Alnwick: Benjamin Robert (Ben)

2010-2010 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Prudhoe, Northumberland 01-01-1987

Debut: None

6’ 0” 12st 9lb (2010)

Born in the small Northumberland town of Prudhoe, he played for the local youth team before signing professional with Sunderland on 7th February 2004. A product of the Sunderland Youth Academy, he made his debut for Sunderland on 23rd April 2005 in a 2-1 home win over Leicester City which ensured Sunderland promotion and, as injured Thomas Myhre's replacement, played the final three games in their Championship-winning season of 2004-05. On 29th April 2005 he played at West Ham United as Sunderland clinched the Championship Trophy with a 2-1 win at Upton Park. He was there to enjoy the celebrations at the Stadium of Light as they won the final game of the season 1-0 against Stoke City. He was first choice for a short while in November 2005, when he was preferred to Kelvin Davis, but Davis was soon restored. When Davis wa transferred to Southampton at the start of the 2006-07 season, Alnwick took the No. 1 jersey, but after indifferent form was dropped to the bench as Darren Ward was preferred. He had been chosen in the England Under-Twenty-One Squad, but had not played and on 2nd January 2007, he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £900,000 which could have risen to £1.3 million. Only twenty, he was seen as a long-term successor to England keeper, Paul Robinson, at White Hart Lane. He had made nineteen League and three League Cup appearances for Sunderland. He made his England Under-Twenty-One debut against Romania at Ashton Gate as a second half substitute for Joe Hart in August 2007. He was loaned to Luton Town from 27th September 2007, on a three month deal, but due to injury to Paul Robinson was recalled to White Hart Lane on 24th October 2007. He had made four League appearances, while at Kenilworth Road. On 7th January 2008 he was then loaned to Leicester City until the end of the season. He made eight League appearances for the Foxes before suffering a thigh strain but remained at the Walkers Stadium until 27th April 2008. League One team, Carlisle United were the next club to have his services, when he joined them on 17th October 2008 on a one month loan. He returned to his parent club after eight League games at Brunton Park, as he was seen as a serious option for the Spurs first team. He made his debut for Tottenham in a 3-2 loss in the second leg of the League Cup Semi-Final tie against Burnley at Turf Moor on 21st January 2009. Three days later he was at Old Trafford performing well in a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United in Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup. On 24th July 2009, he signed on loan with Norwich City for three months. He made his debut, keeping a clean sheet, in the 4–0 League Cup win over Yeovil Town on 11th August 2009, however he only played three League games and two League Cup ties. He returned to Tottenham on 5th September 2009 when a hip injury was expected to keep him out for six weeks. On 9th May 2010 he made his EPL debut for Tottenham at Burnley on the final day of the 2009-10 season. It was not a happy day as he conceded four goals in a 4-2 defeat. On 14th October 2010 Alnwick joined Leeds United on loan for a month. He went straight onto the bench as on loan Jason Brown's deputy the following day against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. He was also on the bench on 19th October 2010 in the home game against Leicester City. He returned to Tottenham early for treatment on a hamstring injury, but officially returned to White Hart Lane 15th November 2010. On 4th March 2011, his next move took him to Doncaster Rovers on a month's stay until 9th April 2011, after their former Leeds keeper Neil Sullivan had been injured. He was an unused substitute in games against Leeds United and Coventry City. His younger brother Jak, who is also a goalkeeper, was at the Prudhoe local youth club and the Sunderland youth academy but joined North East rivals Newcastle United as a first year scholar in 2008. Jak won Newcastle's "Wor Jackie" award (named after legend Jackie Milburn) for best under-18 player in 2011.