Ben Killip (born 24 November 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Portsmouth.
Career Early career Whilst playing for Norwich City, Killip spent two loan spells at Lowestoft Town. He signed for Grimsby Town in July 2017. He was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Killip signed for National League side Braintree Town on 31 July 2018.
Hartlepool United He moved to Hartlepool United in May 2019. In the 2019–20 season, Killip struggled for form after making several mistakes and lost the number one spot to Mitchell Beeney, however he soon regained his place in the team. The next season, Killip had a much more successful campaign managing to keep 13 clean sheets in 29 matches. On 5 April 2021, in a 2–2 draw with Boreham Wood, Killip injured his elbow and was ruled out for the rest of the 2020–21 season. Killip did, however, make the substitutes bench for the play-offs as the club won promotion to League Two in June 2021.
He signed a new contract for Hartlepool at the end of the 2020–21 season. In August 2021, Killip kept a clean sheet in Hartlepool's first game back in the Football League as Hartlepool beat Crawley Town 1–0. Killip's performance in the EFL Trophy semi-final against Rotherham United earned him player of the round. Hartlepool eventually lost 5–4 on penalties with Killip saving one penalty in the shootout.
On 11 May 2022, Killip's contract option was exercised, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2022–23 season. Killip received some criticism for his form during the middle of the 2022–23 season, most notably after an error in a 1–0 defeat to Stevenage when he was getting ready to kick the ball downfield without noticing that Danny Rose was behind him, allowing Rose to steal the ball and score into an empty net in the 80th minute. Killip made his first appearance since January for the final game of the season against Stockport County, where he made several saves including a stoppage time penalty save in a 1–1 draw. The game would be Killip's 150th appearance and his last for Hartlepool as it was announced on 15 May 2023 that he would be leaving the club after he rejected a new contract.
Barnsley On 5 July 2023, Killip signed for League One club Barnsley on an initial one-year deal with the option for a further year.
Portsmouth In February 2025 he signed for Portsmouth on a deal until the end of the season. He was offered a new contract in May 2025, and on 11 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new two-year contract. He signed a further two-year contract in August 2026.
International career
In September 2018, Killip received his first call up for the England C team for their game against Estonia u23s.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKing's Lynn Town (loan)2013–14NPL – Premier Division1000—0010Lowestoft Town (loans)2015–16National League North9000—1010014000—10150Norwich City U23s2016–17Premier League 2 – Div 2———3030Grimsby Town2017–18League Two70000030100Braintree Town2018–19National League380100010400Hartlepool United2019–20National League3304000003702020–21National League2900000002902021–22League Two4204000304902022–23League Two290301020350Total133011010501500Barnsley2023–24League One802010401502024–25League One170200020210Total250401060360Portsmouth2024–25Championship20000000202025–26Championship40001000502026–27Championship0000000000Total6000100070Career total2330160302002720
Honours Hartlepool United National League play-offs: 2021
References