# Ben Hinchliffe

Ben Hinchliffe (born 9 October 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Stockport County.

## Early life

Hinchliffe was born in Preston, Lancashire.

## Career
### Preston North End

In April 2006, Hinchliffe was given a one-year professional contract with Preston North End after impressing in the youth and reserve teams. He was loaned out to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Kendal Town at the start of the 2006–07 season. Hinchliffe made 10 appearances, giving some impressive performances before returning to Deepdale in October 2006, and needed knee surgery after picking an injury.

### Tranmere Rovers

On recovery, in February 2007, Hinchliffe joined League One team Tranmere Rovers on loan originally for one month as cover after John Achterberg picked up a knee injury, though this was twice extended, initially for another month and then until the end of the season. Hinchliffe made his Tranmere and Football League debut on 28 April 2007, as a 21st minute substitute in the 1–1 draw versus Crewe Alexandra, following fellow goalkeeper Gavin Ward's dismissal for handling outside the box., Hinchliffe made his full a week later in a 3–1 victory versus Brentford., his last game at the club. Upon his return to Preston, Hinchliffe was released, along with five other players, on 8 May 2007.

### Derby County

On 10 July 2007, Hinchliffe joined newly promoted Premier League side Derby County on a two-year contract, teaming up with former Preston North End manager Billy Davies. He was released from his contract at the end of the 2007/08 season by new manager Paul Jewell.

### Move into non-League

He subsequently joined Oxford United on non-contract terms. After leaving Oxford, Hinchliffe spent time playing for Worcester City and again for Kendal Town before joining Bamber Bridge. In June 2011 he joined Northwich Victoria. He moved on to AFC Fylde in May 2012.

### Stockport County

In May 2016, Hinchliffe joined Stockport County and kept 29 clean sheets in his first two seasons with the club. Hinchliffe played every league match as County took the National League North title in 2018–19 and was selected in the league's team of the season. He remained number one choice at Edgeley Park throughout the entirety of County's 2nd stay in the National League. In the 2020–21 season Hinchliffe was selected in the National League team of the season, despite County missing out on promotion, losing in the play-offs to Hartlepool United. Hinchliffe was an integral part of County's title-winning season in 2021–22, a season in which he surpassed the 100 clean sheet barrier, becoming the first goalkeeper in the clubs history to reach such a milestone. He kept another 5 clean sheets as County secured the title with a 2–0 home win against FC Halifax Town.
At the start of the following season he was criticised by manager Dave Challinor for a poor performance after Stockport lost their first League Two game 3–2 at home to Barrow on 30 July 2022. After an injury to on-loan keeper Vítězslav Jaroš, Hinchliffe returned to keep five consecutive clean sheets to help County move clear of the bottom of the table in October. On 20 May 2023, he saved two penalties as Stockport defeated Salford City 3–1 on penalties to go through to the play-off final. During the 2022–23 season Hinchliffe played enough games to trigger an automatic one-year extension to his contract.
In the 2023–24 season Hinchliffe remained an integral part of County's team as the club clinched the EFL League Two title. In doing so, he became the first player in the club's history to win three separate league titles with Stockport. In the same period, Hinchliffe also became one of Stockport's all-time top appearance makers after partaking in his 339th game for the club in a 2–0 win against Forest Green Rovers. In May 2024 Hinchliffe signed a two-year contract extension with the club. He won the League Two golden glove having kept 17 clean sheets throughout the season and was later included in the division's PFA Team of the Year.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 26 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| AFC Fylde | 2014–15 | Conference North | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| AFC Fylde | 2015–16 | National League North | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| AFC Fylde | Total | Total | 76 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 82 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2016–17 | National League North | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2017–18 | National League North | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2018–19 | National League North | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2019–20 | National League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2020–21 | National League | 43 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2021–22 | National League | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2022–23 | League Two | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2023–24 | League Two | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| Stockport County | 2024–25 | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Stockport County | Total | Total | 320 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 369 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 396 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 451 | 0 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in National League play-offs
* ↑ Three appearances in EFL Trophy and three in League Two play-offs
* ↑ Two appearances in EFL Trophy

## Honours

Stockport County
* EFL League Two: 2023–24
* National League: 2021–22
* National League North: 2018–19
Individual
* Conference North Team of the Year: 2014–15
* National League North Team of the Year: 2018–19
* National League Team of the Year: 2020–21
* PFA Team of the Year: 2023–24 League Two
* Most appearances for Stockport County as a goalkeeper