Will Hoskins: Difference between revisions

{{BLPUse sourcesdmy dates|date=NovemberFebruary 20102020}}

| name = Will Hoskins

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = William Richard Hoskins<ref name="Hugman2009/10">{{citeCite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 |year=2009 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |locationyear=Edinburgh2009 |isbn=978-1-84596-474-0 |editor-last=Hugman |editor-first=Barry J. |location=Edinburgh}}</ref>

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|5|6|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman2009/10"/>

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}<ref name="Hugman2009/10"/>

| currentclub = [[HemelKings Hempstead TownLangley F.C.|HemelKings Hempstead TownLangley]] (Player-Coach)

| position = [[Forward (association football)|StrikerForward]]

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]

| youthclubs1 youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2003 | youthclubs2 = [[NottsRotherham CountyUnited F.C.|NottsRotherham CountyUnited]]

| years1years3 = 2003–20072007 | clubs1clubs3 = → [[Rotherham UnitedMillwall F.C.|Rotherham UnitedMillwall]] (loan) | caps1caps3 = 73 10 | goals1goals3 = 23 2

| years2years4 = 2007–20102008 | clubs2clubs4 = → [[WatfordNottingham Forest F.C.|WatfordNottingham Forest]] (loan) | caps4 = 2 | caps2 = 60 |goals4 goals2 = 70

| years3years5 = 2010–2011 | clubs5 2007 | clubs3 = → [[MillwallBristol Rovers F.C.|MillwallBristol Rovers]] (loan) | caps5 = 43 | caps3goals5 = 10 | goals3 = 217

| years4years6 = 2011–2014 | clubs6 2008 | clubs4 = → [[NottinghamBrighton Forest& Hove Albion F.C.|NottinghamBrighton Forest& Hove Albion]] (loan) | caps6 = 18 | caps4 = 2 |goals6 goals4 = 01

| years5years7 = 2010–20112012 | clubs5clubs7 = → [[BristolSheffield RoversUnited F.C.|BristolSheffield RoversUnited]] (loan) | caps7 = 12 | goals7 | caps5 = 43 | goals5 = 172

| years6years8 = 2011–20142014–2015 | clubs6clubs8 = [[BrightonOxford & Hove AlbionUnited F.C.|BrightonOxford & Hove AlbionUnited]] | caps6caps8 = 18 4 | goals6goals8 = 10

| years7years9 = 2012 2015–2016 | clubs9 | clubs7 = → [[SheffieldExeter UnitedCity F.C.|SheffieldExeter UnitedCity]] (loan) | caps7caps9 = 128 | goals7goals9 = 21

| years8years10 = 2014–20152017–2018 | clubs8clubs10 = [[OxfordHemel UnitedHempstead Town F.C.|OxfordHemel UnitedHempstead Town]] | caps8caps10 = 419 | goals8goals10 = 03

| years9years11 = 2015–20162018 | clubs9clubs11 = [[ExeterNorthcote City F.C.FC|ExeterNorthcote City]] | caps11 = | caps9goals11 = 8 | goals9 = 1

| years10years12 = 2017–2020– | clubs10=clubs12 = [[HemelKings Hempstead TownLangley F.C.|HemelKings Hempstead TownLangley]] | caps10caps12 = 1910 | goals10goals12 = 32

| nationalteam1 nationalyears2 = 2004 | nationalteam2 = [[England national under-1819 football team|England U18U19]] | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

'''William Richard Hoskins''' (born 6 May 1986) is an [[English people|English]] [[association football|footballer]] who plays for [[Hemel{{English Hempsteadfootball Town F.C.updater|HemelKingsLan}} Hempstead Town]].<ref>[http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/hemel-chance-for-experienced-hoskins-42157 Hemel Chance For Experienced Hoskins]‚ thenationalleague.org.uk, 7 December 2017</ref> He came through the youth scheme atclub [[RotherhamKings UnitedLangley F.C.|RotherhamKings UnitedLangley]], andwhere representedhe plays as a [[EnglandForward national(association football team)|Englandforward]] at several levels up to under-20.

