# Ben Stephens (footballer)

Ben Stephens (born 9 August 1997) is an English footballer who plays for Southern League Premier Division Central club Harborough Town, as a forward.

## Career
### Early career

Stephens played youth football for Leicester City, and in non-league football with Oadby Town and Kettering Town.

### Stratford Town

Stephens signed for Kettering's Southern League Premier Division rivals Stratford Town in November 2016, and made his debut for the club on 22 November 2016, in a league match at home to Slough Town, appearing as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat.
He scored his first goal for Stratford Town on 3 December 2016, in a league match away at Banbury United, with the club losing 2–1.
During his time at the club, Stephens trialled with a number of league clubs, including Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Birmingham City.

### Macclesfield Town

In May 2018 he spent time with the V9 Academy, before turning professional in June 2018 after signing for Macclesfield Town.
Ben made his EFL League Two debut for Macclesfield Town on 12 October 2018, in an away fixture against Tranmere Rovers, coming on as 86th minute substitute for Tyrone Marsh. Tranmere won the game 1–0. Stephens scored his first goal in the EFL League Two on 3 November 2018, in a 4–1 defeat at home to Bury.
Stephens was released by Macclesfield at the end of the 2019–20 season. He re-signed for the club on 15 September 2020. A day later he was released by the club following their winding up at the High Court.

### Kettering Town

He returned to Kettering Town in October 2020.

### Stratford Town

Stephens made his return to Stratford Town on 23 July 2021.

### Barwell

Stephens signed for Southern League Premier Central rivals Barwell in August 2021. He made his debut for Barwell on 14 August 2021, in an away fixture against Lowestoft Town, scoring 2 goals in a 3–0 victory.
Stephens finished the season making 33 appearances in the Southern League Premier Central, and scoring 24 goals, which actually made the player the top goalscorer in the league for the 2021–22 season.

### King's Lynn Town

Following Stephens' impressive 2021–22 season, he made the step up to join National League North club King's Lynn Town in July 2022 following a successful trial.

### Harborough Town

On 9 July 2024, Stephens signed for newly promoted Southern League Premier Central side Harborough Town.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 23 April 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Kettering Town | 2015–16 | Southern League Premier Division | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 22 | 3 |
| Kettering Town | 2016–17 | Southern League Premier Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Kettering Town | Total | Total | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 3 |
| Stratford Town | 2016–17 | Southern League Premier Division | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Stratford Town | 2017–18 | Southern League Premier Division | 39 | 20 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 46 | 22 |
| Stratford Town | Total | Total | 62 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 71 | 24 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2018–19 | EFL League Two | 22 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 3 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2019–20 | EFL League Two | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| Macclesfield Town | Total | Total | 45 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 6 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2020–21 | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kettering Town | 2020–21 | National League North | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Stratford Town | 2021–22 | Southern League Premier Division Central | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barwell | 2021–22 | Southern League Premier Division Central | 33 | 24 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 34 | 24 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 177 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 201 | 58 |
* ↑ Two appearances in Northamptonshire Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in Northamptonshire Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in FA Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in Birmingham Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in Southern League Cup
* ↑ One appearance in Birmingham Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in Southern League Cup
* ↑ Two appearances in FA Trophy
* ↑ One goal in Southern League Cup
* ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
* ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
* ↑ Appearances in the FA Trophy.