# Ben Goodliffe

Ben David Goodliffe (born 19 June 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Southend United on loan from EFL League Two club Colchester United.

## Club career
### Early career

Born in Watford, Goodliffe played youth football for Tottenham Hotspur but was released at age 16 and joined Boreham Wood's academy. He made his senior debut on 7 February 2017 in a 5–0 FA Trophy win over Sutton United. He went on to make 4 further appearances for the club that season, all of which coming in the National League.

### Wolverhampton Wanderers

In March 2017, it was announced that Goodliffe would join Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract at the start of the summer transfer window. He scored once in 12 Premier League 2 appearances across the 2017–18 season. On 31 July 2018, Goodliffe joined National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until January 2019. He made his debut on 4 August 2018 away to former club Boreham Wood, with Goodliffe sent off late on as Dagenham lost 1–0. He scored his first goal for the club on 1 December 2018 with a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2–1 win over Hartlepool United. In January 2019, his loan was extended until the end of the season. He scored once in 33 league matches during the 2018–19 National League. He was released by Wolves at the end of the 2018–19 season.

### Sutton United

In July 2019, Goodliffe joined Sutton United of the National League. He scored twice in 35 league appearances during the 2019–20 campaign, which was ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sutton United were promoted to EFL League Two as champions of the National League at the end of the 2020–21 season, with Goodliffe having made 34 appearances and scoring one goal. He was also included in the National League team of the season as number 5. On 29 June 2021, it was announced that Goodliffe had signed a new contract with the club, with his previous contract about to expire. He made his League Two debut on 7 August 2021 in a 2–1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers.

### Colchester United

Goodliffe signed for Colchester United on 28 June 2024 on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
On 10 August 2024, during Goodliffe's first league appearance for Colchester against Wimbledon, he scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the match before being forced off through injury after a coming together with a Wimbledon player. Colchester Manager Danny Cowley later confirmed that Goodliffe had dislodged three teeth and suffered two fractures in his mouth during the incident.
On 25 January 2025, Goodliffe joined National League side Southend United on loan for the remainder of the season.

## International career

Goodliffe has captained the England Colleges team. In March 2020, Goodliffe was named in the England C squad for the first time.

## Personal life

He is the son of Jason Goodliffe, who played non-League football and was the interim manager of the first team at Sutton United. Goodliffe worked as a personal trainer whilst playing for Sutton United, prior to their promotion to League Two.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 18 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Boreham Wood | 2016–17 | National League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2017–18 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Total | Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Sutton United | 2019–20 | National League | 35 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
| Sutton United | 2020–21 | National League | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| Sutton United | 2021–22 | League Two | 43 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 3 |
| Sutton United | 2022–23 | League Two | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Sutton United | 2023–24 | League Two | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| Sutton United | Total | Total | 198 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 225 | 9 |
| Colchester United | 2024–25 | League Two | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 213 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 244 | 13 |
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

## Honours

Sutton United
* National League: 2020–21
* EFL Trophy runner-up: 2021–22
Individual
* National League Team of the Season: 2020–21
* Sutton United Player of the Season: 2021–22