Bennett, Scot
Birth Date
Birthplace
Occupation
Biographical Text
Scot Bennett came through City’s centre of excellence system and played around 140 times before departing for Notts County and, later, Newport County for whom he was to play over 350 games.
Scot became an Exeter City trainee after leaving school in 2007 and signed professional in March 2008 aged 17. He played youth and reserve games before making the first-team bench (without playing) during 2008/09. By now Scot had signed an extension to his contract and enjoyed a period on loan at Weymouth during the second half of 2009/10.
Unusually, for a homegrown player, Scot hadn’t been blooded in a cup or trophy game before he made his first-team debut in a League One fixture against Swindon Town in March 2011 followed by another against Sheffield Wednesday in September 2011. From January 2012 Scot really started to lay claim to the central midfield position as he went on a run of games as the team battled against relegation. He would also find the net three times in 2011/12 including the final goal of the season in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.
With the club now in League Two, Scot made 46 appearances in all competitions in 2012/13 when he also weighed in with half-a-dozen goals. It was almost exactly the same story the following season: 48 league and cup appearances, 6 goals. Now an established player, and seen to have a good career ahead of him, Scot was appointed club captain in July 2014 and kept up his run of games until the end of January after which he only played four more times.
These proved to be the final appearances of the eight seasons Scot spent at Exeter City, since leaving school, before he agreed a two-year contract at Notts County in May 2015. Scot went straight into the team making his debut on the opening day of the season but, by October and through to December, he was on loan to Newport before later seeing the season out at York City.
A rather more successful permanent move to Newport followed in July 2016 and, aside from being away from the club as it grappled with the financial fall-out from COVID-19, Scot remained at Rodney Parade for many seasons. After playing in all manner of memorable FA Cup games and play-offs along the way, he made his 300th appearance for Newport against Sutton United on 25 February 2023 before agreeing a further contract extension which led to him making a further 45 league appearances during 2023/24.
Still only thirty-three, he had now appeared for Newport on 367 occasions and was somewhat disappointed by the club's decision not to offer a new contract as he left Rodney Parade in June 2024 to sign for Cheltenham Town.
Appearances
League 132; Cups 9 (141)
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