.jpg) Garrity captaining Port Vale in October 2023. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Matthew Garrity[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1997-02-12)12 February 1997 (age 28)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Croxteth,Liverpool, England[3] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Port Vale | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2013 | NSC Junior | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013 | Oyster Martyrs | ||
| 2013 | Formby | 7 | (0) |
| 2013–2018 | Lower Breck | ||
| 2018–2020 | Warrington Town | 46 | (12) |
| 2020–2021 | Blackpool | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | →Oldham Athletic (loan) | 29 | (2) |
| 2021– | Port Vale | 157 | (27) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:28, 22 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Benjamin Matthew Garrity (born 12 February 1997) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forEFL League One clubPort Vale. He is also the clubcaptain.
Garrity began his career playingnon-League football atMerseyside-based clubs NSC Junior, Oyster Martyrs,Formby andLower Breck, winning Lower Breck's Player of the Season award in 2016–17. He joinedNorthern Premier League Premier Division sideWarrington Town in 2018 and impressed enough to win a move toBlackpool in January 2020, turning professional in theEnglish Football League shortly before the age of 23. He spent the 2020–21 season onloan atOldham Athletic and was sold on to Port Vale in June 2021. He helped the club to winpromotion out ofLeague Two via theplay-offs in2022 and was also named asthe club's Player of the Year. He won the award again in 2024 and won a second League Two promotion with the club at the end of the 2024–25 season.
Garrity spent his early career with NSC Junior, playing for the club in the Walton & Kirkdale Junior Football League from 2004 to 2013.[4] He then moved on to Oyster Martyrs, aSunday league team inLiverpool. In October 2013, Garrity began[5] a short spell atNorth West Counties Football League sideFormby.[6] Despite only making seven appearances, he played in four different competitions; league,Liverpool Senior Cup,[7] NWCFL League Challenge Cup,[6] and the NWCFL First Division Trophy.[8] He then moved toLower Breck in theLiverpool County Premier League.[4] He made 29 appearances for Lower Breck in the 2016–17 season, scoring eight goals and making eightassists, and was named as the club's Player of the Season.[9] He scored seven goals and made five assists from 28 appearances in the 2017–18 campaign.[10]
"I was playing Sunday and Saturday league football since I was a kid. I went into academies, but not for six weeks or anything like that, just little ones and I wouldn't go back when I was younger. I'm not saying I would have kicked on and been in those academies, I just didn't really like getting told what to do when I was younger.
— Garrity reflecting on his youth in 2021.[11]
Garrity was signed byWarrington Town in 2018.[12] He signed a new two-year deal with the club in June 2019 despite attracting interest from higher-level clubs and was described as "irreplaceable" bymanagerPaul Carden.[13] He spent 18 months with Warrington in theNorthern Premier League Premier Division, scoring 17 goals in 54 league and cup games for the club, including two goals in their 'super play-off' defeat toKing's Lynn Town at the end of the2018–19 season.[14][15][16] He missed just two league games during his time at Cantilever Park and was the club's top-scorer mid-way through the2019–20 campaign.[17] Upon leaving the club he said that he loved his time at Warrington and was disappointed not to have helped them achievepromotion.[12] He became the first Warrington player to move directly into theEnglish Football League in more than 20 years.[18]
Garrity turned professional withBlackpool on 31 January 2020, signing an 18-monthcontract, after Blackpool paid an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £25,000.[19][20] Thetransfer saw him move up four divisions to join theLeague One side.[21] ManagerSimon Grayson said the club had tracked Garrity for several months.[22] He scored on his debut for the club, in afriendly game againstCrewe Alexandra.[23]
He was allowed to leaveBloomfield Road onloan after telling managerNeil Critchley he was desperate to play first-team games.[24] On 2 September 2020, Garrity moved on loan toOldham Athletic for the2020–21 season after spending two weeks on trial atBoundary Park.[25][26] He made his debut for the club three days later in theEFL Cup, opening the scoring in a 3–0 victory overCarlisle United, heading home aBobby Grant free kick.[27] On 17 October, he scored his firstLeague Two goal in a 2–1 win away atBolton Wanderers.[28] He added further goals againstHampton & Richmond Borough in theFA Cup andBarrow in the league, leading him to be described as a "lucky charm" for the club by theWarrington Guardian's Matt Turner.[29][30][15] By January he was one of seven loan signings made by managerHarry Kewell, which left him at a disadvantage as EFL rules meant only five loanees could be named in matchday squads and four of the loanees were seen as key players.[31] He also missed two months of the season due to injury, but was praised by new managerKeith Curle for hiswork rate upon his return to action in early April.[32] Garrity ended his loan spell with the "Latics" with four goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.[2]
Though Garrity never made a competitive appearance for Blackpool, the club took an option to extend his contract shortly before his sale toPort Vale.[33]
