Boreham Wood are pleased to announce their third signing of the season in experienced striker Paul Benson, he has joined on a one-year deal with the option of a second.
Benson signs following his release from Dagenham and Redbridge where he scored six times in 37 appearances last season as the side lost to Forest Green in the play-off semi-finals.
The 37-year-old will perform both a playing and a coaching role for Boreham Wood as he will also be training the BWFC Elite double-winning side.
The Journeyman striker has vast experience at both National League and Football League level and even holds a perfect record at international level with one goal in one game for the England C team.
Upon signing, the striker spoke of the importance of joining a club with high aspirations for the future, he asserted: “If you look at what is going on around the club, it looks like it is a really good club to be at, it is nice to be able to join a club that are looking to go forward.
“Just meeting Luke Garrard and seeing what the plans are for the future was exciting, the Chairman has done a really good job in building the club slowly and I think that they have gone on another level from last year.
“Luke seems like a really nice person and a really good manager so I am excited to play under him and I am excited to play for the club as well, it is hopefully going to be an great season.”
The striker has a proven record of scoring and assisting goals throughout his career and explained that he expects this season to be no different.
“Playing wise I want to bring some goals to the team,” Benson continued. “I will also bring that bit of leadership and experience that every club needs and hopefully try and push them on to an even higher finish than last year.
“The club finished 11th last season and that was a great achievement for them, so if we can go one better than that this season then we have got a really good chance of trying to get into the play-offs.”
The 37-year-old first caught the attention of Conference sides in the 2004/05 campaign after scoring 96 goals in 59 League games for White Ensign of the Essex Olympian League and he was soon snapped up by Dagenham and Redbridge where he would spend five years.
Spells with Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town followed after impressing with the Daggers, Benson then dropped back down into the Conference to sign for Luton Town where he played a key role in their promotion winning campaign.
Garrard was thrilled to complete the signing of a player who he believes can add vast amounts to the team both on-and-off the field.
Garrard told the club’s official website: “He brings a wealth of experience with him, he has been promoted out of this division twice before and he will come here with a knowledge and understanding of what we are expecting.
“He will also work alongside our academy and our first team forwards to give them as much knowledge as possible to gage their development, so he is coming here as a coach as much as he is a footballer.
“I am absolutely over the moon to be honest with you, I think that he is going to be a massive signing for us.”
“His hold up play is very good and his link up play is very good,” continued Garrard. “He leads the line, he is an outlet for the back four and I think that he gets you high up the park, I think he will be massive on that part.”
