Ben Starosta
Encyclopedia
Ben Mark Starosta is an English
-Polish
footballer who is a free agent. He has previously played for Sheffield United
, had a number of loan spells and represented the Polish national U-20 team
.
, England
, Starosta started his club career with Sheffield United
and had a spell in early 2006 on work experience with non-league Tamworth
. He signed a new two-year contract with Sheffield United in May 2007, before he joined Brentford
in a five-month loan deal on 1 August 2007 after impressing in two pre-season friendlies. He played 23 games in all competitions for Brentford but was sent off in his last game on Boxing Day against Wycombe Wanderers
. In January 2008, he signed for Bradford City
on loan for the rest of the 2007–08
season. He made his debut for Bradford on 26 January 2008 as a half-time substitute in a 1–1 draw away at Wrexham. He took Darren Williams
' place at right back the following game and played in a total of 15 games for Bradford, sharing first team duties with Williams.
He returned to Sheffield United at the end of the season, but he moved back to League Two when he joined Aldershot Town
on a one-month loan deal for the start of the 2008–09 season, with a view to a permanent transfer. He made his debut in Aldershot Town's game against Accrington Stanley
at the start of the season. He played four games during his loan spell, In September 2008, Starosta instead joined Polish-side Lechia Gdańsk
on a six-month loan deal. He returned to Sheffield United in February 2009 having played eleven times for the Polish side but was released at the end of the season as The Blades cut back their squad.
In summer 2009, Starosta was unveiled as one of ten new signings made by Colin Todd
at League Two side Darlington
following their spell in administration, but left on mutual consent before the season even started.
through his grandfather who immigrated to England from Poland after the Second World War
. He received his Polish passport in early 2007 and was called up to the Poland squad for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
. He started all four games, including the 1–0 defeat of Brazil on 30 June.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
footballer who is a free agent. He has previously played for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, had a number of loan spells and represented the Polish national U-20 team
Poland u-20 national football team
The Poland national under-20 football team is the national under-20 football team of Poland and is controlled by the Polish Football Association.-FIFA U-20 World Cup record:*1979 - 4th place*1981 - group phase*1983 - 3rd place*2007 - Round of 16...
.
Club career
Born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Starosta started his club career with Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and had a spell in early 2006 on work experience with non-league Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
. He signed a new two-year contract with Sheffield United in May 2007, before he joined Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in a five-month loan deal on 1 August 2007 after impressing in two pre-season friendlies. He played 23 games in all competitions for Brentford but was sent off in his last game on Boxing Day against Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
. In January 2008, he signed for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on loan for the rest of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season. He made his debut for Bradford on 26 January 2008 as a half-time substitute in a 1–1 draw away at Wrexham. He took Darren Williams
Darren Williams
Darren Williams is an English footballer who is player-manager of Whitby Town.Williams began his career at York City, but made his name at Sunderland, for whom he signed in 1996. He moved to Cardiff City in 2004, then on Hartlepool United in 2005...
' place at right back the following game and played in a total of 15 games for Bradford, sharing first team duties with Williams.
He returned to Sheffield United at the end of the season, but he moved back to League Two when he joined Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
on a one-month loan deal for the start of the 2008–09 season, with a view to a permanent transfer. He made his debut in Aldershot Town's game against Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
at the start of the season. He played four games during his loan spell, In September 2008, Starosta instead joined Polish-side Lechia Gdańsk
Lechia Gdansk
Lechia Gdańsk is a Polish football club based in Gdańsk, Poland. The club's name comes from Lechia, a poetic name for Poland. The club was founded by people expelled from Lwów, who were supporters of Lechia Lwów. Founded in 1945, Lechia was a powerhouse in Polish football during the mid-1950s...
on a six-month loan deal. He returned to Sheffield United in February 2009 having played eleven times for the Polish side but was released at the end of the season as The Blades cut back their squad.
In summer 2009, Starosta was unveiled as one of ten new signings made by Colin Todd
Colin Todd
Colin Todd is an English football manager and former player. As a player, he made more than 600 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sunderland, Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Luton Town, and also played in the North American Soccer League...
at League Two side Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
following their spell in administration, but left on mutual consent before the season even started.
International career
Starosta qualified to play for PolandPoland u-20 national football team
The Poland national under-20 football team is the national under-20 football team of Poland and is controlled by the Polish Football Association.-FIFA U-20 World Cup record:*1979 - 4th place*1981 - group phase*1983 - 3rd place*2007 - Round of 16...
through his grandfather who immigrated to England from Poland after the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He received his Polish passport in early 2007 and was called up to the Poland squad for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
. He started all four games, including the 1–0 defeat of Brazil on 30 June.
External links
- Ben Starosta player profile at sufc.co.uk
- Ben Starosta player profile at bradfordcityfc.co.uk
- Biography on 90minut.pl