Ben Greenhalgh

DOB: 16th April 1992

Position: Attacking midfielder

Season of first appearance: 2021/22

Season of last appearance: 2025/26

Full Appearances: 222

Substitute: 17

Goals: 87

Also played for:

Welling United, Calcio Como, Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United, Concord Rangers, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Stenhousemuir, Hemel Hempstead Town, Dartford, Tonbridge Angels

Player Profile:

Left-footed midfielder and set-piece specialist known for his long-distance goals. 

Ben, from Orpington, started his career with Welling United’s youth team. As a teenager he worked as a body double in advertisements for Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa.

Aged 17, he entered the Sky One show Football's Next Star 2010, a reality show in which the prize was a six-month contract with Inter Milan. Ben won out of 2,000 entrants. The Inter manager at the time was Jose Mourinho and they had players such as Patrick Vieira.

After his contract at Inter Milan came to an end, Ben was offered another year by the Italian giants which included a four-month loan to Third Division Calcio Como, where he scored eight goals from 12 games.

Despite never playing a senior game during his time with Inter, Ben was presented with a Champions League Winners medal after being part of the travelling squad for the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final.

Ben then returned to the UK and spent time at Brighton & Hove Albion and Birmingham City. In 2012, he signed for Welling United before brief spells at Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United and Concord Rangers. He helped Concord win the Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs in 2012-13.

In June 2013, Ben moved to Scottish club Inverness Caledonian Thistle, managed by England legend Terry Butcher. The deal had been due to happen in February that year but was delayed by problems with Ben's international clearance.

After six first-team games for Inverness, Ben was loaned to Scottish League One club Stenhousemuir for the final weeks of 2013-14.

Ben spent two of the next three seasons at Maidstone United, with a year at Concord sandwiched between them. At Maidstone, in 2014-15 Ben helped the Stones win the Isthmian Premier title and reach the Second Round of the FA Cup.

Towards the end of 2016-17, Ben was loaned to Hemel Hempstead Town and joined them permanently at the end of that season. Ben spent 2018-19 at Dartford but signed for Tonbridge Angels in 2019-20 where he also coached their academy.

Ben signed for Margate for 2021-22 and scored a first-half hat-trick in a 5-2 Thanet Cup win at Ramsgate on 31.7.21. He then scored the winning goal as Margate won 1-0 at Wingate & Finchley on the opening day of the Isthmian League season on 14.8.21.

Ben scored in five consecutive matches between 26.10.21 and 13.11.21 – including a curling free-kick from 30 yards against Beaconsfield in a 2-0 FA Trophy win at Hartsdown on 30.10.21.

He finished the season with 26 goals from 49 games (plus five sub appearances) and won the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season awards.

Ben was appointed captain ahead of 2022-23 and began the campaign by scoring a penalty to earn a 1-1 draw with Kingstonian at Hartsdown.

He scored another of his trademark long distance free-kick goals in a 4-0 win against Herne Bay at Hartsdown on 13.9.22.

In December 2022, the sacking of manager Andy Drury saw Greenhalgh appointed joint-caretaker manager with fellow player Reece Prestedge. On 31.1.23, Prestedge was appointed manager on a permanent basis with Ben as his assistant.

Ben scored an amazing goal from inside the centre circle in a 3-2 win at Hornchurch on 25.2.23.

Ben helped Margate pull away from the relegation zone but was unavailable for the Kent Senior Cup Final against Chatham at Gillingham on 3.5.23 because his wife was due to give birth.

He finished the season with 17 goals from 51 games (plus two sub appearances).

Ben's 2023-24 season started with a saved penalty in a 2-1 home win over Whitehawk on 12.8.23. However, he scored in the next match, a 1-4 defeat at Hornchurch on 15.8.23.

Ben scored a couple of trademark long distance goals - one was in the 3-1 FA Cup replay win at Folkestone on 19.9.23. He scored from the halfway line in a 2-0 win against Chatham at Hartsdown on 17.10.23.

Ben had another spot kick saved in a 1-0 defeat at Harrow in the FA Trophy on 7.10.23.

After Reece Prestedge was sacked as manager, Ben took temporary charge of the team alongside coach Elliott Leveson for an Isthmian League Cup tie at Whitehawk on 5.12.23 that Margate lost 3-1. Mark Stimson was installed as manager for the next game.

On 6.1.24, Ben was sent off for violent conduct in a 3-2 loss at Whitehawk in the league. An appeal against his red card failed and he had to serve a three-game ban.

Ben scored a first-half hat-trick as Margate finally ended their 19-match run without a win by beating Canvey Island 3-2 at Hartsdown on 17.2.24.

He scored Margate's winning goals in victories against Potters Bar (3-2 away on 11.4.24) and Wingate and Finchley (2-1 at home on 20.4.24) in an ultimately doomed battle against relegation. In total, Ben finished the season with 15 goals from 44 appearances, plus two as sub.

He was unveiled as Margate's player-manager for 2024-25. He scored two hat-tricks in the opening weeks of the season - in a 4-0 FA Cup win at Hartsdown against Loxwood on 17.8.24 and in a 5-0 win at Hanworth Villa in the FA Trophy on 7.9.24. Ben made 54 appearances during the season - passing 200 for the club - and scored 17 goals. At the end of the season, it was announced that Ben would continue as player-manager for 2025-26.

On 6.12.25, Ben played in goal after keeper Tom Wray was sent off in the first half of a 3-0 defeat at Three Bridges. Margate had no substitute goalie that day.

During his time at Margate, Ben was also academy manager at Dartford.

In 2015, he became a professional golfer and joined the PGA circuit, playing in one-day golf tournaments while continuing to play semi-professional football.

In 2022, Ben was appointed coach for the year 6 football team at Crofton Junior School in Orpington.