Tranmere Rovers, ^[20] which were his last for the club prior to his release when his contract expired at the end of the season. ^[21]

Non-League football

In August 2024, Hockenhull signed a contract with Northern Premier League Division One West club Stafford Rangers. ^[22] After making four appearances, ^[23] he transferred to North West Counties League Premier Division club Bury. ^[24]

Personal life

Hockenhull is the son of former football manager Andy Hockenhull. ^[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 September 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tranmere Rovers	2022–23 [11]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	2023–24 [20]	League Two	3	0	―		0	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
Warrington Rylands (loan)	2022–23 [14]	Northern Premier League Premier Division	19	0	―		―		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	20	0
Chorley (loan)	2023–24 [26]	National League North	1	0	―		―		―		1	0
Spennymoor Town (loan)	2023–24 [26]	National League North	6	1	―		―		0	0	6	1
Southport (loan)	2023–24 [27]	National League North	13	0	―		―		1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	14	0
Stafford Rangers	2024–25 [23]	Northern Premier League Division One West	3	0	1	0	―		―		4	0
Bury	2024–25 [28]	North West Counties League Premier Division	2	1	―		―		0	0	2	1
Career total			47	2	1	0	0	0	3	0	51	2

1. Appearance in EFL Trophy
2. Appearance in FA Trophy
3. Appearance in Lancashire Junior Cup

Playing style

Hockenhull has been described as an "imposing central defender" with "the ability to win the ball in the air, but is also a talented defender with the ball at his feet". ^[29]

Honours

Brentford B

• London Senior Cup: 2021–22 ^[8]

References

1. "EFL Squad List 2020/21 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
2. Ben Hockenhull at WorldFootball.net
3. "Ben Hockenhull signs for Brentford B from Manchester United". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
4. "Man Utd Under-18 intake 2018/19 season". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
5. "Ben Hockenhull joins Brentford". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
6. "2020 Summer Transfer Window round-up". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
7. ""It's about having the mentality to keep going every day"". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
8. "Ben Hockenhull heads to Tranmere Rovers on permanent deal". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
9. "Ben Hockenhull joins Tranmere!". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
10. "Tranmere sign Brentford defender Hockhenhull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
11. "Games played by Ben Hockenhull in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
12. @RylandsFC (21 October 2022). "✍🏻⚽️NEW SIGNING⚽️✍🏻 We are pleased to announce the signing of @BenHockenhull1 from @TranmereRovers on loan until January. Welcome to the club Ben! #WeAreRylands" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 October 2022– via Twitter.
13. @RylandsFC (13 January 2023). "⚽️✍🔵 Ben Stays 🔵✍⚽️ We are delighted to announce that @BenHockenhull1 loan from @TranmereRovers has been extended to the end of the season! #WeAreRylands" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 January 2023– via Twitter.
14. "Warrington Rylands | Appearances | Ben Hockenhull | 2022–2023". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
15. "Ben Hockenhull recalled from Southport loan". Tranmere Rovers FC. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
16. "Ben Hockenhull makes short loan move to Chorley". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
17. "Ben Hockenhull makes Spennymoor loan move". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
18. "Ben Hockenhull joins Southport on short loan". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
19. "Ben Hockenhull's Southport loan extended to end of season". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
20. "Games played by Ben Hockenhull in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
21. "2023/24 retained and released list". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
22. "Squad Bolstered". Stafford Rangers Football Club. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
23. "Stafford Rangers | Appearances | Ben Hockenhull". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
24. "Welcome to Bury: Ben Hockenhull". Bury Football Club. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
25. Templeman, Ian. "Sandbach United starlets progress". www.nwcfl.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
26. Ben Hockenhull at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
27. "Player Details". Southport Central. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
28. "Ben Hockenhull". NWCFL. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
29. "Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup Final – Barnet F.C. vs Brentford B". 12 April 2022. p. 15. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

External links

• Ben Hockenhull at Soccerbase
• Ben Hockenhull at buryfc.co.uk