Watford defender Dale Bennett is set to join Forest Green Rovers

4:48pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Sport

Picture: Action Images Picture: Action Images

Forest Green Rovers will sign Watford defender Dale Bennett on a two and a half year deal subject to a medical.

The 23-year-old has not played for the Hornets this season and has been unable to force his way into Gianfranco Zola's first team plans.

The centre-back has had two loan spells away from Vicarage Road during the campaign, the first at League Two side AFC Wimbledon and then at League One side Yeovil Town.

Bennett will link up with former Hornets coach David Hockaday, who manages Rovers, as well as ex-Watford players Al Bangura, Eddie Oshodi, Keiron Forbes, and Jamie Collins.

Bennett made his debut for the Hornets in 2008 as a substitute in a 1-0 League Cup win over West Ham United.

He had to wait until the 2009/2010 season to make his debut in the Championship but went on feature ten times for the Hornets in that campaign.

He remained in the first team squad during the following season and played 12 further games for Watford.

However, his first team opportunities were limited under former Hornets boss Sean Dyche and the centre-back joined Brentford on loan.

He played just twice for the Hornets under Dyche and hasn't featured at all since the arrival of Zola.

Bennett played a total of 25 games for Watford with 22 of those appearances coming in the Championship.


 

 

 

Comments(45)

francowatford says...
4:52pm Thu 24 Jan 13

FALL FROM GRACE

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RobboBTC says...
4:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Quite surprised at just how far he has dropped down. I recall him doing well when he 1st came into the team. I did think he'd be good enough to move onto a league 1 club. Good luck to him.

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WessexLad says...
5:01pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Yet another Watford signing by Dave Hockaday and FGR. Bennett certainly won't lack for old friends.

Best of luck, Dave. You'll be remembered for some sterling performances covering for JDM.

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WessexLad says...
5:02pm Thu 24 Jan 13

WessexLad wrote:
Yet another Watford signing by Dave Hockaday and FGR. Bennett certainly won't lack for old friends.

Best of luck, Dave. You'll be remembered for some sterling performances covering for JDM.
Sorry, Dale!

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Hampshire hornet says...
5:09pm Thu 24 Jan 13

WessexLad wrote:
WessexLad wrote:
Yet another Watford signing by Dave Hockaday and FGR. Bennett certainly won't lack for old friends.

Best of luck, Dave. You'll be remembered for some sterling performances covering for JDM.
Sorry, Dale!
Trigger...

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aefevans says...
5:13pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Even under Dyche, I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner, admittedly. I'm sure Dale and Oshodi will form a formidable defence in the Conference.

All the best.

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cliff46 says...
5:17pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I am sure he will be a great signing for them.
On the rare occasions he made it into the first team he looked as if he might develop into a decent player but his loan spells appeared to be generally disappointing.
I hope he does well for his new club, joining up with several ex Watford players including Oshodi and Bangura.

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CARDIFFHORN says...
5:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13

One of the players to suffer because of the regime. Definitely believe he is better than Conference but its his choice.

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Holly68 says...
5:58pm Thu 24 Jan 13

He will do well at FGR and regular home and football will hopefully get him back on track, FGR are a good side with a good manager so good move for him, most conference teams would beat league two sides.

Just a reminder, as with Wichelow how important it is to look after the young players, as they can often do really well at first, then lose confidence, so need to be well managed.....

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rousman 2 says...
6:02pm Thu 24 Jan 13

CARDIFFHORN wrote:
One of the players to suffer because of the regime. Definitely believe he is better than Conference but its his choice.
They are 4th in the table so maybe not such a bad move for him.

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watford1881 says...
6:19pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Couldn't care less.. Watford are on the up.. Dale just not good enough.. End of......

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lutondown says...
6:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13

watford1881 wrote:
Couldn't care less.. Watford are on the up.. Dale just not good enough.. End of......
Heartless..but true!

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grahamwfc says...
6:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Best of Luck Dale, always remember an awesome performance against WBA.
Better than conference level me thinks

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MattB14 says...
6:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13

This for me is the first negative since the Pozzo revolution - albeit a small one

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sceptic says...
7:17pm Thu 24 Jan 13

He and Edie Oshodie will be a great pair,both will make a living at football probably at a higher level than Conference.
Funny that the clowns who infest this site havent mentioned the word "dross" lately.Strange that Zola has a higher regard for the likes of Lloyd Doyley than some of the so-called fans

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gloryhornet4 says...
7:54pm Thu 24 Jan 13

rousman 2 wrote:
CARDIFFHORN wrote:
One of the players to suffer because of the regime. Definitely believe he is better than Conference but its his choice.
They are 4th in the table so maybe not such a bad move for him.
I agree he is better than life in the Conf - for financial reasons - so he must have seen the possibility of being an out of work pro.

