View source for Ben Hinchliffe

{{short description|English footballer (born 1987)}}
{{distinguish|Ben Hinchliffe (footballer, born 1997)}}
{{use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Hinchliffe
| image = Hinchliffe-01.jpg
| caption = Ben Hinchliffe, Stockport County FC
| full_name = Ben Hinchliffe<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/player-registration---june-2016.ashx |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/06/2016 and 30/06/2016 |publisher=The Football Association |page=5 |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|10|9|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/player/2456/ben-hinchliffe |title=Ben Hinchliffe |website=Sky Sports |publisher=Sky |access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], England
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/3371/Ben-Hinchliffe/overview |title=Ben Hinchliffe: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]<ref>{{Hugman|23412|access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>
| currentclub = [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 2006–2007
| clubs1 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2006
| clubs2 = → [[Kendal Town F.C.|Kendal Town]] (loan)
| caps2 = 
| goals2 = 
| years3 = 2007
| clubs3 = → [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] (loan)
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2007–2008
| clubs4 = [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2008–2009
| clubs5 = [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2009
| clubs6 = → [[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] (loan)
| caps6 = 
| goals6 = 
| years7 = 2009
| clubs7 = → [[Kendal Town F.C.|Kendal Town]] (loan)
| goals7 = 
| caps7 = 
| years8 = 2009–2011
| clubs8 = [[Bamber Bridge F.C.|Bamber Bridge]]
| caps8 = 
| goals8 = 
| years9 = 2011–2012
| clubs9 = [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]]
| caps9 = 42
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2012–2016
| clubs10 = [[AFC Fylde]]
| caps10 = 76
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2016–
| clubs11 = [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
| caps11 = 343
| goals11 = 0
| club-update = 23:48, 31 October 2024 (UTC)
}}
'''Ben Hinchliffe''' (born 9 October 1987) is an English professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] for {{English football updater|StockpoC}} club [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]].

==Early life==
Hinchliffe was born in [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], Lancashire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/ben-hinchliffe-226629/ |title=Ben Hinchliffe |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>

==Career==
===Preston North End===
In April 2006, Hinchliffe was given a one-year professional contract with [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] after impressing in the youth and reserve teams.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/4947560.stm |title=Preston offer contracts to trio |access-date=28 April 2007 |date=26 April 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was loaned out to [[Northern Premier League]] Premier Division club [[Kendal Town F.C.|Kendal Town]] at the start of the [[2006–07 in English football|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/6061842.stm |title=Preston midfielder in Kendal move |access-date=28 April 2007 |date=18 October 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Tranmere Rovers===
On recovery, in February 2007, Hinchliffe joined [[EFL League One|League One]] team [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] on loan originally for one month as cover after [[John Achterberg]] picked up a knee injury,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tranmere_rovers/6396811.stm |title=Tranmere snap up Preston keeper |access-date=28 April 2007 |date=24 February 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> though this was twice extended, initially for another month<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tranmere_rovers/6481159.stm |title=Tranmere keep PNE keeper on loan |access-date=28 April 2007 |date=22 March 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> and then until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide2/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer_league_1_and_2/07/04/24/manual_164419.html |title=Hinchliffe extends Tranmere stay |access-date=28 April 2007 |date=24 April 2007 |publisher=Sporting Life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930045651/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide2/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer_league_1_and_2%2F07%2F04%2F24%2Fmanual_164419.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hinchliffe made his Tranmere and [[English Football League|Football League]] debut on 28 April 2007, as a 21st minute [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] in the 1–1 draw versus [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]], following fellow goalkeeper [[Gavin Ward (footballer)|Gavin Ward]]'s dismissal for handling outside the box.,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6578871.stm |title=Crewe 1–1 Tranmere |access-date=28 April 2007 |date=28 April 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Hinchliffe made his full a week later in a 3–1 victory versus [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]].,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6603023.stm |title=Tranmere 3–1 Brentford |access-date=7 May 2007 |date=5 May 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> his last game at the club. Upon his return to Preston, Hinchliffe was released, along with five other players, on 8 May 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/6635633.stm |title=Preston boss lets five players go |access-date=8 May 2007 |date=8 May 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Derby County===
On 10 July 2007, Hinchliffe joined newly promoted [[Premier League]] side [[Derby County F.C.|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 F.C.|Oxford United]] on non-contract terms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oxford_utd/7529659.stm |title= Foster signs new Oxford contract |access-date=30 July 2008 |date=29 July 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> After leaving Oxford, Hinchliffe spent time playing for [[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] and again for Kendal Town<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=62691 |title=Latest Transfers |access-date=23 July 2011 |date=29 November 2009 |publisher=Non League Daily |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004021456/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=62691 |archive-date=4 October 2012 }}</ref> before joining [[Bamber Bridge F.C.|Bamber Bridge]]. In June 2011 he joined [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/vics/news/9079588.Vics_capture_new_goalkeeper/|title= Northwich Victoria agree transfer of Ben Hinchliffe from Bamber Bridge |access-date=11 June 2011|date=23 July 2011|publisher=Northwich Guardian}}</ref> He moved on to [[AFC Fylde]] in May 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=84808|title=Coasters Sign Keeper Hincliffe|access-date=17 May 2012|date=17 May 2012|publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516210123/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php|archive-date=16 May 2012}}</ref>

