Graham Bencini
Encyclopedia
Graham Bencini is a former professional footballer
who last played for Maltese First Division
side Tarxien Rainbows
, where he played as a defender
.
nursery, where he stayed for ten years winning all youth championship honours during that time.
At 18 years old, Graham was promoted to the senior team, and made his Maltese Premier League
debut against Naxxar Lions, during this time Bencini was also a member of the Malta U21 team.
Despite only playing one game for Sliema Wanderers
, Graham won a medel in his first professional season, with Sliema Wanderers
been crowned champions for the 1995-96
season.
, Bencini joined fellow Maltese Premier League
side Naxxar Lions the following season.
In his first season with Naxxar Lions, Bencini was voted as the Player of The Year, and made 22 appearances and even scored his first goal in the Maltese Premier League
.
The following season, Graham made 25 appearances and helped secure an eight place finish and another season in Maltese Premier League
.
season, Graham Bencini was signed by Birkirkara
, upon joining Birkirkara
, Bencini was also selected for the first time to form part on the Malta
national team under the guidance of Josep Ilic.
Bencini stayed with Birkirkara
for three seasons, making 65 appearances and winning three trophies, the Maltese Premier League
(1999-00
), MFA Super 5 Lottery Tournament (1998) and the Euro Challenge/Lowenbrau Cup (1998).
He also got the chance to take part in two exhibition matches against Juventus
and Manchester United
.
season, Bencini left Birkirkara
and joined fellow Maltese Premier League
side Ħamrun Spartans.
Graham spent three seasons with the club, making 53 appearances and scoring two goals.
in January 2004.
He spent half a season with Sliema Wanderers
, making five appearances, and winning his third Maltese Premier League
, as well as the Maltese Cup
and the MFA Super 5 Lottery Tournament.
season.
Unfortunately for Graham his Floriana career never got started and he spent the most part of the season in the treatment room after an injury ravaged season, where Graham only made a total four appearances.
team Għajnsielem for the 2005-06 season.
A host of ex-Malta
national team players were asked to join the club, and Graham was one of them, he was also joined by Maltese
players Daniel Bogdanovic
, Richard Buhagiar
and David Carabott
.
During his time with Għajnsielem, Graham won the Gozo Football League
title.
team Marsa.
In his first season Bencini achieved promotion back to the Maltese Premier League
, after finishing in 2nd place.
During his two year career with Marsa, Bencini made 39 appearances and was also the team captain.
Winner
Winner
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who last played for Maltese First Division
Maltese First Division
The Maltese First Division is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.12 teams take part in the league...
side Tarxien Rainbows
Tarxien Rainbows F.C.
Tarxien Rainbows Football Club are a football team from Tarxien, a town in southern Malta. They currently play in the Maltese Premier League.The club were founded as Little Rainbows in 1944, and participated in the Maltese Premier League for the 2009–10 season. The club was promoted to the best...
, where he played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Sliema Wanderers
Bencini began playing football when he was eight years old. He joined the Sliema WanderersSliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
nursery, where he stayed for ten years winning all youth championship honours during that time.
At 18 years old, Graham was promoted to the senior team, and made his Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
debut against Naxxar Lions, during this time Bencini was also a member of the Malta U21 team.
Despite only playing one game for Sliema Wanderers
Sliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
, Graham won a medel in his first professional season, with Sliema Wanderers
Sliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
been crowned champions for the 1995-96
Maltese Premier League 1995-96
-League standings:-References:*...
season.
Naxxar Lions
With first team opportunities hard to come by at Sliema WanderersSliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
, Bencini joined fellow Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
side Naxxar Lions the following season.
In his first season with Naxxar Lions, Bencini was voted as the Player of The Year, and made 22 appearances and even scored his first goal in the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
.
The following season, Graham made 25 appearances and helped secure an eight place finish and another season in Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
.
Birkirkara
For the 1998-99Maltese Premier League 1998-99
-League standings:-References:*...
season, Graham Bencini was signed by Birkirkara
Birkirkara F.C.
Birkirkara Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Birkirkara, the largest town on the island of Malta. In the 2009–2010 season, they were the Maltese champions. The club currently plays in the Maltese Premier League and have been league winners on three occasions...
, upon joining Birkirkara
Birkirkara F.C.
Birkirkara Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Birkirkara, the largest town on the island of Malta. In the 2009–2010 season, they were the Maltese champions. The club currently plays in the Maltese Premier League and have been league winners on three occasions...
, Bencini was also selected for the first time to form part on the Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
national team under the guidance of Josep Ilic.