Hoskins was born in [[Nottingham]], [[Nottinghamshire]], where his career began at local club [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]'s School of Excellence, before he joined [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]'s youth system in [[South Yorkshire]].<ref name="ScoutKnewTalent">{{citeCite news|title=Moment scout Pat knew Will was the one|url=http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/sport/sheffield-sport/moment_scout_pat_knew_will_was_the_one_1_4227808 |accessdatetitle=Moment scout Pat knew Will was the one |date=9 February 2012 |access-date=14 February 2012 |publisher=sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk|date=9 February 2012}}</ref> Hoskins was heralded as a talent when, at just 17, he came into the [[first team (association football)|first team]] fold at Rotherham and made an impact, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win at [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in December 2003. However, he had a stop–start early career, only making one start under managers [[Ronnie Moore]] and subsequently [[Mick Harford]].<ref name="Chambers">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/whatever-happened-former-watford-brighton-1458432 |title=Whatever happened to ex-Bristol Rovers striker Will Hoskins |last=Chambers |first=Reece |date=15 April 2018 |website=bristolpost |access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref>

[[Alan Knill]] took over as manager halfway through the [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]] season, with the Millers halfway through their first campaign back in [[Football League One|League One]], and saved the club from a second successive relegation. As youth coach Knill brought Hoskins up through the youth ranks at Millmoor and handed him 12 further starts that season. Hoskins reciprocated the faith shown in him by being the only one of six out-of-contract players at the end of the 2005–06 season to sign an immediate contract renewal. Knill offered the youngster an initial one-year deal, stating that, should Hoskins prove himself in the first team, he would be rewarded with a new contract before Christmas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/striker-hoskins-earns-a-new-millers-contract-1-2394495 |title=Striker Hoskins earns a new Millers contract |website=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk |language=en |access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref>

Hoskins had an excellent [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] pre-season alongside his new strike partner [[Delroy Facey]], notably scoring twice against [[Scottish Cup]] finalists [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]]. However, he suffered a slight injury before the first match of the season and [[David Hibbert|Dave Hibbert]] had to step up to take his place. Hoskins returned to the squad less than a week later, coming on as a second-half substitute against [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]. The following week he came off the bench to score the winner against [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], securing his place in the starting eleven for the Millers. He was in the team consistently, but never had a regular strike partner due to injuries.<ref name="Chambers" />

By the end of December he had scored 15 goals in 22 appearances—seven of those in successive away games—making him the third highest scorer in [[Football League One|League One]].<ref>[http://home.skysports.com/topscorers.asp?cpid=11 League 1 Top Scorers] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022005001/http://home.skysports.com/topscorers.asp?cpid=11 |date=22 October 2006 }}</ref> Due to his consistent excellent performances he was awarded the Player of the Month award in October and was valued at an estimated £750,000+ by ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name="Chambers" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/nov/14/rotherham |title=Scouting report: Steve Claridge on Rotherham's Will Hoskins |last=Claridge |first=Steve |date=14 November 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 February 2020 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

After turning down a contract extension, Hoskins signed for [[Premier League]] club [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] along with teammate [[Lee Williamson]] on 5 January 2007 for a combined fee of £1.2&nbsp;million. He made his debut on 13 January 2007<ref>{{citeCite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com |url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3151.php |title=Tactical accessdateFormation |website=Football-Lineups.com |access-date=20 January 2007}}</ref> after coming off the bench against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. He struggled to make an impact at Watford in the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] campaign, making only three appearances. He did move on loan to [[Football League One|League One]] sideclub [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] in September 2007, where he made 12 appearances, netting four goals in his spell. He then returned to Watford and after months of speculation, he signed for [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] on loan.

On 12 August 2008, Hoskins scored his first goal for Watford, an 88th-minute winner against [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] in the first round of the [[2008–09 Football League Cup|2008–09]] [[Football League Cup|League Cup]]. On 24 January 2009, Hoskins scored the third goal in the sixty-seventh minute which led to the 4–3 victory against Crystal Palace in the third round of the [[FA Cup]].<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=33422|season=2008|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref>

Hoskins completed his transfer to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] on 8 February 2008, joining the club on loan for the rest of the season,<ref>{{citeCite news|title=Forest seal Hoskins loan switch|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7228241.stm |publishertitle=BBCForest seal Hoskins loan switch |date=8 February 2008 |accessdateaccess-date=25 October 2011 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> with Forest having the option of signing Hoskins permanently in the summer for £500,000, if he impressed manager [[Colin Calderwood]]. He made his debut in a 2–0 win over [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] at the [[City Ground]] and impressed in his first two games in a Reds shirt, being credited for his liveliness and willingness to work hard. He endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines with a troublesome back injury, and with [[Brett Ormerod]] joining from [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], Hoskins returned to Watford.

