Ben Muirhead

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ben Muirhead

| image = Ben Muirhead in 2010.jpg

| caption = Muirhead playinfg for Harrogate Town.

| image_size = 300

| fullname = Benjamin Robinson Muirhead{{Hugman|14162|accessdate=19 April 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|1|5|df=y}}

| birth_place = Doncaster, England

| height = {{height|m=1.75|frac=16}}{{cite web |url=http://www.redstat.co.uk/?PlayerNo=385 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200419130453/http://www.redstat.co.uk/?PlayerNo=385 |archivedate=19 April 2020 |title=Ben Muirhead |work=redStat.co.uk |publisher=redStat − Manchester United Statistics |accessdate=19 April 2020 }}

| position = Winger

| youthyears1 = 1999–2002

| youthclubs1 = Manchester United

| years1 = 2002–2003

| clubs1 = Manchester United

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2002

| clubs2 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2003–2007

| clubs3 = Bradford City

| caps3 = 112

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2007

| clubs4 = → Rochdale (loan)

| caps4 = 12

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2007–2008

| clubs5 = Rochdale

| caps5 = 31

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2008–2009

| clubs6 = Alfreton Town

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 2009

| clubs7 = Farsley Celtic

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 2009

| clubs8 = King's Lynn

| caps8 = 5

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2009–2010

| clubs9 = Harrogate Town

| caps9 = 8

| goals9 = 1

| years10 = 2010

| clubs10 = Buxton

| caps10 =

| goals10 =

| years11 = 2010–2011

| clubs11 = Armthorpe Welfare

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| years12 = 2011–2013

| clubs12 = Buxton

| caps12 =

| goals12 =

| years13 = 2013–2014

| clubs13 = Retford United

| caps13 =

| goals13 =

| years14 = 2014–2015

| clubs14 = Armthorpe Welfare

| caps14 =

| goals14 =

| years15 = 2015

| clubs15 = Buxton

| caps15 =

| goals15 =

| club-update = 18:27, 15 August 2015 (UTC)

| manageryears1 = 2015

| managerclubs1 = Armthorpe Welfare (assistant)

}}

Benjamin Robinson Muirhead (born 5 January 1983) is an English former professional footballer and coach.

As a player, he was a winger. He notably played in the Premier League for Manchester United, going on to make a loan move to Doncaster Rovers before signing with Bradford City. He played more than 100 games in four years at Bradford, before signing for Rochdale. Muirhead dropped into non-league football in 2008 where he has played for Alfreton Town, Farsley Celtic, King's Lynn, Harrogate Town and Buxton, Armthorpe Welfare and Retford United. In 2015 he returned to Armthorpe as assistant manager.

Playing career

Born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Muirhead was a highly rated youngster and played for England schoolboys, including playing against an Argentina Under-15 squad starring Carlos Tevez at Wembley. After beginning his career at Manchester United, he moved to Bradford City. He then moved to Rochdale on loan and scored on his debut versus Notts County, which Rochdale went on to win 2–1. Muirhead caught the eye of many League Two pundits during his loan spell and it was a disappointment when Bantams caretaker boss David Wetherall recalled him.

He was released by Bradford City in May 2007. The following month, he signed a permanent deal with League Two outfit Rochdale. He scored the winning penalty as Rochdale reached the play-off final after defeating Darlington.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7393797.stm |title=Rochdale 2–1 Darlington (agg 3–3) |date=17 May 2008 |accessdate=17 May 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport }} In June 2008, he was transfer listed by Rochdale. Muirhead left the club on 31 July by mutual consent, stating a wish to play higher up the Football League.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11765_3890723,00.html |title=Muirhead leaves Rochdale |date=31 July 2008 |accessdate=31 July 2008 |publisher=Sky Sports }}

Muirhead was given a trial with Darlington,{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/darlington/3570853.Last_chance_for_Darlington_trialists/ |title=Last chance for Darlington trialists |date=5 August 2008 |accessdate=10 August 2008 |work=The Northern Echo |first=Craig |last=Stoddart }} but in August 2008, he instead signed for Conference North side Alfreton Town under the management of Nicky Law, who had brought Muirhead to Bradford.{{cite news |url=http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/sport/Alfreton-Town-sign-two-more.4374248.jp |title=Alfreton Town sign two more on eve of season opener |date=9 August 2008 |accessdate=10 August 2008 |work=Ripley & Heanor News |first=Kev |last=Miles }} After a month with the club, he was rewarded for a string of good performances by being given a one-year contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/local/Oneyear-deal-for-Muirhead.4501471.jp |title=One-year deal for Muirhead |date=18 September 2008 |accessdate=18 September 2008 |work=Derbyshire Times }} He was released after one season with Alfreton because he required an operation which would keep him out of action for eight months.{{cite news |url=http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/local/Reds-in-double-swoop-.5309005.jp |title=Reds in double swoop – Alfreton Town FC |date=27 May 2009 |accessdate=17 July 2009 |work=Derbyshire Times }} He signed for Conference North side Farsley Celtic at the end of August 2009. He moved onto King's Lynn before signing for Harrogate Town in December 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.nidderdaleherald.co.uk/sport/Town-ready-themselves-for-Farsley.5942535.jp |title=Town ready themselves for Farsley |date=29 December 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2009 |work=Nidderdale Herald }} Muirhead's time at Harrogate Town would prove to be a very short one as on 8 March 2010, he left the CNG stadium and signed for Buxton F.C.

Coaching career

In June 2015 Muirhead was announced as an assistant manager at Armthorpe Welfare, alongside his role as a player there.{{cite news |url=http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/armthorpewelfare/297733/News/view/890195 |title=NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM UNVEILED |date=16 June 2015 |accessdate=15 August 2015 |publisher=Armthorpe Welfare FC }}