A play off place in the Conf is no bad thing as whoever has Luton to play in effect has a bye.

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gloryhornet4 says...
7:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Hampshire hornet wrote:
WessexLad wrote:
WessexLad wrote:
Yet another Watford signing by Dave Hockaday and FGR. Bennett certainly won't lack for old friends.

Best of luck, Dave. You'll be remembered for some sterling performances covering for JDM.
Sorry, Dale!
Trigger...
HH - I need to go to Basingstoke - has the council got the salt gritters out or are they waiting for a foot of snow, as they did Dec 2009.

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lutondown says...
8:29pm Thu 24 Jan 13

MattB14 wrote:
This for me is the first negative since the Pozzo revolution - albeit a small one
How's that? He's not good enough, that's life, no room for sentiment

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smalon says...
8:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13

MattB14 wrote:
This for me is the first negative since the Pozzo revolution - albeit a small one
Can't really blame the Pozzos, he lost his way while Dyche was still in charge and the writing was on the wall.
The way Zola has given Hoban his chance it is obvious that if you are good enough, it doesn't matter how old you are.

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lutondown says...
8:36pm Thu 24 Jan 13

smalon wrote:
MattB14 wrote:
This for me is the first negative since the Pozzo revolution - albeit a small one
Can't really blame the Pozzos, he lost his way while Dyche was still in charge and the writing was on the wall.
The way Zola has given Hoban his chance it is obvious that if you are good enough, it doesn't matter how old you are.
Exactly, and why would u blame Pozzos? It would not be them who made decision!

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DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian says...
8:45pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.

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GianlucaVialli the better italian says...
8:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13

DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.
A career in fashion? Personally I hope he sticks with the football.

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lutondown says...
8:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13

DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.
And sad as it is it's the same in every business, you don't cut the mustard you're moved on

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lutondown says...
9:00pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.
A career in fashion? Personally I hope he sticks with the football.
Gordon Bennett, it's my lost minion!

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DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian says...
9:04pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.
A career in fashion? Personally I hope he sticks with the football.
Well that's clearly not what I said. If you've never heard of the term 'fashion' to mean to form something, I can only question your intellectual faculties.

Report this post »

GianlucaVialli the better italian says...
9:11pm Thu 24 Jan 13

DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.
A career in fashion? Personally I hope he sticks with the football.
Well that's clearly not what I said. If you've never heard of the term 'fashion' to mean to form something, I can only question your intellectual faculties.
You youngsters and your long complicated words. I imagine you've done some sort of English A level and believe that makes you William Wordsworth.

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DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian says...
9:14pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
I always quite liked Bennett, but if we're being honest he's never going to get a game under the current regime, and at the age of 23 he's no longer a raw youngster. I wish him all the best for the future and hope he fashions a career somewhere in the football league.
A career in fashion? Personally I hope he sticks with the football.
Well that's clearly not what I said. If you've never heard of the term 'fashion' to mean to form something, I can only question your intellectual faculties.
You youngsters and your long complicated words. I imagine you've done some sort of English A level and believe that makes you William Wordsworth.
And you assume I'm a youngster because? I have done an English A level, but I haven't used any words that wouldn't feature in anybody's standard vocabulary.

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GianlucaVialli the better italian says...
9:18pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.

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lutondown says...
9:20pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
No, I love you both the same, and Anyway Gianluca, Rinaldi is the top banana!

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DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian says...
9:23pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.

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KeithMercer says...
9:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Good luck Dale ! keep your head down, work hard and hope things progress for you . You were not exactly helped playing alongside liability Loach ! I remember him playing wall passes off of your back on more than one occasion .
Best wishes

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lutondown says...
9:28pm Thu 24 Jan 13

DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.
Come chaps, I mean your practically name brothers!

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mile high ron says...
9:41pm Thu 24 Jan 13

All the best DB: especially for the 9th feb !

