Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City (1981–1988) Born in
Aldershot, Hampshire, Benstead began his career as a part-time player at
Wimbledon and then entered the youth system at
Queens Park Rangers. He signed his first professional contract in 1981. He had to wait until 8 January 1983 to make what would be his only appearance for the club, which came with a start in a 3–2
FA Cup third round defeat to
West Bromwich Albion. After promotion straight back to the
First Division in
1985–86 and in the face of competition from new £100,000 signing
Bryan Gunn, Benstead began the
1986–87 season as Norwich City's first-choice goalkeeper, but a shoulder injury suffered in November 1986 effectively ended his
Carrow Road career. He lost his place to
Simon Tracey during the
1989–90 season and made just one further appearance for the club before moving to
Third Division Brentford in July 1990 for a £60,000 fee, with a further £10,000 to be paid after 25 appearances. Benstead had a successful first season with Brentford, missing just one match, keeping 23
clean sheets and winning the club's Supporters' and Players'
Player of the Year awards. Despite missing four months of the
1992–93 First Division season with knee ligament damage and a hamstring injury, Benstead made 32 appearances during the campaign, Benstead made just seven appearances during the
1996–97 season and had a non-playing spell with Kingstonian, before making a surprise return to Brentford in July 1997, as player/goalkeeping coach on a week-to-week contract. Minor surgery required by first-choice goalkeeper
Kevin Dearden meant that Benstead made his second debut for the club in a 3–1 defeat to
York City on 11 October 1997. He made one further appearance in an FA Cup first round replay versus former club Colchester United on 25 November, before being released by new manager
Micky Adams in January 1998.
Return to non-League football (1997–2004) Benstead joined
Isthmian League Premier Division club
Basingstoke Town in 1998 and wound down his career with spells at
Chertsey Town,
Farnborough Town and
Stevenage Borough. == International career ==