William Matthew Scobie Huffer (born 30 October 1998) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Whitehawk.
 Huffer in January 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Matthew Scobie Huffer | ||
| Date of birth | 30 November 1998[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Wandsworth, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Whitehawk | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2020 | Leeds United | 1 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Barnet (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 0 | (0) |
| 2021 | Bradford City | 0 | (0) |
| 2021 | AFC Telford United | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Stalybridge Celtic | 7 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Burgess Hill Town | 19 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Carshalton Athletic | 13 | (0) |
| 2024 | Burgess Hill Town | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Whitehawk | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2014–2015 | England U17 | 7 | (0) |
| 2015 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:40, 21 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editLeeds United
editHuffer started his career at Leeds United's youth academy from an early age. On 21 December 2017, Huffer signed his first professional contract.[3][4]
He made his first appearance for Leeds' first team in a pre-season friendly 1–1 draw against York City on 20 July 2018, under recently appointed Leeds' head coach Marcelo Bielsa.[5][6]
Huffer was given the number 13 shirt for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.[7] His first call up to a senior first-team match was on 14 August when he was named on the bench in the EFL Cup win against Bolton Wanderers.[8]
He made his debut on 24 November 2018 in the EFL Championship against Bristol City, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win, after being named in the starting lineup after injuries to Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamal Blackman.[9] He remained Leeds' second choice goalkeeper until the signing of Spanish international goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid in January 2019.[10][11]
Barnet (loan)
editHuffer joined Barnet on a one-month loan on 25 January 2019.[12] He made his debut for the club on 28 January, starting in a 3–3 draw as Barnet caused an FA Cup upset to earn a replay against Championship opposition Brentford.[13] After five appearances in all competitions, Leeds recalled Huffer from his loan due to an injury to Kamil Miazek.[14]
Return to Leeds
editOn 18 May 2019, Leeds announced that Huffer, alongside fellow goalkeeper Kamil Miazek, had extended his contract by one year, with the club having taken up an automatic option on their existing contracts.[15]
Huffer left Leeds in summer 2020 when his contract was not renewed.[16]
Bradford (Park Avenue)
editHe joined Bradford (Park Avenue) on a short-term deal on 3 November 2020.[2][17]
Bradford City
editOn 7 January 2021, Huffer signed for League Two side Bradford City with the terms of the transfer undisclosed.[18] On 12 May 2021 he was one of nine players that Bradford City announced would leave the club on 30 June 2021 when their contracts expire.[19][20]
Stalybridge Celtic
editAfter a brief spell at AFC Telford United, where he was an unused substitute on one occasion, he signed for Stalybridge Celtic in October 2021.[21] He left the club in January 2022, having made eleven appearances for the club, including seven in the league.[22]
Burgess Hill Town
editHuffer joined Burgess Hill Town in January 2022 and later signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.[23]
Carshalton Athletic
editIn June 2023, Huffer joined Carshalton Athletic.[24]
Whitehawk
editIn October 2024, following a short spell back with Burgess Hill Town, Huffer joined Whitehawk.[25]
International career
editHuffer has represented England at several international levels including under-18.[4][26] Including proving to be the hero for England under-17's in 2015 saving a penalty in the World Cup Playoff Place game against Spain under-17's to qualify for the Under 17's World Cup in Chile.[27]
He was called up to the England U20 squad in 2018.[28][29]
Style of play
editYorkshire Evening Post journalist Joe Urqhuart compared Huffer's goalkeeping style similar to former England goalkeeper Joe Hart.[30] With Huffer also described as 'tall, commanding and loud'.[27]
Personal life
editIn his second year as a professional at Leeds United, Huffer started a degree in classical history in Open University.[16]
Career statistics
edit- As of 19 February 2019[8]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leeds United | 2018–19 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Barnet (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Career total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
References
edit- ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 21. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Avenue sign Championship goalkeeper in short term deal". bpafc.com. Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "WILL HUFFER PENS PROFESSIONAL DEAL". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Who are Leeds United goalkeepers Will Huffer and Kamil Miazek? Whites Bristol City options profiled". Yorkshire Evening Post. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ "RONALDO VIEIRA: EVERYONE IS FEELING FIT". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "REPORT: YORK CITY 1–1 LEEDS UNITED". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "2018/19 SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ a b Will Huffer at Soccerbase
- ^ "Leeds 2–0 Bristol City: Visiting boss Lee Johnson says hosts were 'lucky'". BBC Sport. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Leeds United sign Kiko Casilla". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Official announcement: Casilla". realmadrid.com. Real Madrid C.F. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Loan | Will Huffer joins Barnet FC". www.barnetfc.com. Barnet F.C. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Barnet 3–3 Brentford". BBC Sport. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Hay, Phil (20 February 2019). "Leeds United recall Will Huffer from Barnet after goalkeeper injury". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Leeds United 2019/20 retained list". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ a b Hay, Phil (28 October 2020). "'I just want to play football': Will Huffer on his Leeds release and injury hell". The Athletic. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Newman, Rowan (3 November 2020). "Bradford sign former Leeds United stopper to increase competition between the sticks". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Will Huffer: Bradford City sign goalkeeper from Bradford (Park Avenue)". BBC Sport. 7 January 2021.
- ^ "NINE BANTAMS TO DEPART". www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
- ^ "City wave goodbye to nine - including long-serving defensive duo". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
- ^ Dhamrait, Taran (15 October 2021). "Former Leeds United and England youth team goalkeeper joins Celtic". Stalybridge Celtic. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Player Profile: Will Huffer". Stalybridge Celtic. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ @Official_BHTFC (18 March 2022). "We are delighted to confirm that the club have secured the signature of Will Huffer until the end of next season.…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Will Huffer joins the Robins". carshaltonathletic. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Huffer of the Hawks". www.isthmian.co.uk. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Kamil Miazek profiled as Leeds United's goalkeeping injury crisis provides sudden opportunity". Leeds Live. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ a b Urquhart, Joe (31 July 2019). "Leeds United's back-up goalkeepers profiled as Bailey Peacock-Farrell nears Burnley switch". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- ^ Wylie, Jack (16 March 2018). "England Under-20s Choose Five Former Apprentices". lfe.org.uk. League Football Education. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ "ENGLAND U20S SQUAD NAMED FOR SEPTEMBER DOUBLE HEADER". thefa.com. The Football Association. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "Leeds United Podcast - Inside Elland Road: EFL TV rights, Bristol City and the Whites goalkeeping situation". Yorkshire Evening Post. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.