Ben Muirhead
Encyclopedia
Benjamin "Ben" Muirhead (born 5 January 1983) is an English
footballer who plays as a winger for Armthorpe Welfare
. He started his career with Manchester United
, but after he was released without playing a game he moved to Bradford City
. He played more than 100 games in four years at Bradford, before he moved to Rochdale
, initially on loan. After leaving Rochdale, Muirhead dropped into non-league, where he has played for Alfreton Town
, Farsley Celtic, King's Lynn
, Harrogate Town
and Buxton
.
, South Yorkshire
, Muirhead was a highly rated youngster and played for England schoolboys, including playing against an Argentina Under-15 squad starring Carlos Tévez
at Wembley. After beginning his career at Manchester United
where he failed to make a first team appearance, he moved to Bradford City
. He then moved to Rochdale
on loan and scored on his debut versus Notts County
, which Rochdale went on to win 2–1. Muirhead caught the eye of many League Two pundits during his loan spell and it was a disappointment when Bantams caretaker boss David Wetherall
recalled him.
He was released by Bradford City in May 2007. The following month, he signed a permanent deal with League Two outfit Rochdale. He scored the winning penalty as Rochdale reached the play-off final after defeating Darlington
. In June 2008, he was transfer listed by Rochdale. Muirhead left the club on 31 July by mutual consent, stating a wish to play higher up the Football League.
Muirhead was given a trial with Darlington, but in August 2008, he instead signed for Conference North
side Alfreton Town
under the management of Nicky Law, who had brought Muirhead to Bradford. After a month with the club, he was rewarded for a string of good performances by being given a one-year contract. He was released after one season with Alfreton because he required an operation which would keep him out of action for eight months. He signed for Conference North side Farsley Celtic
at the end of August 2009. He moved onto King's Lynn
before signing for Harrogate Town
in December 2009. Muirhead's time at Harrogate Town
would prove to be a very short one as on 8 March 2010, he left the CNG stadium and signed for Buxton
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays as a winger for Armthorpe Welfare
Armthorpe Welfare F.C.
Armthorpe Welfare F.C. are a football club based in Armthorpe, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.They were established in 1926 and played in the Doncaster Senior League before joining the Northern Counties East Football League Division Two North in 1983...
. He started his career with Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, but after he was released without playing a game he moved to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. He played more than 100 games in four years at Bradford, before he moved to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, initially on loan. After leaving Rochdale, Muirhead dropped into non-league, where he has played for Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
, Farsley Celtic, King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
, Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
and Buxton
Buxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
.
Career
Born in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, Muirhead was a highly rated youngster and played for England schoolboys, including playing against an Argentina Under-15 squad starring Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
at Wembley. After beginning his career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
where he failed to make a first team appearance, he moved to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. He then moved to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on loan and scored on his debut versus Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, which Rochdale went on to win 2–1. Muirhead caught the eye of many League Two pundits during his loan spell and it was a disappointment when Bantams caretaker boss David Wetherall
David Wetherall
David Wetherall is an English former footballer who played as a central defender, finishing his playing career with Bradford City at the end of the 2007–08 season. Born in Sheffield, he supported Sheffield Wednesday as a child, and started his playing career there...
recalled him.
He was released by Bradford City in May 2007. The following month, he signed a permanent deal with League Two outfit Rochdale. He scored the winning penalty as Rochdale reached the play-off final after defeating Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. In June 2008, he was transfer listed by Rochdale. Muirhead left the club on 31 July by mutual consent, stating a wish to play higher up the Football League.
Muirhead was given a trial with Darlington, but in August 2008, he instead signed for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
under the management of Nicky Law, who had brought Muirhead to Bradford. After a month with the club, he was rewarded for a string of good performances by being given a one-year contract. He was released after one season with Alfreton because he required an operation which would keep him out of action for eight months. He signed for Conference North side Farsley Celtic
Farsley Celtic A.F.C.
Farsley Celtic Association Football Club was an English football club based in Farsley, in the City of Leeds. The club was known by the nicknames of the Villagers and the Celts; their colours were blue and white. Founded in 1908, the club spent their entire existence in non-league football, winning...
at the end of August 2009. He moved onto King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
before signing for Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
in December 2009. Muirhead's time at Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
would prove to be a very short one as on 8 March 2010, he left the CNG stadium and signed for Buxton
Buxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
.