Mason Bennett

Mason Kane Bennett (born 15 July 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Harrogate Town.

He has also represented England Youth at U-16 and U-17 Level. He holds the record as Derby County's youngest-ever player, when he made his full debut with a start in a defeat at Middlesbrough on 22 October 2011 at the age of 15 years and 99 days old. He beat the previous record, set by Lee Holmes 9 years earlier, by 169 days. Bennett also holds the record of Derby County's youngest goal scorer with a goal against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup on 5 January 2013 at the age of 16 years and 174 days old.

Career Born in Langwith, Derbyshire and attending Shirebrook Academy, Bennett came through the Derby County Academy at Moor Farm and showed "huge potential"

He also made sparing appearances at reserve level, making his debut for the reserve team aged 14 against Sheffield Wednesday reserves on 26 October 2010. and making a substitute appearance for the reserve side in a victory at Burton Albion. Bennett's progress was such that he was named in the first team squad for the first time in the League Cup game against Shrewsbury Town on 9 August 2011, under a month after his 15th birthday. However, he remained an unused substitute as Derby lost 3–2.

He was considered for a role in a mid-week match away to Reading but, as Derby boss Nigel Clough later revealed "We would only get back from Reading at about 2am on Wednesday and he (had) school that morning!" His potential and reputation at this point was already at a level where scouts from Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool were watching his progress. He eventually made his full debut in a 2–0 defeat at Middlesbrough to become Derby's youngest ever first team player. Clough described the performance as "a very mature debut."

Bennett mainly featured for the under-21 side at the start of the 2012–13 season sporadic substitute appearances, it was in one these appearances where Bennett scored his first goal for the first team, in a 5–0 win at home to Tranmere Rovers in the first half of the FA Cup on 5 January 2013, Bennett scored the fifth goal on 87 minutes, 3 minutes after he was introduced into the action. Bennett however remained at the club and he scored his first league goal in Derby's 5–1 win at Millwall on 14 September. He has since made sporadic appearances under new Rams boss Steve McClaren including an appearance in the FA Cup Third Round on 5 January 2014 tie against Chelsea at iPro Stadium, in which Bennett impressed many fans with his pace and willingness to run at experienced full-back and England centurion Ashley Cole.

On 13 March 2014, Bennett joined League Two side Chesterfield on a month's loan. On 9 April 2014 he was recalled to Derby.

After returning to Derby County on 9 April, Bennett was left out of the squad that faced Queens Park Rangers in the 2014 Football League Championship play-off final but later signed a new four-year deal on 29 July to secure his future at the club.

On 12 August 2014 Bennett joined Bradford City on loan until January. Bennett scored his first goal for the club seven days later, in a 3–1 win away to Crawley Town. He was recalled on 14 October, having scored once in 13 matches.

Bennett joined Burton Albion on loan in January 2016.

On 28 August 2020, Bennett completed a permanent deal to Millwall, signing for an undisclosed fee having spent part of the previous season on loan at the London club.

He subsequently joined Burton Albion. On 13 May 2025 Burton said the player would leave in June when his contract expired.

On 12 June 2025, Bennett agreed to join League Two side Harrogate Town on a two-year deal.

Personal life Bennett was arrested alongside Derby teammate Tom Lawrence in September 2019 on suspicion of drink-driving. Club captain Richard Keogh was injured in the crash, and ruled out for the rest of the 2019–20 season. Derby manager Phillip Cocu said that Keogh felt responsible for the situation, and after Lawrence and Bennett both returned to Derby's team, Cocu said they were "not off the hook". Lawrence and Bennett were then both fined 6 weeks' wages by Derby, and ordered to serve 80 hours of community service and rehabilitation. On 15 October 2019 Lawrence and Bennett pleaded guilty to drink driving at Derby Magistrates Court.

International career Bennett represented England at U-16 and U-17 level whilst still only 15, and scored on his debut for the England U-17 side in the Nordic Under-17 Tournament in Iceland in 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Norway U17 in the Group Stages. He grabbed the headlines with his performance in England U-16's 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland U-16's Victory Shield, in which he set up England's opener and then scored two goals in a three-minute second-half spell. He scored another goal in a 4–2 win against Scotland U-16's as England won the Victory Shield.

On 17 January 2012, Bennett was called up to the England U-17 squad for the Algarve Tournament in February 2012, joined by his teammate Will Hughes. Bennett appeared in all 3 games, as England won the 3 game tournament with 7 points. Bennett was also called up the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship elite round in March 2012, however England failed to qualify for the main tournament, finishing 3rd in their group on 4 points, with their exit confirmed in a 4–0 loss to Spain U17. In August 2012, Bennett was called up to the England U-17 squad for the St George's Park International Tournament, which was played from August–September 2012. Bennett scored the opening goal in Englands 3–2 loss against Italy U-17's as England finished the tournament in third place out of four teams.

Career statistics

Honours Chesterfield Football League Trophy runner-up: 2013–14

England U16 Victory Shield: 2011

Individual Derby County Academy Player of the Year: 2010, 2012