Tom Bender

Thomas Joseph Bender (born 19 January 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for St Albans City. He has represented Wales at under-15, under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.

Club Career

Colchester United

Bender is a product of the Colchester United Academy. He made his senior debut on 19 September 2009 for Colchester in a 2–0 win against Hartlepool United, becoming the second youngest player ever to represent the club at 16 years and 243 days, just 26 days older than the record holder Lindsay Smith. Bender was named on the bench for six further games that season against Tranmere Rovers, Brentford, Wycombe Wanderers, Exeter City, Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town. On 19 January 2010, Bender signed his first professional contract until the summer of 2012.

On 12 June 2012, Bender signed a 12-month extension with Colchester following a season plagued by injury, including his high-profile head injury while on loan at Accrington Stanley and a hamstring tear in February 2012.

On 30 August 2011 Bender joined Football League Two club Accrington Stanley on a season-long loan deal. He was given shirt number 20 and made his debut as a substitute against Barnet, and had his first career start came against Carlisle United in the Football League Trophy.

On 4 October 2011, Bender was involved in a three-way collision in a match in the 39th minute between Ian Dunbavin of Accrington Stanley and Lucas Akins of Tranmere Rovers in a Football League Trophy match between the two teams. The match was subsequently abandoned because of the seriousness of the injury. Having received a full blow from his own keeper's fist, he was rushed to hospital for a brain scan. Despite unfounded rumours that he had broken his neck, Bender regained consciousness in hospital and only suffered severe concussion. On 24 February 2012, Bender returned to Colchester early due to a hamstring tear injury.

On 30 November 2012, Bender and teammate Bradley Hamilt