Tom Bennett was a cultured midfielder whose career, stretching over 400 games, included spells at both County and this afternoon's visitors, Boston United.

Tom began his career in December 1987 as a trainee at Aston Villa, but switched to Wolves seven months later and played over 100 games for the Molineux club during a period which saw them rise from the Third to First Division.

It was in June 1995 that County boss Dave Jones paid £75,000 for his services and it proved money well spent as Tom enjoyed a tremendous career at Edgeley Park as he became a crowd favourite and helped guide the club into the First Division as runners-up to Bury at the end of the 1996-97 season.

FINEST

He missed only three games that season, scoring against Bristol City, Blackpool and York City, and his partnership with Chris Marsden is regarded as one of County's finest midfield combinations.

Those were particularly exciting times for the Hatters as it was, of course, the year when County reached the semi-final of the Coca-Cola Cup with Chesterfield, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Southampton, the last two in replays, our victims before narrowly losing over two legs to Middlesbrough.

Tom was an ever present on those great cup nights and he scored in both games against the Sheffield club, including that tremendous 5-2 success at Bramall Lane when current manager Jim Gannon was also among the scorers.

In, arguably the club's greatest-ever season, County also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup and the Northern Final of the Autoglass Trophy.

SADLY

In all, Tom played 110 League games for County before, sadly, a badly broken leg suffered at Birmingham in January 1998 interrupted his career. Almost 12 months later he joined Walsall on loan before making the move permanent the following July.

Tom looked back to his wholehearted best and, appointed captain, he led the Saddlers into the First Division via the Play-Offs. First finishing fourth in the table, Walsall then beat Stoke City over two legs and in the final at the Millennium Stadium twice came from behind to overcome Reading 3-2 in extra time.

Tom moved to Boston United in 2002 and last season saw him spend time at Kidderminster Harriers. He began this season North of the Border at Hamilton Accies but after playing three games in August he was forced to hang up his boots two months later due to injury.

Tom Bennett's full League career:

Club	Date Signed	Apps	Gls
Aston Villa	Dec 1987	0	0
Wolves	Jul 1988	115	2
Stockport County	Jun 1995	110	5
Walsall (L)	Dec 1999	4	1
Walsall (L)	Mar 2000	7	2
Walsall	Jul 2000	78	5
Boston United	Aug 2002	79	1
Kidderminster Harriers	Nov 2004	24	0
Hamilton	Jul 2005	1	0