| Ben Hockenhull | |
| Full Name: | Ben William Hockenhull[1] |
| Birth Date: | 3 September 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Crewe, England |
| Height: | 1.86m |
| Position: | Central defender |
| Currentclub: | Stafford Rangers |
| Youthyears1: | 2007–2020 |
| Youthclubs1: | Manchester United |
| Youthyears2: | 2020–2022 |
| Youthclubs2: | Brentford |
| Years1: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs1: | Tranmere Rovers |
| Caps1: | 3 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs2: | → Warrington Rylands (loan) |
| Caps2: | 19 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2023 |
| Clubs3: | → Chorley (loan) |
| Caps3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2023 |
| Clubs4: | → Spennymoor Town (loan) |
| Caps4: | 6 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2024 |
| Clubs5: | → Southport (loan) |
| Caps5: | 13 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Clubs6: | Stafford Rangers |
| Caps6: | 1 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 11:49, 12 August 2024 (UTC) |
Ben William Hockenhull (born 3 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central defender for club Stafford Rangers.
Hockenhull is a product of the Manchester United academy and began his professional career with Brentford. Following two seasons of B team football, his senior career began with Tranmere Rovers in 2022. After failing to break into the first team squad, Hockenhull dropped into non-League football in 2024.
A central defender, Hockenhull entered the Manchester United academy at age six and progressed to sign a scholarship in 2018.[2] [3] Despite having one year remaining on his scholarship, he departed Carrington in July 2020.[4]
On 23 July 2020, Hockenhull transferred to the B team at Brentford and signed a two-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee.[5] After an injury-hit 2020–21 season spent acclimatising to the rigours of professional football, Hockenhull progressed during the early months of 2021–22 to training with the first team and at times, captaining the B team.[6] He was a part of the B team's 2021–22 London Senior Cup-winning squad and transferred away from the club in May 2022.[7] During two seasons with Brentford B, Hockenhull made 54 appearances and scored one goal.
On 27 May 2022, Hockenhull signed a two-year contract with League Two club Tranmere Rovers, effective 10 June 2022.[8] [9] Hockenhull made his debut with a start in a 1–0 EFL Trophy group stage win over Crewe Alexandra on 18 October 2022 and three days later, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Warrington Rylands on a loan that was later extended until the end of the 2022–23 season.[10] [11] He made 20 appearances in all competitions during his spell.
Following 2023–24 pre-season involvement with the first team squad,[12] Hockenhull spent much of the regular season away on loan at National League North clubs Chorley,[13] Spennymoor Town and Southport.[14] [15] [16] Hockenhull make three late-season League Two appearances for Tranmere Rovers, which were his last for the club prior to his release when his contract expired at the end of the season.[17]
In August 2024, Hockenhull signed a contract with Northern Premier League Division One West club Stafford Rangers.[18]
Hockenhull is the son of former football manager Andy Hockenhull.[19]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Tranmere Rovers | 2022–23 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | League Two | 3 | 0 | ― | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Warrington Rylands (loan) | 2022–23[20] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 19 | 0 | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||
| Chorley (loan) | 2023–24 | National League North | 1 | 0 | ― | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Spennymoor Town (loan) | 2023–24 | National League North | 6 | 1 | ― | ― | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Southport (loan) | 2023–24[21] | National League North | 13 | 0 | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Stafford Rangers | 2024–25[22] | Northern Premier League Division One West | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ― | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 1 | |||
Hockenhull has been described as an "imposing central defender" with "the ability to win the ball in the air, but is also a talented defender with the ball at his feet".[23]
Brentford B