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GianlucaVialli the better italian says...
9:44pm Thu 24 Jan 13

lutondown wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.
Come chaps, I mean your practically name brothers!
I agree LD, we need to stop these petty arguments. It's always rinaldi and Chris instigating them tbh.

Report this post »

lutondown says...
9:46pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
lutondown wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.
Come chaps, I mean your practically name brothers!
I agree LD, we need to stop these petty arguments. It's always rinaldi and Chris instigating them tbh.
And your the Virgin Mary

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DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian says...
9:51pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
lutondown wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.
Come chaps, I mean your practically name brothers!
I agree LD, we need to stop these petty arguments. It's always rinaldi and Chris instigating them tbh.
Yeah I'm such an instigator of arguments by making comments based on the articles. Pathetic.

Report this post »

Stoney77 says...
9:52pm Thu 24 Jan 13

CARDIFFHORN wrote:
One of the players to suffer because of the regime. Definitely believe he is better than Conference but its his choice.
I don't think he has suffered because of the regime. He hasn't broken into the team under previous 'regimes' either. Unfortunately he's not quite good enough for the Championship, if he was he would have played more than 20 odd games by the time he was 23. Best of luck Dale.

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GianlucaVialli the better italian says...
10:08pm Thu 24 Jan 13

DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
lutondown wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.
Come chaps, I mean your practically name brothers!
I agree LD, we need to stop these petty arguments. It's always rinaldi and Chris instigating them tbh.
Yeah I'm such an instigator of arguments by making comments based on the articles. Pathetic.
I'm glad Dales left, he doesn't need your sort of negative attitude around him if he wants to develop as a player.
LD and Chris may I suggest we usurp rinaldi as 'top banana'?

Report this post »

lutondown says...
10:21pm Thu 24 Jan 13

GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
lutondown wrote:
DouglasRinaldi the better Brazilian wrote:
GianlucaVialli the better italian wrote:
Calm down little fella, I've just come on here to pay my respects to the departing Dale Bennett.
Back me up LD and Chris, my amigos.
You haven't mentioned Dale Bennett once, you've just made a poor joke.
Come chaps, I mean your practically name brothers!
I agree LD, we need to stop these petty arguments. It's always rinaldi and Chris instigating them tbh.
Yeah I'm such an instigator of arguments by making comments based on the articles. Pathetic.
I'm glad Dales left, he doesn't need your sort of negative attitude around him if he wants to develop as a player.
LD and Chris may I suggest we usurp rinaldi as 'top banana'?
No don't do rebellions and Chris has bottomed out, he's taking a break!

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Roger Joslyn says...
10:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I'm a bit disappointed tbh. I always rated him and thought he'd be the next Ledley King. He will develop and be a regular in a championship team within the next 2 - 3 years. He was good enough to play for us last season but got that clash of heads with super John. Good and calm on the ball. Good luck Dale and see you soon.

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Hampshire hornet says...
11:12pm Thu 24 Jan 13

gloryhornet4 wrote:
Hampshire hornet wrote:
WessexLad wrote:
WessexLad wrote:
Yet another Watford signing by Dave Hockaday and FGR. Bennett certainly won't lack for old friends.

Best of luck, Dave. You'll be remembered for some sterling performances covering for JDM.
Sorry, Dale!
Trigger...
HH - I need to go to Basingstoke - has the council got the salt gritters out or are they waiting for a foot of snow, as they did Dec 2009.
All clear down here.. They remembered to order the grit

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londomollari says...
11:24pm Thu 24 Jan 13

He is better than conference and, if he has the will and confidence, He will make a decent first division player. Good luck to him for the future.

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D.unstable says...
11:31pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Surprised he has had to drop so low to get a club, but their is a surplus of experienced players out there. Think he would have found it tough to break though what is now in front of him, best of luck and I hope he can work his way back up over the next couple of years.

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jasonwatford says...
9:23am Fri 25 Jan 13

Ive never rated him to be honest....seems a nice lad but not good enuf even before pozzo took over. Others will go now as well

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abbotshornet says...
1:03pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Good luck for the future to Dale Bennett, I hope you do well and get your career going again, I thought you looked promising, maybe you need a fresh start.
Zola obviously feels we have plenty of cover in defence.
Shame Hoban not fit yet, however he may need a break due to his tender years.
Fingers crossed for 3 points at Forest, COYH

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