Bennett returns to the Cross from Wimbledon

Alan Bennett, signed by Cork City this morning from AFC Wimbledon, is a name that City fans over a certain age will know well. Bennett spent seven years at Turner’s Cross between 2000 and 2007 and was part of the last team to win the league title on Leeside in 2005.

In January 2007 the centre back, who scored ten league goals in his time at the Cross, followed the path of Kevin Doyle and Shane Long by signing for Steve Coppell at Reading, then a Premier Division side. But Alan never made a League appearance for the Royals and made his English league debut while on loan at Southampton later that year.

Two more loan spells followed, both at Brentford, where Alan lifted the League Two title when the Bees beat Luton Town at griffin Park in May 2009. That summer Alan signed a permanent deal with the London club but a year later he was on the move again, this time to Wycombe Wanderers where he won automatic promotion from League Two under the management of former Republic of Ireland international Gary Waddock. 

After just one season with Wycombe Alan returned to League Two when he signed for Cheltenham Town where he quickly assumed the club captaincy and made 48 appearances in all competitions as Cheltenham reached the League Two play-off final in 2011/12.

Eight months later Alan’s contract was mutually terminated, allowing him to sign for Neal Ardley at AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer. In his two years with the Wombles Alan made 66 league appearances.

Having signed the defender for a second spell at Cork City, manager John Caulfield said, “It is a fantastic signing for us. He is coming in to compete in an area where we didn’t have as much competition as I would have liked; obviously we have Michael McSweeney, Dan Murray and Darren Dennehy, but it was very tight and to bring a guy of Alan’s experience in is fantastic.”

Bennett himself is excited at the move, saying “When the opportunity came around, it was a very easy decision. It was something I have always wanted to do and always said I would do, and now that it is happening, I am looking forward to it.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting some of the new players and also meeting up with players I have played with previously. We are all Cork lads and we all want to play for a Cork team that is doing well; it is something that excites me and gets me going again, and I can’t wait to get started.”