Ben Killip
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Killip
| image = Benkillip2022.jpg
| caption = Killip warming up for Hartlepool United in 2022
| fullname = Ben Killip{{Cite news |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/60426 |title=Retained and released lists submitted by Premier League clubs |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=17 May 2019 |publisher=Premier League}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|24|df=y}}{{soccerbase|88940}}
| birth_place = Isleworth, England{{Cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/ben-killip-254021/ |title=Ben Killip |website=11v11.com |access-date=21 March 2020}}
| height = {{convert|1.88|m|order=flip}}{{soccerway|264361|accessdate=17 May 2019}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Portsmouth
| clubnumber = 36
| youthyears1 = 2003–2013
| youthclubs1 = Chelsea
| youthyears2 = 2013–2015
| youthclubs2 = Norwich City
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Norwich City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → King's Lynn Town (loan)
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015–2016
| clubs3 = → Lowestoft Town (loan)
| caps3 = 9
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = → Lowestoft Town (loan)
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2018
| clubs5 = Grimsby Town
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2018–2019
| clubs6 = Braintree Town
| caps6 = 38
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2019–2023
| clubs7 = Hartlepool United
| caps7 = 133
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2023–2025
| clubs8 = Barnsley
| caps8 = 25
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2025–
| clubs9 = Portsmouth
| caps9 = 2
| goals9 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam1 = England C
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 14:49, 4 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 20:28, 8 June 2019 (UTC)
}}
Ben Killip (born 24 November 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Portsmouth.
Career
=Early career=
Whilst playing for Norwich City, Killip spent two loan spells at Lowestoft Town.{{Cite web |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2015/october/ben-killip-joins-lowestoft-on-youth-loan/ |title=Ben Killip joins Lowestoft on youth loan |date=30 October 2015 |publisher=Norwich City F.C. |access-date=23 August 2017}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2016/february/ben-killip-rejoins-lowestoft-town-on-loan/ |title=Ben Killip rejoins Lowestoft Town on loan |date=3 February 2016 |publisher=Norwich City F.C. |access-date=23 August 2017}} He signed for Grimsby Town in July 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40618896 |title=Ben Killip: Grimsby Town sign former Norwich goalkeeper |date=15 July 2017 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=15 July 2017}} He was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44054763 |title=James McKeown: Grimsby Town offer new deal to goalkeeper and release 11 |date=9 May 2018 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=9 May 2018}}
Killip signed for National League side Braintree Town on 31 July 2018.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/iron-add-another-keeper-as-mcdonald-is-given-a-war-52097 |title=Iron Add Another Keeper As McDonald Is Given A Warning – The Vanarama National League |website=www.thenationalleague.org.uk |language=en |access-date=31 July 2018}}
=Hartlepool United=
He moved to Hartlepool United in May 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-seal-deal-for-scott-loach-replacement-as-craig-hignett-signs-ex-chelsea-youngster-1-9792834 |title=Hartlepool United seal deal for Scott Loach replacement as Craig Hignett signs ex-Chelsea youngster |website=www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk}} In the 2019–20 season, Killip struggled for form after making several mistakes and lost the number one spot to Mitchell Beeney, however he soon regained his place in the team.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/i-tried-to-chase-a-performance-killip/ |title=I tried to chase a performance – Killip |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=9 September 2019 |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716130828/https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/i-tried-to-chase-a-performance-killip/ |url-status=dead }} The next season, Killip had a much more successful campaign managing to keep 13 clean sheets in 29 matches.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19436219.jamie-sterry-ben-killip-sign-new-deals-hartlepool/ |title=Jamie Sterry and Ben Killip sign new deals with Hartlepool |author=Matty Jones |publisher=Northern Echo |date=12 July 2021 |access-date=12 July 2021}} On 5 April 2021, in a 2–2 draw with Boreham Wood, Killip injured his elbow and was ruled out for the rest of the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/confirmed-hartlepool-united-goalkeeper-ben-killip-ruled-out-for-the-remainder-of-the-season-as-dave-challinor-provides-squad-injury-update-3201713 |title=Confirmed: Hartlepool United goalkeeper Ben Killip ruled out for the remainder of the season as Dave Challinor provides squad injury update |author=Dominic Scurr |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=15 April 2021 |access-date=15 April 2021}} Killip did, however, make the substitutes bench for the play-offs as the club won promotion to League Two in June 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57457835 |title=Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United (5–4) |author=Brent Pilnick |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2021 |access-date=29 January 2023}}
He signed a new contract for Hartlepool at the end of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|date=12 July 2021|title=Ben Killip signs new deal|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/ben-killip-signs-new-deal/|access-date=12 July 2021|website=Hartlepool United Football Club|language=en-GB|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715023129/https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/ben-killip-signs-new-deal/|url-status=dead}} In August 2021, Killip kept a clean sheet in Hartlepool's first game back in the Football League as Hartlepool beat Crawley Town 1–0.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036215 |title=Hartlepool United 1–0 Crawley Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=25 March 2022}} Killip's performance in the EFL Trophy semi-final against Rotherham United earned him player of the round.{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2022/march/hartlepool-uniteds-ben-killip-named-papa-johns-trophy-semi-final-player-of-the-round/ |title=Hartlepool United's Ben Killip named Papa Johns Trophy Semi-Final Player of the Round |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=25 March 2022 |access-date=25 March 2022}} Hartlepool eventually lost 5–4 on penalties with Killip saving one penalty in the shootout.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60665134 |title=Hartlepool United 2–2 Rotherham United (4–5) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2022 |access-date=25 March 2022}}