Bencini stayed with Birkirkara
Birkirkara F.C.
Birkirkara Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Birkirkara, the largest town on the island of Malta. In the 2009–2010 season, they were the Maltese champions. The club currently plays in the Maltese Premier League and have been league winners on three occasions...
for three seasons, making 65 appearances and winning three trophies, the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
(1999-00
Maltese Premier League 1999-00
-First stage:-Championship Group:-Relegation Group:-References:*...
), MFA Super 5 Lottery Tournament (1998) and the Euro Challenge/Lowenbrau Cup (1998).
He also got the chance to take part in two exhibition matches against Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Ħamrun Spartans
For the 2001-02Maltese Premier League 2001-02
-First stage:-Championship Group:-Relegation Group:-References:*...
season, Bencini left Birkirkara
Birkirkara F.C.
Birkirkara Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Birkirkara, the largest town on the island of Malta. In the 2009–2010 season, they were the Maltese champions. The club currently plays in the Maltese Premier League and have been league winners on three occasions...
and joined fellow Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
side Ħamrun Spartans.
Graham spent three seasons with the club, making 53 appearances and scoring two goals.
Sliema Wanderers
Following some good form with Ħamrun Spartans, Bencini re-joined his home town club Sliema WanderersSliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
in January 2004.
He spent half a season with Sliema Wanderers
Sliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
, making five appearances, and winning his third Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
, as well as the Maltese Cup
Maltese Cup
The U Bet FA Trophy, formerly known as the Rothman's Trophy, is a football competition that takes place in Malta.Widely known as the F.A. Trophy, it was a gift from the British by The Football Association in 1933. This followed a match between England and Italy, played in Rome in May 1933, to where...
and the MFA Super 5 Lottery Tournament.
Floriana
In May 2004, Bencini joined Floriana for the 2004-05Maltese Premier League 2004-05
-First stage:-Championship Group:-Relegation Group:-References:*...
season.
Unfortunately for Graham his Floriana career never got started and he spent the most part of the season in the treatment room after an injury ravaged season, where Graham only made a total four appearances.
Għajnsielem
Bencini then moved to join Gozo Football LeagueGozo Football League
The Gozo Football League is a football competition for clubs on the Maltese island of Gozo.The league is run by the Gozo Football Association and currently has 14 teams split equally into two divisions, the First Division and the Second Division, thus making it two levels in the process...
team Għajnsielem for the 2005-06 season.
A host of ex-Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
national team players were asked to join the club, and Graham was one of them, he was also joined by Maltese
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
players Daniel Bogdanovic
Daniel Bogdanovic
Danijel Bogdanović , more commonly spelled Daniel Bogdanović, is a Maltese professional footballer of Serb descent who plays as a striker for Blackpool.- Playing career :...
, Richard Buhagiar
Richard Buhagiar
Richard Buhagiar was an Australian born, Maltese professional footballer. During his career, he played as a defender for Floriana, Sliema Wanderers, Marsaxlokk and Għajnsielem.- Floriana:Winner...
and David Carabott
David Carabott
David Carabott is a former professional footballer who played for many teams in Malta, where he used to play as a defender.During his career, Carabott has played for Hibernians, Valletta, Marsaxlokk, Msida St...
.
During his time with Għajnsielem, Graham won the Gozo Football League
Gozo Football League
The Gozo Football League is a football competition for clubs on the Maltese island of Gozo.The league is run by the Gozo Football Association and currently has 14 teams split equally into two divisions, the First Division and the Second Division, thus making it two levels in the process...
title.
Marsa
Graham returned to Malta for 2005-06 season, he joined Maltese First DivisionMaltese First Division
The Maltese First Division is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.12 teams take part in the league...
team Marsa.
In his first season Bencini achieved promotion back to the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
, after finishing in 2nd place.
During his two year career with Marsa, Bencini made 39 appearances and was also the team captain.
Sliema Wanderers
Winner
- 1995/96, 2003/04 Maltese Premier LeagueMaltese Premier LeagueThe Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
- 2004 Maltese CupMaltese CupThe U Bet FA Trophy, formerly known as the Rothman's Trophy, is a football competition that takes place in Malta.Widely known as the F.A. Trophy, it was a gift from the British by The Football Association in 1933. This followed a match between England and Italy, played in Rome in May 1933, to where...
- 2004 MFA Super 5 Lottery Tournament
Birkirkara
Winner
- 1999/00 Maltese Premier LeagueMaltese Premier LeagueThe Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
- 1998 MFA Super 5 Lottery Tournament
- 1998 Euro Challenge/Lowenbrau Cup