Ben Wilkinson

Alistair Benjamin "Ben" Wilkinson (born 25 April 1987) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He has played for Hull City, Harrogate Town, Gretna, York City, Altrincham, Chester City, Tamworth and Boston United.
He is not to be confused with the English poet and The Guardian book critic, Ben Wilkinson.

Wilkinson playing for York City in 2008

Youth teams and loan spells

Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Wilkinson is the son of former player and manager Howard Wilkinson. He played with the youth teams of Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Derby County, who he became a scholar with in May 2003. He moved to Hull City in January 2005, where he completed his scholarship. He signed a two-year professional contract with Hull in the summer of 2006. He joined Conference North side Harrogate Town on a one-month loan on 9 December 2006, where he made five appearances before returning to Hull in January 2007.

He went on trial with York City of the Conference National in January 2008, during which he scored two goals in a reserve team match against Sheffield United, before later joining Gretna in the Scottish Premier League on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season. He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat against Hearts on 9 February 2008 and made 13 appearances whilst at the club.

York City and Altrincham loan

He joined Conference Premier team York City on a two-year contract on 11 June 2008. His debut came in a 1–0 victory against Crawley Town on 9 August. He scored his first goal for the team in a 3–1 defeat against Wrexham in October, which was followed by the first goal in a 2–0 victory against Woking in the following game. He joined Altrincham on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season on 26 March 2009. He made his debut after coming on as a 90th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw with Crawley Town and he started in the subsequent game, a 1–0 defeat to Ebbsfleet United. He finished the spell with nine appearances. He was released by York on 2 July after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

Chester City

He was quickly signed by newly relegated Conference Premier club Chester City on 9 July. Wilkinson scored in the first minute of his competitive debut for the club against Cambridge United on 15 August, but Chester suffered a 4–2 defeat. He made 28 appearances for Chester during the 2009–10 season, although these were expunged from the records after Chester were expelled from the Football Conference in March 2010. He left the club following their liquidation on 10 March and in April went on trial with League Two side Bradford City, playing in reserve games against Newcastle United and Leeds United.

Tamworth

Wilkinson playing for Tamworth in 2011

Wilkinson signed for Conference Premier club Tamworth on 26 August following a trial. His first goal came in a 1–0 away win at Mansfield Town, where his goal was the difference. Wilkinson scored a vital goal against former club York in a 2–1 away win on 16 April 2011 to help Tamworth fight relegation.

Boston United

Wilkinson signed for Conference North side Boston United on 30 July after a trial, having been set to follow former Tamworth players Aaron Mitchell and Jason Bradley to Eastwood Town. He found himself out of the team early in the 2011–12 season because of a knee injury but later established himself at right back due to a shortage in that position. He left Boston on 7 November after making 10 appearances for the club.

As of 22 October 2011.