[ad_pod ]
J’Neil Bennett is destined to be the answer to countless pub quiz questions over the next decade and beyond.
The Tottenham Under-18 winger scored the first goal at the club’s new stadium, against Southampton, in front of a crowd of over 25,000 at the weekend.
As the curtain rose on a piece of genuine architectural brilliance, Bennett and his teenage team-mates were not overawed by the occasion.
A former academy kid at QPR, Bennett scored the first goal, a peach, as he cut in from the left flank and curled a fine strike beyond the opposition goalkeeper.
A chant soon rang out, a familiar refrain: “J’Neil Bennett, he’s one of our own”.
Regardless of his future and how his Spurs career pans out, he has etched his name forever in the club’s folklore. He has that most unique piece of history, it will never be taken away from him and it will never be repeated.
But who exactly is the teenager that scored the goal befitting of a glorious stadium opening?
Born just six miles from the stadium, Bennett began his career in west London, playing for QPR.
But a switch to Spurs has seen him show some genuine talent and there is evidence that he could well become a first-team player in time.
During his time with the Under-18s, he has been prolific, playing predominantly on the left flank.
This season alone, he has scored seven goals in 10 games, including the brilliant strike against the Saints.
He has been capped twice by England at Under-18 level and has also played for Spurs at Under-19 and Under-23 level.
Quite clearly, Bennett is highly-rated in north London and the hope is that he could one day make the step into Pochettino’s starting XI.
Indeed, he is also adept at playing through the middle as a centre-forward and did just that in the second game of the Under-18 season, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 thumping of Swansea.
Spurs’ Under-18 side are currently second in the Premier League U18 South but have yet to lose a game – they have won 15 and drawn two. They are just one point behind Arsenal and have a game in hand.
With Bennett in the team, they could well win some prestigious silverware this term and cap an unbeaten season.
And even if they do, it won’t be Bennett’s most remarkable achievement of the season.