*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Peter Benevides
Appearances: 45+1 Goals: 3
Date / Year of birth: 7th May 1980
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 2004/05
Season of last appearance: 2004/05
Also played for: Rhode Island Stingrays (USA)
Hard-working 5' 10" tall American player who was born in Newport, Rhode Island in the state of New England. Peter attended Mount Hope High School in Bristol, Rhode Island and captained the school's football team, winning numerous representative honours.
In 1998 Peter started a course at the University Of Rhode Island and enjoyed great personal success playing for their football team - the Rhode Island Stingrays - in the seven seasons up to and including 2004. Throughout that time he was also part of the Olympic Development Program - a scheme intended to eventually provide players for the USA's national team.
Rhode Island played in the Atlantic 10 Conference and later the Premier Development League and Peter was a fixture in their side throughout his time at the university with the exception of the 1999 campaign which he missed due to injury. He was chosen for the honorary All-New England select side for the 2002 season after scoring nine goals during the campaign and had trials to play in America's A-League.
Having earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in accounting Peter moved to England in the summer of 2004 along with his Rhode Island football team-mate Ross Smith. Peter joined Margate on trial and the Thanet Times said he was "particularly impressive" in a 3-1 defeat at Ramsgate in a friendly played on 25.7.04. Peter then scored twice in a 3-1 friendly win over Erith & Belvedere at Welling on 7.8.04 and Margate manager Chris Kinnear decided to sign him for the 2004/05 campaign.
Peter missed the first Conference South match of the season as his international clearance hadn't come through so made his debut in midfield as Margate won 1-0 at Carshalton on 16.8.04. He kept his place for a trip to Dorchester on 21.8.04 but the Thanet Times said his "talents on the ball were little help against a physical home side who managed to force him off the ball too easily" as Margate lost 2-0. Peter then played in a 6-0 defeat against Grays at Margate's adopted home in Ashford on 24.8.04 before being left out of the side for the next two matches.
He returned to the team for a game against Hayes at Ashford on 4.9.04 and Peter scored his first goal for Margate in a 3-1 win. He wore the number two shirt in that match and then lined up in the number three jersey for a 1-0 defeat against Weymouth at Ashford on 11.9.04 as Peter started a spell where he sometimes played as a wing-back. On 14.9.04 he was sent off for handball as Margate were thrashed 7-3 at Lewes. Peter punched a goal-bound effort away but there was a dispute about whether or not the shot had already crossed the line when he intervened. The referee decided that it hadn't, dismissed Peter and awarded a penalty.
After coming on as a sub in a 4-2 win at Maidenhead on 18.9.04 Peter was back in the starting line-up for a game against Thurrock at Ashford on 21.9.04 and his strike after 72 minutes was enough to give Margate a 2-1 win. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was "fitting" that Peter got the winner as he was "outstanding despite playing in the unfamiliar role of left wing-back". It was an excellent solo goal as he picked the ball up in midfield, charged down the left and cut inside two defenders before slotting home. Peter played once more before serving a one match ban and in his first outing after his suspension he scored with another solo effort as Margate drew 1-1 with Newport at Ashford on 9.10.04.
For the next two months Peter often had to play as a wing-back on either the right or left-hand flank due to Margate's lack of players and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "a particular threat on the right-hand side" in a 2-0 win at Welling in the Conference Cup on 2.11.04. The Thanet Times felt Peter "was a threat when linking up with the attack" from his wing-back position in a 1-0 defeat against Hornchurch at Ashford on 4.12.04 and as 2004 came to an end he enjoyed a spell in his favoured midfield role.
After a run of 16 matches wearing the number eight shirt and mostly playing in midfield Peter reverted to a right wing-back role as Margate lost 2-0 to Cambridge City at Ashford on 28.3.05. He then played at either right or left wing-back in seven of the final eight games of the season as Margate were relegated from the Conference South. Peter's last outing was on 2.5.05 when he was part of the side that beat Dover 2-1 at Folkestone to win the Kent Senior Cup and in all he played 46 times (once as sub) and scored three goals. After the 2004/05 campaign ended Peter returned to the USA.
By 2012 he was Director of Finance and Marketing Planning at Sony Music Entertainment and Peter was living in New York at that time.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
CC |
KSC |
| |
|
2004/05 (MFC) |
45 (51) |
1 |
3 |
CONFERENCE SOUTH (21ST OF 22) |
3QR |
1R |
4R |
W |
|
Margate relegated to
Isthmian League Premier Division. Played in Kent Senior Cup Final (02.05.05 - beat Dover Athletic 2-1 at Folkestone Invicta FC). | |||||||||