Chorley started his career at Arsenal, spending several years at the club on youth terms before signing a professional deal in 2001.
Chorley began his career at Arsenal as a trainee in 1998, progressing through the club's youth system and playing regularly for the U18 and reserve sides.
[8] He returned to Arsenal, and a year into his contract, Chorley sensed that there was "little prospect" of first-team selection, and subsequently requested a move away from the North London side.
[4] Chorley made his first-team debut for Wimbledon immediately after signing for the club, playing the whole match in a 2–0 victory over Millwall at Selhurst Park on 15 March 2003.
[8] The following campaign was Chorley's breakthrough year in first-team football, playing regularly for Wimbledon in what was ultimately their last season before the club relocated to Milton Keynes.
[22] MK Dons manager Danny Wilson stated – "He is a tremendous captain and solid centre-half – you look for strong characters to lead the team and there are none stronger than Ben.
[23][24][25][26] Chorley featured regularly during the latter stages of the campaign, making 29 appearances,[27] but could not prevent the club from being relegated to League Two as a result of a 22nd-place finish.
[32] After being deemed fit to play,[33] he made his debut for Gillingham as a second-half substitute for Andrew Crofts in a 2–0 home win over Carlisle United two days after joining the club.
[42] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2007–08 season, as Tranmere lost 2–1 at home to Leeds United at a packed Prenton Park.
[44] It was to be his only goal of the campaign, making 36 appearances in a season where he was in and out of the first-team due to facing tough competition from fellow central defender Antony Kay.
[45][46] His second year at Tranmere saw Chorley become an integral part of the side, playing in 45 of the 46 league matches, as well as making a further eight appearances in cup competitions.
[47] During the season, Chorley doubled his goal tally for the club, scoring in a 2–1 loss to Hartlepool United at Victoria Park in March 2009.
[53] Leyton Orient chief executive Matt Porter revealed that eight clubs had tried to sign Chorley after it was announced he would become a free agent.
[53] He made his debut for Orient in the club's first game of the new season, playing the whole match in a 2–1 away victory at Bristol Rovers on 8 August 2009.
[57] Chorley hit a rich vein of goalscoring form midway through the season, scoring twice in two games against Rochdale,[58][59] as well as in convincing home victories over Droylsden and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.
[60][61] The season also marked the opportunity for Chorley to face the team he grew up playing for, Arsenal, as Orient held the Premier League side to a draw in the FA Cup fifth round at Brisbane Road,[62] before eventually losing in the replay at the Emirates Stadium.
[67] He also scored a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2–2 draw away to Huddersfield Town on 24 September 2011, netting from close range in a match that Orient had trailed by two goals.
[81] In March 2013, having made eight appearances for Stevenage, Chorley underwent a double hernia operation that would ultimately rule him out for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.