===Stockport County===

[[File:CountyNLNWinners2.jpg|thumb|right|Ben Hinchliffe celebrating winning the [[National League North]] with [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] in 2019]]

In May 2016, Hinchliffe joined [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Stockport County sign experienced AFC Fylde goalkeeper |url=http://quaysnews.net/index.php/2016/05/28/stockport-county-sign-experienced-afc-fylde-goalkeeper/ |website=Quays News |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190603/http://quaysnews.net/index.php/2016/05/28/stockport-county-sign-experienced-afc-fylde-goalkeeper/ |archive-date=1 August 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> and kept 29 clean sheets in his first two seasons with the club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Hinchliffe – Player Profile |url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/squad/ben-hinchliffe/ |publisher=Stockport County F.C. |access-date=1 August 2018}}</ref> Hinchliffe played every league match as County took the [[2018–19 National League|National League North]] title in 2018–19 and was selected in the league's team of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=National League Team of the Season |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/national-league-north-team-of-the-season-confirmed-56854?external_domain=www.thenationalleague.org.uk |website=thenationalleague.org.uk |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Hartlepool United]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2020/21 National League Team of the Season |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/vanarama-national-league-team-of-the-season-confir-66313 |website=thenationalleague.org.uk |access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> Hinchliffe was an integral part of County's title-winning season in [[2021–22 National League|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Hinchliffe 100 Clean Sheets |url=https://twitter.com/StockportCounty/status/1507764205868531724?t=Deg_0-bNLfpj_eI1HKfFEA&s=19 |via=Twitter |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref> He kept another 5 clean sheets as County secured the title with a 2–0 home win against [[FC Halifax Town]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Match Report: County 2–0 Halifax Town |url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/match-report-county-2-0-fc-halifax-town/ |publisher=Stockport County F.C. |access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>

At the start of the following season he was criticised by manager [[Dave Challinor]] for a poor performance after Stockport lost their first [[EFL League Two|League Two]] game 3–2 at home to [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] on 30 July 2022.<ref>{{Citation |title=Dave Challinor Post-Match Interview – Barrow AFC |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTZwpmI4Ins |language=en |access-date=2022-07-30}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2024}} 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 F.C.|Salford City]] 3–1 on penalties to go through to the [[2023 EFL League Two play-off final|play-off final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65579848|title=Stockport 2–1 Salford (2–2 agg): Hatters win on penalties to reach League Two play-off final|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 May 2023|accessdate=20 May 2023}}</ref> During the 2022–23 season Hinchliffe played enough games to trigger an automatic one-year extension to his contract.<ref name = "Retained List">{{cite web |url= https://www.stockportcounty.com/released-and-retained-list-confirmed/ |title= Stockport County Retained List |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2023 |publisher= Stockport County F.C. |access-date= 9 June 2023}}</ref>

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.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} 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 F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} In May 2024 Hinchliffe signed a two-year contract extension with the club.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.stockportcounty.com/two-more-years-in-goal-for-county-legend/ |title= 
Two more years in goal for County legend |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= May 2024 |website= Stockport County Official Website |access-date= 17 May 2024}}</ref> He won the League Two golden glove having kept 17 [[Shutout#Association football|clean sheets]] throughout the season and was later included in the division's [[PFA Team of the Year]].<ref name="PFA2324"/>

