{{Short description|English footballer (born 2001)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ben Winterbottom | image = | caption = | fullname = Benjamin Harry Winterbottom<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed |url=http://www.premierleague.com/news/1869523 |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|7|16}} | birth_place = Preston, England | height = 1.88m<ref name="Soccerway" /> | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Rochdale<br>(on loan from Barrow) | clubnumber = 13 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Penwortham St Teresa's | youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2019 | youthclubs2 = Blackburn Rovers | youthyears3 = 2019–2021 | youthclubs3 = Liverpool | youthyears4 = 2021–2023 | youthclubs4 = Brentford | years1 = 2023–2025 | clubs1 = Brentford | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2023 | clubs2 = → Welling United (loan) | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2024–2025 | clubs3 = → AFC Fylde (loan) | caps3 = 41 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2025– | clubs4 = Barrow | caps4 = 3 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2026– | clubs5 = → Rochdale (loan) | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0 | club-update = 18:22, 31 March 2026 (UTC) }} '''Benjamin Harry Winterbottom''' (born 16 July 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{English football updater|Rochdale}} club Rochdale on loan from {{English football updater|Barrow}} club Barrow.
Winterbottom played youth football with Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool and Brentford, spending time on loan at non-league clubs Welling United and AFC Fylde, before signing with Barrow.
== Career ==
=== Early career === A goalkeeper, Winterbottom began his career in the academy at Blackburn Rovers at U10 level and progressed to sign a two-year scholarship in 2017.<ref name="SignsLiverpool">{{Cite web |title=Liverpool sign goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/343987-liverpool-sign-goalkeeper-ben-winterbottom |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=Liverpool FC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing the class of 2017 |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2017/may/introducing-the-class-of-2017/ |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=www.rovers.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> When heading into the final months of his scholarship,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rovers Under-18s goalkeeper snapped up by Liverpool |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17541509.rovers-under-18s-goalkeeper-snapped-liverpool/ |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> he transferred to the Liverpool academy in April 2019.<ref name="SignsLiverpool" /> Signed as a "training goalkeeper",<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explained: How three Academy deals opened up goalkeeper pathways |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/425465-explained-how-three-academy-deals-opened-up-goalkeeper-pathways |access-date=12 February 2021 |website=Liverpool FC}}</ref> Winterbottom made two appearances during the U21 team's EFL Trophy campaign.<ref name="Soccerway" /><ref name="Soccerbase1920">{{Soccerbase season|id=123804|season=2019|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> Winterbottom's signed a professional contract in July 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Winterbottom signs first professional contract with Liverpool FC |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/401523-ben-winterbottom-signs-first-professional-contract-with-liverpool-fc |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=Liverpool FC}}</ref> but he elected to transfer away from the club in January 2021.<ref name="SignsBrentford" />
=== Brentford === On 29 January 2021, Winterbottom transferred to the B team at Brentford and signed a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract, with the option of a further year,<ref name="SignsBrentford">{{Cite web |title=Ben Winterbottom signs for Brentford B from Liverpool |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/january/ben-winterbottom-signs-for-brentford-b-from-liverpool/ |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winter Transfer Window Recap |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/february/transfer-window-recap-january-2021/ |access-date=2 February 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> He participated in first team training during the 2021–22 season and was a part of the B team's London Senior Cup-winning squad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Winterbottom: "You have to see training with the First Team as an opportunity and be excited" |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2022/april/ben-winterbottom-you-have-to-see-training-with-the-first-team-as-an-opportunity-and-be-excited/ |access-date=26 April 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name="LSC">{{Cite web |title=Match Report: Brentford B win London Senior Cup on penalties |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2022/april/match-report-brentford-b-v-hendon/ |access-date=26 April 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
