Benjamin Cull

Benjamin Cull (21 October 1998 – 14 September 2023) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. In 2012, Cull joined Southampton F.C.'s academy, rising through each age group. He represented England, aged 14 in their U16 team and Southampton FC in their U21 team. In 2017, Cull was diagnosed with cancer, forcing him to retire from football. On 14 September 2023, Cull died, aged 24.

Early life Cull was born on 21 October 1998, in Bournemouth, Dorset to Julie and Simon Cull. He attended Bournemouth School for Boys.

Cull started playing football from the age of 6, stating he started after 'my mum dragged me to Littledown' (a local sports centre in Bournemouth). After this, Cull starting playing with his local Sunday league team, Greenfields in the Bournemouth Youth League, aged 7.

Cull began his professional football career as part of Southampton's academy, aged 13. Other notable alumni from this academy include Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke Shaw.

Cull got engaged to his partner Daisy Morrison on Friday 18 August 2023. Cull had met Morrison in December 2019 after talking via Instagram. Morrison claimed that Cull used his cancer as a chat up line, stating that he would tell her about it 'over a date'. Morrison stated that she could not really say no. The donations paid for, amongst other things, Cull and Morrison to visit a spa and golf hotel in Wales, get tickets for the PGA BMW Championships 2022 at Wentworth and a chance for Cull to play golf at the St Andrews Golf Course.

Cull created a bucket list that included what he described as 'cliche', such as going to the Maldives and track days. Other ideas included going on a road trip to Monaco, going to Disneyland in Florida, to New York at Christmas and go on a cruise.

One idea was to go to the Formula 1 at Silverstone, which Cull did with his father in July 2022.

A left-field bucket list idea was for Cull to 'try oysters and lobster'. Cull discussed going skydiving, however, he had a fear of heights, noting only being able to go to the middle floor when climbing the Eiffel Tower.

Death On Thursday 14 September, Cull died from cancer at a Macmillan Hospice in Christchurch, Dorset, where he was receiving care. He was aged 24.

On Saturday 16 September, Southampton FC announced that before their home game against Ipswich Town on Tuesday 19 September, they would be holding a minute's applause in memory of Cull.