==Career statistics==
{{updated|match played 26 October 2024}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=3|[[AFC Fylde]]
|[[2014–15 Football Conference#Conference North|2014–15]]<ref name="Soccerway">{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/ben-hinchliffe/95184/ |title=B. Hinchliffe |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|[[Conference North]]
|44||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in the [[FA Trophy]]}}||0||45||0
|-
|[[2015–16 National League#National League North|2015–16]]<ref name="Soccerway"/>
|[[National League North]]
|32||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||37||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!76!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!4!!0!!82!!0
|-
|rowspan=10|[[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
|[[2016–17 National League#National League North|2016–17]]<ref name="Soccerway"/>
|[[National League North]]
|39||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||44||0
|-
|[[2017–18 National League#National League North|2017–18]]<ref name="Soccerway"/>
|National League North
|38||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||5{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||43||0
|-
|[[2018–19 National League#National League North|2018–19]]<ref name="Soccerway"/>
|National League North
|42||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||7{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||52||0 
|-
|[[2019–20 National League#National League|2019–20]]<ref name="sb1920">{{Soccerbase season|68116|2019|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|[[National League (division)|National League]]
|38||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||42||0
|-
|[[2020–21 National League#National League|2020–21]]<ref name="sb2021">{{Soccerbase season|68116|2020|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|National League
|43||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|One appearance in [[National League (division)|National League play-offs]]}}||0||48||0
|-
|[[2021–22 National League#National League|2021–22]]<ref name="sb2122">{{Soccerbase season|68116|2021|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|National League
|37||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||41||0
|-
|[[2022–23 Stockport County F.C. season|2022–23]]<ref name="sb2223">{{Soccerbase season|68116|2022|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|[[EFL League Two|League Two]]
|36||0||4||0||0||0||6{{efn|Three appearances in [[EFL Trophy]] and three in [[EFL League Two play-offs|League Two play-offs]]}}||0||46||0
|-
|[[2023–24 Stockport County F.C. season|2023–24]]<ref name="sb2324">{{Soccerbase season|68116|2023|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|League Two
|46||0||2||0||1||0||0||0||49||0
|-
|[[2024–25 Stockport County F.C. season|2024–25]]<ref name="sb2425">{{Soccerbase season|68116|2024|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>
|[[EFL League One|League One]]
|25||0||0||0||1||0||2{{efn|Two appearances in [[EFL Trophy]]}}||0||4||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!343!!0!!17!!0!!2!!0!!30!!0!!394!!0
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!419!!0!!19!!0!!2!!0!!34!!0!!476!!0
|}
{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''Stockport County'''
*[[EFL League Two]]: [[2023–24 Stockport County F.C. season|2023–24]]{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
*[[National League (division)|National League]]: [[2021–22 National League#National League|2021–22]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1852 |title=National League: 2021/22: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=15 May 2022}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2473&teamTabs=stats&season_id=154 |title=Stockport: Squad details: 2021/22 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>
*[[National League North]]: [[2018–19 National League#National League North|2018–19]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Hinchliffe – Player Profile |url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/squad/ben-hinchliffe/ |publisher=Stockport County F.C. |access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Conference North]] Team of the Year: [[2014–15 Football Conference#Conference North|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lomas |first1=John |title=Conference North Team of the Year |url=http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/new-mansfield-town-striker-adi-yussuf-named-in-conference-north-team-of-the-year-1-7298404 |newspaper=Mansfield and Ashfield Chad |location=London |publisher=Johnston Press |date=8 June 2015 |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104001844/http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/new-mansfield-town-striker-adi-yussuf-named-in-conference-north-team-of-the-year-1-7298404 |archive-date=4 January 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trio Win Awards |url=http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/trio-win-awards/ |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=11 June 2016 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
*[[National League North]] Team of the Year: [[2018–19 National League#National League North|2018–19]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/national-league-north-team-of-the-season-confirmed-56854?external_domain=www.thenationalleague.org.uk |title=The Team of the Season for the Vanarama National League North have been announced. |author=Sam Elliott |publisher=Vanarama National League |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>
*[[National League (division)|National League]] Team of the Year: [[2020–21 National League#National League|2020–21]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/vanarama-national-league-team-of-the-season-confir-66313 |title=The Team of the Season for the Vanarama National League have been announced. |author=Oliver Osborne |publisher=Vanarama National League |date=19 June 2021 |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2020s)#League Two 5|2023–24 League Two]]<ref name="PFA2324">{{cite news |url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2024/8/20/pfa-league-two-team-of-the-year-2024 |title=PFA League Two Team of the Year |website=PFA |date=20 August 2024 |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>
* Most appearances for [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]<ref name= "Retained List" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}

{{Stockport County F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{2014–15 Conference North Team of the Year}}
{{2018–19 National League North Team of the Year}}
{{2020–21 National League Team of the Year}}
{{2021–22 National League Team of the Year}}
{{2023–24 EFL League Two PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Stockport County F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinchliffe, Ben}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Preston, Lancashire]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. players]]
[[Category:Kendal Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Derby County F.C. players]]
[[Category:Oxford United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Worcester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bamber Bridge F.C. players]]
[[Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players]]
[[Category:AFC Fylde players]]
[[Category:Stockport County F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:National League (English football) players]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]