The one-year option on Winterbottom's contract was taken up in June 2023, and on 17 October 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brentford B squad update |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-brentford-b-squad-update |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> he signed a new two-year contract, with the option of a further year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winterbottom signs contract extension |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-ben-winterbottom-signs-brentford-contract-extension |access-date=17 October 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
On 1 August 2023, Winterbottom joined National League South club Welling United on loan,<ref name="WellingLoan">{{Cite web |title=Winterbottom joins Welling United on loan |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-winterbottom-joins-welling-united-on-loan |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> and made 18 appearances prior to its expiration on 31 December 2023.<ref name="AylesburyUnitedArchive" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Director of football Phil Giles on Brentford’s January transfer window |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/interviews-phil-giles-brentford-director-of-football-january-2024-transfer-window-review |access-date=6 February 2024 |website=Brentford FC}}</ref> He played the remainder of the 2023–24 season for Brentford B and was promoted into the first team squad in June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ji-soo Kim and Ben Winterbottom promoted to Brentford’s first-team squad |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-ji-soo-kim-ben-winterbottom-promoted-brentford-first-team-squad |access-date=7 June 2024 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Winterbottom played the 2024–25 season on loan at National League club AFC Fylde and made 41 appearances during a campaign which culminated in relegation.<ref name="ReleasedBrentford">{{Cite web |title=Brentford confirm summer departures |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-brentford-confirm-summer-departures-2025 |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=Brentford FC |language=en-gb}}</ref> He made more saves than any other National League goalkeeper during the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Winterbottom |url=https://www.barrowafc.com/teams/first-team/benwinterbottom |access-date=3 August 2025 |website=www.barrowafc.com}}</ref> Winterbottom was released by Brentford when his contract expired in June 2025.<ref name="ReleasedBrentford" />
=== Barrow === On 20 June 2025, Winterbottom transferred to League Two club Barrow and signed a two-year contract, with the option of a further year, on a free transfer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Winterbottom Signs |url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2025/june/20/ben-winterbottom-signs/ |access-date=20 June 2025 |website=www.barrowafc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c939795rn56o|title=Barrow: Goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom joins from Premier League Brentford|date=20 June 2025|website=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/25256129.barrow-afc-sign-keeper-ben-premier-league-side/|title=Barrow AFC sign player from Premier League club|date=20 June 2025|website=The Mail}}</ref>
On 25 March 2026, he signed a short-term loan deal with National League side Rochdale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/dale-loan-in-winterbottom/|title=Dale Loan In Winterbottom|date=25 March 2026|website=Rochdale A.F.C. }}</ref>
== Career statistics == {{Updated|match played 29 December 2025}}<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|id=454406|accessdate=29 January 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Liverpool U21 |2019–20<ref name="Soccerbase1920" /> |colspan="7"|―||2{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||0||2||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Brentford |2023–24<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=123804|season=2023|access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2024–25<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=123804|season=2024|access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |Welling United (loan) |2023–24<ref name="AylesburyUnitedArchive">{{Cite web |title=Ben Winterbottom {{!}} Player Profile |url=https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/ben-winterbottom/41606 |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=Aylesbury United Archive}}</ref> |National League South |14||0||4||0||colspan="2"|―||0||0||18||0 |- |AFC Fylde (loan) |2024–25<ref name="Soccerway" /> |National League |41||0||1||0||colspan="2"|―||0||0||42||0 |- |Barrow |2025–26<ref name="Soccerbase2526">{{Soccerbase season|id=123804|season=2025|access-date=4 August 2025}}</ref> |League Two |3||0||0||0||1||0||3{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||7||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !58!!0!!5!!0!!1!!0!!5!!0!!69!!0 |} {{notelist}}
== Honours == '''Brentford B''' * London Senior Cup: 2021–22<ref name="LSC" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Barrow A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winterbottom, Ben}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:English men's footballers Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players Category:Liverpool F.C. players Category:Brentford F.C. players Category:Welling United F.C. players Category:AFC Fylde players Category:Barrow A.F.C. players Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:English Football League players Category:21st-century English sportsmen