1. Benjamin John Purkiss was born on 1 April 1984 and is an English former professional footballer and former chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association.
32 Facts About Ben Purkiss
1. 2.
Ben Purkiss spent four years at the club before winning a move to York City in 2007.
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Ben Purkiss played for York in the 2009 FA Trophy final and 2010 Conference Premier play-off final, both of which ended in defeat.
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Ben Purkiss signed with Oxford United in May 2010 and, after one season with the club, was loaned out to Darlington before he was allowed to join Hereford United in January 2012.
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Ben Purkiss joined Port Vale in June 2015 and was appointed as joint-captain the following year.
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Ben Purkiss switched to Swindon Town in June 2017 and rejoined Walsall in October 2018.
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Ben Purkiss was elected as chairman of the PFA in November 2017.
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Ben Purkiss was released by United in 2003 and joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Gainsborough Trinity, choosing to pursue a career in semi-professional football while studying for a degree in French and Law at the University of Sheffield.
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Ben Purkiss was targeted by Third Division club Scunthorpe United and was handed a trial at the club in December 2003.
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Ben Purkiss finished the season with 34 appearances for Gainsborough.
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Ben Purkiss signed a new one-year contract on 5 May 2004.
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Ben Purkiss had been considering a move to the club for some time and eventually agreed a deal that included a loan period and a four-figure sum for Gainsborough despite only five weeks being remaining on his contract.
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Ben Purkiss was offered a permanent contract with York at the end of the season after making eight appearances on loan.
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Ben Purkiss meanwhile continued his studies, graduated from the College of Law in 2009, and represented Great Britain at the 2009 Summer Universiade in Serbia.
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Ben Purkiss was made available for loan by Oxford in March 2011 and told he could leave the club permanently in the summer.
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Ben Purkiss left Oxford on 24 January 2012 after being released from his contract and subsequently signed for League Two rivals Hereford United.
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Ben Purkiss made 15 appearances for the club before leaving Edgar Street in the summer after Hereford were relegated out of the Football League.
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Ben Purkiss signed for League One club Walsall on a one-year contract on 6 August 2012 after a successful trial; he rejoined his former Hereford boss Richard O'Kelly, who had just been appointed assistant manager at Walsall.
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Ben Purkiss signed a one-year contract extension in May 2014.
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Ben Purkiss signed a two-year contract with League One club Port Vale on 24 June 2015.
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However, it was reported that Ben Purkiss was unable to return to the first-team due to a shoulder injury.
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Vale were relegated at the end of the season, after which Ben Purkiss questioned the fitness and conditioning of the squad.
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On 28 June 2017, Ben Purkiss signed for newly relegated League Two club Swindon Town on a free transfer, after turning down a new contract with Vale.
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Ben Purkiss was sometimes played out of position at centre-back by "Robins" manager Phil Brown, before he was released in May 2018.
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On 31 October 2018, Ben Purkiss rejoined Walsall on non-contract terms.
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Ben Purkiss was named in the England national C team, who represent England at non-League level, in February 2009, for a friendly against Malta under-21s.
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Ben Purkiss represented Great Britain at the 2009 Summer Universiade, playing in the Bronze Medal match against Japan.
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Ben Purkiss plays as a right-back and speaking in 2010 Oxford manager Chris Wilder described him as "an athletic footballer who likes to get forward and join in".
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Ben Purkiss was elected as chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association in November 2017, succeeding Ritchie Humphreys after five years on the management committee.
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Ben Purkiss called for an independent review into the PFA and criticized numerous decisions made by the leadership, including a perceived lack of support and research into mental health issues and dementia.
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Ben Purkiss is married to political commentator Marina Purkiss.
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Ben Purkiss worked as an employment lawyer in the City of London after leaving his role in the PFA.