Mal Benning

Malvind Singh Benning (born 2 November 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Port Vale. An attacking left-back whose parents are Indian Sikhs, he is one of a small number of British Asians in association football.

He began his career with Walsall and had loan spells with Evesham United and York City. He made his debut in the English Football League at Walsall in November 2012 and went on to feature 53 times in total, before signing with Mansfield Town in May 2015. He spent six seasons with Mansfield, making 251 appearances in all competitions. He signed with Port Vale in June 2021.

Club Career

Walsall

Benning started his career with Walsall, progressing through the youth system from the under-8 side. He played as a midfielder before gaining weight and being moved to left-back in his early teenage years. In January 2012, he joined Non-League club Evesham United, who played in the Southern League Premier Division, on a youth loan. He made his first-team debut for Walsall at the Bescot Stadium on 6 November 2012, in a 4–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United in League One, coming on as a substitute for James Chambers. He signed his first professional deal, a two-and-a-half year contract, in January 2013. He went on to start seven games and make four substitute appearances in the 2012–13 season. On 5 March 2014, he scored his first goal in senior football in a 2–1 defeat at Coventry City. He claimed another goal in a 3–2 defeat at Stevenage the following month, and ended the 2013–14 season with fifteen starts and three appearances from the bench. He was played mainly at right-back in his early career, keeping the experienced Ben Purkiss out of the team.

Benning joined League Two club York City on 22 January 2015 on a one-month loan deal, with manager Russ Wilcox looking to provide competition for the ever-present Femi Ilesanmi. He made his debut in a 1–1 home draw with Burton Albion two days later and his loan was extended by a second m