Hedley came through the Morecambe Academy to make his first-team debut on 6 May 2017, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute for Aaron Wildig in a 3–1 defeat at Luton Town.[2] He signed his first professional contract with the club the following month.[3]
On 15 August 2017, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Witton Albion on an initial one-month loan; "Shrimps" manager Jim Bentley said that "he'll be in good hands at Witton with the management (Carl MacCauley and Gary Martindale) who are both good football people that I trust to do right by Ben".[4] His loan spell was extended into a second month after he impressed in his first eight starts for the club,[5] and was extended a second time. He scored his first senior goal on 14 October in a 5–2 victory over Coalville Town at Wincham Park, and finished the loan spell with 19 appearances in all competitions.[6][7]
Hedley was named Morecambe's Reserve Team Player of the Year for 2017–18.[8] In 2018–19, he featured twice in the EFL Trophy,[9] and made his first Football League start on 23 October 2018 in a 1–0 defeat at home to Mansfield Town; the Lancashire Post described it as a "solid debut".[10] Despite being named as a substitute on 38 occasions, he made no more league appearances and was released at the end of the season.[9][11]
On 7 June 2019, Hedley joined National League North club Bradford (Park Avenue), managed by Garry Thompson with whom he had played at Morecambe.[12] Thompson was dismissed just two matches into the season,[13] and Hedley played in seven before leaving for another National League North club, Darlington, in early September.[9][14]
Career statistics
As of match played 21 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition