Ben Strevens

Ben Strevens

Strevens playing for Eastleigh in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Benjamin John Strevens [1]
Date of birth	(1980-05-24) 24 May 1980 (age 44) [1]
Place of birth	Edgware, England [2]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [1]
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–1999	Wingate & Finchley
1999–2006	Barnet	195	(42)
1999	→ Wingate & Finchley (loan)
2000	→ Slough Town (loan)	4	(2)
2001	→ St Albans City (loan)	3	(2)
2006	Crawley Town	15	(4)
2006–2009	Dagenham & Redbridge	111	(34)
2009–2010	Brentford	25	(6)
2010–2012	Wycombe Wanderers	76	(11)
2012–2013	Gillingham	12	(1)
2013	Dagenham & Redbridge	14	(1)
2013–2016	Eastleigh	120	(21)
2016	Whitehawk	12	(0)
2016–2018	Eastleigh	21	(1)
Total		604	(125)
Managerial career
2016	Whitehawk (caretaker)
2018–2022	Eastleigh
2023–2024	Dagenham & Redbridge
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Benjamin John Strevens (born 24 May 1980) is an English former professional footballer and manager who played as a striker or an attacking midfielder. He was most recently the manager of National League club Dagenham & Redbridge.

Playing career

Strevens began his career at Wingate & Finchley and in the 1998–99 season in the Isthmian League Division Three he scored 28 league goals coming joint second in the top scorers chart, helping the side to promotion. He was then signed by Barnet, ^[3] having scored 38 goals in 67 appearances for the Blues. ^[4]

He was then loaned out to Slough Town and then to St Albans City, ^{[5] [6]} before becoming a regular first team player for the Bees. He made 41 appearances in 2005–06 season for Barnet, by which point he was their longest serving player, but left the club at the end of the season, having scored 42 career goals for the club. ^[7]

He was the only player in the Barnet squad to be relegated to the Conference National in 2000–01 season, and then be re-promoted back into the Football League in 2004–05. He was picked up on free transfer by Crawley Town and scored his first goal for the club on his debut against Rushden & Diamonds. ^[8]

Strevens suffered a fractured cheek bone and damaged eye socket in Crawley's 3–2 defeat to Lewes in an FA Cup game in 2006. ^[9]

He signed for Dagenham & Redbridge in December 2006, ^[7] whom he was promoted with at the end of the 2006–07 season into League Two. ^[10] At the end of the 2008–09 season he signed for Brentford, along with Dagenham teammates Danny Foster and Sam Saunders. ^[11] He joined Wycombe Wanderers in 2010, ^[7] helping them to win promotion to League One in his first season, only to be relegated back to League Two the following year. ^[12] Strevens was then released by Wycombe in May 2012. ^[13] On 20 July 2012, Strevens signed a one-year deal at League Two club Gillingham. ^[14] He made his debut in a League Cup game on 14 August 2012, scoring his first professional goal for the club. ^[15] His first league goal came on 10 November away at Plymouth Argyle. ^[16]

After being made available for a free transfer from Gillingham by Martin Allen in January 2013, ^[17] Strevens signed for Dagenham & Redbridge on the January 2013 transfer deadline day. ^[18] On 7 May 2013, he was released by the Daggers due to the expiry of his contract ^[19] and joined Conference South club Eastleigh. Strevens played an integral part in Eastleigh's championship winning team in his first year at the club and their first season at Conference Premier level. ^[20]

He worked as player/assistant-manager under Chris Todd during the latter stages of the 2015–16 season and was caretaker manager for one National League match at Wrexham in August 2016, following Todd's departure and his replacement by Ronnie Moore. ^[20] Despite signing a further extension to his contract at the start of the 2016–17 season, ^[21] Strevens left Eastleigh by mutual agreement in September 2016 to rejoin his former manager Richard Hill at National League South club Whitehawk. ^[20]

After Hill left in November to join Aston Villa as a scout, Strevens was appointed temporary player/joint manager. ^[22] His first game in joint charge ended in a 4–4 draw, with Strevens having a last minute penalty saved by Gosport Borough defender Brett Poate, who had taken over in goal with his keeper off injured. ^[23] After two more games, Strevens returned to Eastleigh. ^[24]

Managerial career

On 5 November 2018, Strevens was appointed as permanent manager of Eastleigh after a spell as caretaker manager. ^[25]

On 26 January 2022, Strevens left the club by mutual consent with the club sitting in 14th place. ^[26] His last match in charge was a 1–0 defeat to Dover Athletic, the opposition's first victory in 364 days. ^[27]

On 10 March 2023, Strevens was appointed manager of his former club Dagenham & Redbridge. ^[28] He was awarded the National League Manager of the Month award for March 2024 having guided his side away from the relegation zone with an impressive run of form. ^[29] He left the club on 26 December 2024 after a poor run of results ^[30] left the Daggers five points above the relegation zone. ^[31]