In June 2010, Hoskins signed a two-year contract with [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]].<ref>{{citeCite news| |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/8762041.stm |publisher=BBC Sport | title=Hoskins signs for Bristol Rovers | date=25 June 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> During the early parts of the season, he boasted a 1:2 goal to game ratio after a great start to the 2010/112010–11 League One campaign. On 6 November 2010 during an FA Cup first round tie against [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]], he suffered a sprained ankle injury, ruling him out for around four weeks, but came off the bench two weeks later away to [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]. In March 2011, with Bristol Rovers struggling, Hoskins was said to be leaving Rovers at the end of the season. He signed a deal with the League One champions [[Brighton & Hove Albion]] after Bristol Rovers were relegated from League One.

On 20 May 2011, Hoskins joined [[Football League Championship|Championship]] sideclub [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.<ref>[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2363535,00.html Albion sign Hoskins] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522060302/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2363535,00.html |date=22 May 2011 }}, ''Seagulls World'', 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011</ref> He played 45 minutes in Brighton's first pre-season game of the season against [[Burgess Hill Town F.C.|Burgess Hill]]. He played the second half, partnering [[Craig Mackail-Smith]], and scored a low drive from 30 yards after some neat play from [[Jamie Smith (footballer born 1989)|Jamie Smith]].<ref>[http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/9131806.Hoskins_on_target_as_Albion_stroll_to_victory/ Pre-season v Burgess Hill], ''The Argus'', 10 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011</ref> He scored his first competitive goal for Brighton on his début against Cardiff City in a 3–1 win away from home. Craig Mackail-Smith released him with a through ball and he smashed the ball in the net with a fantastic finish to put Brighton 3–0 up.<ref>{{citeCite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14471754 |title=Cardiff 1 -– 3 Brighton|publisher=[[BBC]] |date=17 August 2011 |accessdatepublisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=16 January 2013}}</ref> On 31 January 2012 Hoskins joined [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on loan for the rest of the season.<ref name="Hoskins checks in">{{citeCite news|title=Hoskins checks in|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2595181,00.html |accessdatetitle=Hoskins checks in |date=31 January 2012 |access-date=31 January 2012 |publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=31 January 2012}}</ref> Hoskins was forced to cut his loan spell short with Sheffield United and return to Brighton just before the end of the season due a hernia problem.<ref name="blades loan end">{{citeCite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-a-way-back-for-will-hoskins-1-4481027|publisher=The Sheffield Star|title=A way back for Will Hoskins |date=25 April 2012 |accessdateaccess-date=29 April 2012 |publisher=The Sheffield Star}}</ref> His second Brighton goal came as they knocked out [[Premier League]] sideclub [[Newcastle United]] of the [[FA Cup]] on 5 January 2013.<ref>{{citeCite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20863393 |title=Brighton 2-02–0 Newcastle|publisher=[[BBC]] |date=5 January 2013 |accessdatepublisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>

On 2 July 2015, Hoskins joined [[Exeter City F. C.|Exeter City]] on trial alongside [[Alex Fisher]].<ref>{{citeCite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33370620 |title=Exeter City: Will Hoskins and Alex Fisher on trial at club |date=2 July 2015 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=2 July 2015 |accessdateaccess-date=30 July 2015}}</ref> Following a successful trial period, he joined City permanently on 30 July.<ref>{{citeCite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33724390 |title=Will Hoskins: Exeter City sign former Oxford and Brighton striker |date=30 July 2015 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=30 July 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2015}}</ref> Hoskins came on to score a late winner on his debut against [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]].<ref>{{citeCite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33744354 |title=Exeter 3-23–2 Yeovil |date=8 August 2015 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=8 August 2015 |accessdateaccess-date=21 August 2015}}</ref>

Hoskins made an immediate impact when first introduced into the England U-18 squad, setting up the winning goal against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] on 29 April 2004.<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/03/EngU19_vSweden_report.htm |archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20071029051823/http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/03/EngU19_vSweden_report.htm England|archive-date=2007-10-29 U19|title=TheFA.com vs– SwedenDexter report]gets the points |date=29 October 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> He made his full first team debut for the International U20s sideteam in the 4–0 defeat to Russia on 16 August 2005 in Moscow.

[[Category:SportspeopleFootballers from Nottingham]]

[[Category:English men's footballers]]

[[Category:England men's youth international footballers]]

[[Category:AssociationMen's association football forwards]]