On 4 June 2021, it was announced that Garrity would join League Two side Port Vale for an undisclosed fee.[34] ManagerDarrell Clarke described him as a "young, hungry and ambitious footballer with great energy and fitness levels".[35] He scored his first goals for the "Valiants" on 11 September, his brace securing a 2–1 victory away atSwindon Town; Clarke praised Garrity for his serious professionalism after the match, pointing out that "he has tests to make sure he is getting the right food into his system".[36] He went on to score the only goal of the game againstScunthorpe United and was nominated for September'sPlayer of the Month award.[37] On 7 December, he was played as a forward after Vale suffered an injury crisis that left them short of recognized strikers, and scored two goals to secure a 2–1 win atBristol Rovers.[38] He was nominated for March's Player of the Month award after "driving Vale forward in the absence ofcaptainTom Conlon", scoring three goals and creating another.[39] He started in theplay-off final atWembley Stadium as Vale secured promotion with a 3–0 victory overMansfield Town; Michael Baggaley ofThe Sentinel wrote that "[Garrity] never stopped running, as has been the case all season... a huge threat in the attacking midfield role".[40][41] At the club's end of season awards, Garrity was named asFan's Player of the Year, Player's Player of the Year and Supporter's Club Player of the Year.[42]
Garrity was linked with a move to League One rivalsPeterborough United in August 2022.[43] He remained an ever-present for Vale in the first quarter of the2022–23 season, playing in a deeper defensive role which restricted his opportunities to get forward and score goals.[44] He maintained his consistency into February, providing anassist forEllis Harrison to score the opening goal of a 2–1 defeat atBolton Wanderers.[45] However, he was sidelined with acalf injury at the beginning of March.[46] He signed a two-year contract extension in May;David Flitcroft, the club'sdirector of football said that he "epitomises our core values. His appetite for continual improvement in every aspect of his life and his game makes him an outstanding leader and a pivotal member of the group".[47]
He scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win overReading atVale Park on 12 August 2023 and was named on the EFL League One Team of the Week.[48][49] Supporters named him as the club's Player of the Month for September after he scored three goals and provided an assist in five games.[50] Speaking in November, managerAndy Crosby said that he felt Garrity was "probably the best in the league at... the way he arrives in that near-post area... he does it time and time again whether it is from free play or set plays".[51] Garrity was named in the EFL Team of the Week when he scored the opening goal and "made a total of two tackles, six clearances, one key pass and one successful dribble in a strong all-round display" in a 3–0 win overBlackpool on 29 December.[52] He was again voted as the club's Player of the Month.[53] However, a recurrence of his calf problems the following month saw him ruled out of action for an extended period.[54] He finished the2023–24 season as the club's top-scorer with 12 goals as Vale suffered relegation back into League Two.[55] He was voted Player of the Year by supporters, for a second time, at the end of the 2023–24 season, and remarked that "It's been a season full of ups and downs and unfortunately ended in a way we didn't want, but I can assure you that we will be doing everything we can to bounce back".[56]
New managerDarren Moore appointed Garrity as the clubcaptain in August 2024.[57] He signed a one-year contract extension later in the month.[58] He was named on the EFL Team of the Week after scoring both goals againstSalford City on the opening day of the2024–25 season.[59] He was deployed in a more defensive role as the season progressed, however, playing in a central midfield partnership withRyan Croasdale.[60] He started the first 14 league games of the campaign before being sidelined through injury at the end of October.[61] The team struggled in his absence, and by December they had won just two of the 24 league games that Garrity was not involved in since promotion had been achieved in 2022.[62] He returned to start four games in January and scored in a win againstNewport County as the Vale also returned to good form.[63] However, he was sidelined again the following month after sustaining an ankle injury.[64] He scored five goals in 29 league games throughout the campaign,[65] helping the team to secure an automatic promotion place.[66]
Garrity missed the opening four matches of the2025–26 season due to a recurrence of his ankle injury towards the end of pre-season.[67] He struggled for form as he was played in a deeper role and lacked full fitness following his return from injury.[68]
Garrity is an attacking box-to-boxmidfielder with good energy and fitness levels.[69] He has a strong aerial presence, scoring many of his goals from headers.[70] He has stated that "I am not as good as other people so I know I need to work harder than them, and then over time I will get better".[11] His ability to arrive late in the box and score goals has seen him play as an emergencystriker.[51]
Garrity worked as anengineer for five years before becoming a professional footballer in 2020.[11] He completed an apprenticeship working in plant mechanics, working on the maintenance ofcherry pickers and access machines.[71]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Formby | 2013–14[6] | North West Counties League First Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 4[a] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Warrington Town | 2018–19[72] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 3[b] | 4 | 24 | 6 | |
| 2019–20[14] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 25 | 10 | 4 | 1 | – | 1[c] | 0 | 30 | 11 | ||
| Total | 46 | 12 | 4 | 1 | – | 4 | 4 | 54 | 17 | |||
| Blackpool | 2019–20[73] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020–21[74] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Oldham Athletic (loan) | 2020–21[74] | League Two | 29 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4[d] | 0 | 38 | 4 |
| Port Vale | 2021–22[75] | League Two | 43 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[e] | 0 | 53 | 12 |
| 2022–23[76] | League One | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| 2023–24[77] | League One | 39 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3[d] | 1 | 50 | 12 | |
| 2024–25[65] | League Two | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 30 | 5 | |
| 2025–26[78] | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 157 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 184 | 30 | ||
| Career total | 235 | 41 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 24 | 5 | 283 | 51 | ||
Port Vale
Individual