Non-League and Academy football writer

Ben Embery is a name that many in Essex football will know. From Barking in east London, Ben played for London Schools during his youth, and he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur, to their youth system in the May of 1960. Ben’s twin brother Bill also joined Spurs around this time. Ben Embery would later sign professional forms with Spurs, progressing from their youth team to their A team and their reserves, where he became a regular during a time in the 1960s. In the May of 1966, Ben would play his one and only game for the Spurs first team, in an end of season friendly match in Norway, against Norwegian side Sarpsborg. However, his contract with the club would unfortunately not be renewed for the following 1966/67 season, with Spurs. A very talented full-back and centre-half during his later career in the game and also his time at Spurs, Ben was a really fine reader of the game who had real quality on the ball, as well as a real tenacity to his game. Embery’s later career as a player would take him to Exeter City for a couple of years, before he moved to Barnet in the summer of 1968, where he would go on to become a legend at the club, alongside his old Spurs teammate Jimmy Lye. Part of the Barnet team that won the Southern League Cup, as well as the one that reached the final of the 1972 FA Trophy, Ben enjoyed some really good years with Barnet.

After leaving Barnet in the May of 1975, the Londoner would join Tilbury, where he would become player-manager for a while, before finishing his playing career, playing for Epping, Dartford and finally Ilford. Later starting his managerial career with Grays Athletic, the former Spurs player and long time West Bromwich Albion supporter would later take over as the manager of Canvey Island in 1983, it would be a position that he had until 1990. In his time with Canvey Island, Ben Embery would enjoy a largely successful time with them, winning the Essex Senior League, during his time with them. After leaving Canvey Island, Ben would join fellow Essex club Great Wakering Rovers as manager for four years during the early 1990s. And once again he took a club, this time Great Wakering Rovers, to a league title, as they were promoted to the Essex Senior League. And later on, in a six year spell with Maldon Town, Ben once again added yet another promotion to his managerial CV. Staying in Essex, Ben would take his next club, Braintree Town, into the Ryman League, to continue his great career in management in non-League football, in Essex. Towards the end of his managerial career, Embery took charge of Canvey Island’s great local rivals Concord Rangers, for a season, before finishing his managerial career with Benfleet, also on the island.

What Ben Embery achieved in his playing career, right from his footballing education at Spurs, where it was so difficult to break into the reserves, let alone the first team, to his later career as a manager, really is something to admire. I’ve spoken to a couple of the former players who played for Ben in the past, and they only have great things to say about him as a manager, as well as having great admiration and respect for him. The now retired former player and manager, who celebrated his 79th birthday earlier this month, is a very popular man on Canvey Island, and having met him in the past on a couple of occasions, I must say that he really is a top, top man, who is a real gentleman. Ben should be very proud of his long career in the game, and for what he achieved both in his playing career and also his managerial career. He is a real legend of non-League football in Essex!