On 11 May 2022, Killip's contract option was exercised, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2022–23 season.{{Cite web|date=11 May 2022|title=Ben Killip stays|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2022/may/ben-killip-stays/|access-date=11 May 2022|website=Hartlepool United Football Club|language=en-GB}} Killip received some criticism for his form during the middle of the 2022–23 season, most notably after an error in a 1–0 defeat to Stevenage when he was getting ready to kick the ball downfield without noticing that Danny Rose was behind him, allowing Rose to steal the ball and score into an empty net in the 80th minute.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/joe-ramage-the-conflicted-opinions-about-hartlepool-united-goalkeeper-ben-killip-summarised-in-week-of-highs-and-lows-3921017 |title=Joe Ramage: The conflicted opinions about Hartlepool United goalkeeper Ben Killip summarised in week of highs and lows |author=Joe Ramage |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=17 November 2022 |access-date=29 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63523791 |title=Stevenage 1–0 Hartlepool |website=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2022 |access-date=29 January 2023}} Killip made his first appearance since January for the final game of the season against Stockport County, where he made several saves including a stoppage time penalty save in a 1–1 draw.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2023/may2/match-report-final-day-in-stockport/ |title=Match report: Final day in Stockport |publisher=Hartlepool United F.C. |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=8 May 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65445724?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA |title=Stockport finish fourth after draw with Hartlepool |author=Rob Stevens |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=8 May 2023}} The game would be Killip's 150th appearance and his last for Hartlepool as it was announced on 15 May 2023 that he would be leaving the club after he rejected a new contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65596302 |title=Ben Killip: Out-of-contract goalkeeper to leave relegated Hartlepool United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2023 |accessdate=15 May 2023}}
=Barnsley=
On 5 July 2023, Killip signed for League One club Barnsley on an initial one-year deal with the option for a further year.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/20232/july/killip-signs/|title=Ben Killip joins the Reds|website=www.barnsleyfc.co.uk|date=5 July 2023|accessdate=5 July 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66111630|title=Barnsley sign ex-Hartlepool goalkeeper Killip|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}
=Portsmouth=
In February 2025 he signed for Portsmouth on a deal until the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c863yvqzl5xo|title=Ben Killip: Portsmouth sign goalkeeper from Barnsley until end of season|date=3 February 2025|website=BBC Sport}} He was offered a new contract in May 2025, {{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2025/may/13/pompey-retained-list--summer-2025/|title=Pompey Retained List: Summer 2025|website=www.portsmouthfc.co.uk|date=13 May 2025|accessdate=13 May 2025}} and on 11 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new two-year contract.{{Cite web |date=11 June 2025 |title=Ben Killip: Portsmouth goalkeeper signs new two-year contract |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgvy24e6eqo |access-date=12 June 2025 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
International career
File:Ben Killip.jpg in 2019.]]
In September 2018, Killip received his first call up for the England C team for their game against Estonia u23s.{{Cite web|title=Ben Killip's England C call-up gives Braintree Town cheer in a tough week|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/sport/16904339.ben-killips-england-c-call-up-gives-braintree-town-cheer-tough-week/|website=Gazette News|language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
| 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"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| King's Lynn Town (loan)
|2013–14{{Cite web |url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/ben-killip |title=Ben Killip |website=www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk |access-date=3 January 2018}} |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="2"|Lowestoft Town (loans)
|rowspan="2"|2015–16 |rowspan="2"|National League North |9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in the Suffolk Premier Cup}} | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Norwich City U23s
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|88940|2016|access-date=3 January 2018}} |colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Grimsby Town
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|88940|2017|access-date=3 January 2018}} |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Braintree Town
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|88940|2018|access-date=13 November 2019}} |38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| rowspan=5|Hartlepool United
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|88940|2019|access-date=13 November 2019}} |National League |33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|88940|2020|access-date=24 October 2020}}
|National League |29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|88940|2021|access-date=7 August 2021}}
|League Two |42 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|88940|2022|access-date=31 July 2022}}
|League Two |29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!133||0||11||0||1||0||5||0||150||0 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=3|Barnsley
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|88940|2023|access-date=9 August 2023}} |League One |8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|88940|2024|access-date=3 October 2024}}
|League One |17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!25||0||4||0||1||0||6||0||36||0 | ||||||||||
| Portsmouth
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!229 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 267 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Hartlepool United
- National League play-offs: 2021
References
{{reflist}}
{{Portsmouth F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Killip, Ben}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Hounslow
Category:People from Isleworth
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Norwich City F.C. players
Category:King's Lynn Town F.C. players
Category:Lowestoft Town F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Braintree Town F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:Barnsley F.C. players
Category:Northern Premier League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English Football League players