Former Player Remembers: Trevor Benjamin

While at Leicester, he won an England U-21 cap as well as two full caps for Jamaica. Kettering-born Trevor made his initial impact in the Football League when he made 146 appearances and scored 46 goals for Cambridge United between 1995 and 2000. This spell included a promotion in 1999 to what is now League One. 

“I started playing in the local leagues when I was younger. Then I was spotted by Cambridge United, went for a week’s trial which was successful, and then a two week trial and then I was offered a place on the YTS scheme, which was like a scholarship is today. I made my debut at 16. From then on it was onwards and upwards. 

"My first manager there was John Beck and then Gary Johnson and finally Tommy Taylor. When Leicester’s new manager Peter Taylor signed me for £1.3 million in July 2000, it was a massive jump for me to play in the Premier League. Did I think I could do it? I had a little bit of doubt but I spoke to a few players like Ian Ashbee and they reassured me, and the belief started to kick in after that. If I have any advice today for youngsters, it is to believe in yourself. When you doubt yourself, bad things happen. 

"When you start believing in yourself, good things happen. Peter Taylor had wanted to take me to Gillingham, where he had been manager before taking over from Martin O’Neill at Leicester. He had put in a bid for me but this fell through when he moved to Filbert Street, but then he came back for me and signed me for Leicester. 

"Soon after I arrived, Leicester went to the top of the Premier League. We had a great start to the season. We were playing good football and working hard. My debut was at Sunderland in October 2000. We drew 0-0 and we went to the top of the table! That was down to me then! But you have ups and downs in football and that happened to us later that season.” 

Leicester City were in the top four at Christmas and were still fourth at the beginning of March, following a 2-0 defeat of Liverpool. A week later Wycombe Wanderers from the third tier inflicted a shock defeat on the City at Filbert Street in the sixth round of the FA Cup and the season fell apart. Trevor has reflected on this. 

“When you meet lower league sides, sometimes they are really up for it for that one game. I’ve done that myself. I understand both sides of the coin. We hit a brick wall after that, but as a team we stuck together and despite our bad run we still stayed up in 13th position. Working with Peter Taylor was very different form working with John Beck. He really developed my game. He brought me through and I learnt a lot from him. He taught me to play my game. 

"Early the next season, Dave Bassett came in with Micky Adams as his assistant, with a view to taking over at the right time. Dave was a good manager from the Wimbledon ‘Crazy Gang’ years. We did well at stages that season, but we just didn’t have enough to stay up.” 

During that season Trevor went on loan to Crystal Palace, Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion, but the following season, Trevor played, either as a starter or as a substitute, in 35 games in the Leicester City side which was promoted straight back to the Premier League. It was a roller coaster of a season because during it, between October and February, the Club went into Administration. 

“The players understood that every single one of us would have to take a pay cut. We all loved the Club. We were a tight knit group. We knew we would have to work really hard to get back to where we felt we should be, in the Premier League. We were playing in front of 30,000 every week at the new Stadium. The fans were unbelievable. The fans and the players all stuck together. It was a brilliant achievement. We had to stand up and be counted and we all did this. When we beat Brighton at the Walkers Stadium on Easter Saturday to ensure promotion, it was awesome to be back in the Premier League. It was a big thank you to the fans. We had had a sticky patch but we all got through this. I’ve still got the medal. It’s hanging up somewhere. I’ve given a lot of my stuff away, but I’ve still got the memories.” Back in the Premier League, Trevor was loaned out at various times. 

“I went to Gillingham, Rushden and Diamonds (then a league side) and Brighton. I just loved playing, we had some big names at Leicester and I just wanted to play. That’s what I love doing, and what I do best. That’s why I went out on loans. At the end of the season I was back at Leicester and played at Highbury in our last game of the season when we were already relegated. Arsenal, unbeaten all season on their way to the Premier League title, were known as the ‘Invincibles’. I remember it clearly. We went 1-0 up but then Arsenal put the hammer down and we were back to reality. We lost 2-1.” 

Back in the Championship, Micky Adams resigned in October 2004, to be replaced by Craig Levein. 

“In December I went to Northampton Town, initially on loan, before I was transferred there in January 2005. I saw it as a springboard because I’d been in the Premier League and the Championship and wanted to be back there. Then I rejoined Micky Adams at Coventry. There was a good team spirit there but I wanted security so accepted a three year contract elsewhere.” 

Trevor went on to play at Peterborough, Watford, Swindon Town, Boston United, Walsall, and Hereford United before moving into non-league football in 2008. 

Reflecting on his career, Trevor recalled: “My most difficult opponent was Manchester United’s Jaap Stam when Leicester went to Old Trafford. He was quick and strong and had a good football brain. You don’t often get big and quick at the same time. At Leicester there were some phenomenal players. The brains, technique and quality were unbelievable. I learnt so much there which I took with me wherever I went. I don’t think they got enough recognition in the game. Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon and Robbie Savage worked well together. Muzzy was a good long ball and short ball passer, and Neil just gave it easy! He made a career out of that. Sav was a good ball player who worked hard and broke things down. 

"Being at Leicester was the best time ever. The changing room we had was brilliant. You ask any players there at the time and they would say it was the best time of their career. There was great morale and banter. We had belief in each other. At present I am managing Newcastle United’s women’s team. I took a training session there and when they changed the manager they offered me the job. I enjoy it. It’s a different kettle of fish. The approach is different from the men’s game. I’m growing into being a psychologist because the psychology and body language, which are key, are different.” 

Trevor concluded by saying that he is also currently involved in marketing football equipment for Locust International.