Career statistics

Strevens playing for Eastleigh in 2017

As of match played 30 December 2017

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
Barnet	1998–99 [32]	Third Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1999–2000 [33]	Third Division	7	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	9	0
	2000–01 [34]	Third Division	28	4	0	0	2	0	1 [a]	0	31	4
	2001–02 [35]	Football Conference	24	9	2	0	—		4 [b]	2	30	11
	2002–03 [36]	Football Conference	23	9	0	0	—		0	0	23	9
	2003–04 [37]	Football Conference	39	9	3	0	—		3 [c]	1	45	10
	2004–05 [38]	Conference National	39	6	2	0	—		2 [d]	0	43	6
	2005–06 [39]	League Two	35	5	1	0	3	0	2 [a]	0	41	5
	Total		195	42	9	0	6	0	12	3	222	45
Slough Town (loan)	1999–2000 [5]	IL – Premier Division	4	2	0	0	—		1 [e]	0	5	2
St Albans City (loan)	2000–01 [6]	IL – Premier Division	3	1	0	0	—		3 [f]	2	6	3
Crawley Town	2006–07 [8]	Conference National	15	4	1	0	—		0	0	16	4
Dagenham & Redbridge	2006–07 [8]	Conference National	21	6	—		—		—		21	6
	2007–08 [40]	League Two	46	15	3	3	1	1	2 [a]	1	52	20
	2008–09 [41]	League Two	46	14	3	1	1	0	2 [a]	0	52	15
	Total		113	35	6	4	2	1	4	1	125	41
Brentford	2009–10 [42]	League One	25	6	4	1	0	0	0	0	29	7
Wycombe Wanderers	2010–11 [43]	League Two	40	7	3	0	1	1	2 [a]	0	46	8
	2011–12 [44]	League One	36	4	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	38	4
	Total		76	11	4	0	1	1	3	0	84	12
Gillingham	2012–13 [16]	League Two	12	1	0	0	2	1	1 [a]	0	15	2
Dagenham & Redbridge	2012–13 [16]	League Two	14	1	—		—		—		14	1
Eastleigh	2013–14 [45]	Conference South	42	8	2	0	—		5 [d]	3	49	11
	2014–15 [46]	Conference Premier	45	7	3	1	—		3 [g]	0	51	8
	2015–16 [46]	National League	31	6	5	1	—		2 [d]	0	38	7
	Total		118	21	10	2	—		10	3	138	26
Whitehawk	2016–17 [46]	National League South	12	0	5	0	—		0	0	17	0
Eastleigh	2016–17 [47]	National League	14	0	—		—		0	0	14	0
	2017–18 [46]	National League	7	1	1	0	—		0	0	8	1
	Total		21	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	1
Career total			608	125	40	7	11	3	34	9	693	144

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. Three appearances, two goals in Football League Trophy; one appearance in FA Trophy
3. Two appearances in Conference National play-offs; one appearance in FA Trophy
4. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
5. Appearance in Isthmian League Cup
6. Two appearances, one goal in FA Trophy; one appearance, one goal in Isthmian League Cup
7. Two appearances in Conference Premier play-offs; one in FA Trophy

Managerial statistics

As of 26 December 2024

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record					Ref
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Eastleigh		8 October 2018	26 January 2022	154	61	41	52	039.61	[48]
Dagenham & Redbridge		10 March 2023	26 December 2024	88	28	26	34	031.82
Total				242	89	67	86	036.78	—

Honours

As a player

Barnet

• Conference National: 2004–05

Dagenham & Redbridge

• Conference National: 2006–07

Gillingham

• Football League Two: 2012–13

As a manager

Individual

• National League Manager of the Month: March 2024 ^[29]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN   978-1-84596-324-8.
2. Ben Strevens at WorldFootball.net
3. "PREVIEW: Wrexham AFC v Eastleigh FC". wrexhamafc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
4. "Wingate and Finchley Football Club – Ryman Premier League". wingatefinchley.com. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
5. "Slough Town FC". sloughtownfc.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
6. "St Albans City F.C. Statistics". statistics.sacfc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
7. "Ben Strevens | Football Stats | Eastleigh | Age 35 | Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
8. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
9. "Altrincham FC Official Web Site, Archived News". altrinchamfc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
10. "Football Club History Database – Dagenham & Redbridge". fchd.info. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
11. "Daggers trio join Brentford". The Guardian. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
12. "Football Club History Database – Wycombe Wanderers". fchd.info. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
13. "Relegated Wycombe Wanderers release six players". BBC. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
14. Gillingham | News | Latest News | Latest News | BIG BEN STRIKES ACCORD
15. "Bristol City 1 – 2 Gillingham". BBC. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
16. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
17. Gillingham give free transfers to Ben Strevens and Connor Essam and release keeper Ross Flitney
18. Daggers Sign Strevens
19. Daggers Announce Released Players List
20. Wendy Gee (13 September 2016). "Eastleigh bid fond farewell to Ben Strevens as popular midfielder leaves the club by mutual consent". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
21. "Stevens re-signs at Eastleigh". BBC Sport. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
22. Steven Coney (29 November 2016). "Whitehawk begin search for third boss of season after Richard Hill departs for Aston Villa". The Non-League Football Paper. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
23. "Gosportboroughfc.co.uk".
24. "Eastleigh: Ben Strevens returns to National League club as player". BBC Sport. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
25. "Ben Strevens: Eastleigh name interim boss as permanent manager". BBC Sport. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
26. "CLUB STATEMENT : BEN STREVENS". eastleighfc.com. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
27. "Dover Athletic 1–0 Eastleigh". BBC Sport. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
28. "BEN STREVENS ANNOUNCED AS DAGGERS MANAGER". daggers.co.uk. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
29. "Ben And Brown Are Your Big National League Winners!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
30. "Club Statement: Ben Strevens". Dagenham & Redbridge FC. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
31. "Dagenham sack boss Strevens after poor run of form". BBC Sport. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
32. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
33. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
34. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
35. "Ben Strevens | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2001/2002 | 1999-2019 | Soccer Base".
36. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
37. "Ben Strevens | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2003/2004 | 1999-2019 | Soccer Base".
38. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
39. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
40. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
41. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
42. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
43. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
44. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
45. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2013/2014". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
    "Hill hails 'fantastic' Eastleigh after Mangos given FA Cup chop". Southern Daily Echo. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
46. "B. Strevens – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
47. "Games played by Ben Strevens in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
48. "Eastleigh FC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 January 2023.

External links

• Ben Strevens at Soccerbase