Billy Crellin
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Billy Crellin
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|full_name = William Francis Crellin{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Fleetwood Town |publisher=English Football League |page=27 |accessdate=20 October 2019}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|6|30|df=y}}
|birth_place = Blackpool, England
|height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}
|position = Goalkeeper
|currentclub =
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2018
|youthclubs1 = Fleetwood Town
|years1 = 2018–2022
|clubs1 = Fleetwood Town
|caps1 = 5
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2018
|clubs2 = → FC United of Manchester (loan)
|caps2 = 7
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2019
|clubs3 = → Chorley (loan)
|caps3 = 9
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2020–2021
|clubs4 = → Bolton Wanderers (loan)
|caps4 = 11
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2022–2025
|clubs5 = Everton
|caps5 = 0
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2024–2025
|clubs6 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)
|caps6 = 34
|goals6 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2017
|nationalteam1 = England U17
|nationalcaps1 = 1
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2017–2018
|nationalteam2 = England U18
|nationalcaps2 = 5
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2018
|nationalteam3 = England U19
|nationalcaps3 = 1
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|nationalyears4 = 2019
|nationalteam4 = England U20
|nationalcaps4 = 2
|nationalgoals4 = 0
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA U-17 World Cup}}
{{Medal|W|2017 India|}}
|club-update = 18:10, 6 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
William Francis Crellin (born 30 June 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
Club career
=Fleetwood Town=
Born in Blackpool, Crellin moved on loan from Fleetwood Town to FC United of Manchester in August 2018,{{cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/fleetwood-town-fc/fleetwood-academy-boss-donnelly-loans-to-benefit-crellin-and-co-1-9338006|title=Fleetwood academy boss Donnelly: Loans to benefit Crellin and co|date=6 September 2018|accessdate=15 January 2019|author=Rosie Swarbrick|publisher=Blackpool Gazette}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2018/august/billy-crellin-joins-fc-united-on-youth-loan-deal/|title=Billy Crellin joins FC United on youth loan deal|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=26 October 2018|publisher=Fleetwood Town F.C.}} but was recalled early in September 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/fleetwood-town-fc/fleetwood-town-boss-barton-why-we-recalled-billy-crellin-from-fc-united-1-9359856|title=Fleetwood Town boss Barton: Why we recalled Billy Crellin from FC United|date=21 September 2018|accessdate=26 October 2018|author=Rosie Swarbrick|publisher=Blackpool Gazette}}
In July 2019 he was the subject of a failed transfer bid from Premier League club Everton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/everton-transfer-latest-billy-crellin-16580035|title=Everton told to improve bid for England youth international|first=Phil|last=Kirkbride|date=13 July 2019|website=liverpoolecho}} He moved on loan to Chorley in August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/fleetwood-town-keeper-alex-cairns-backs-billy-crellin-to-shine-as-he-joins-chorley-on-a-youth-loan-1-9940962|title=Fleetwood Town keeper Alex Cairns backs Billy Crellin to shine as he joins Chorley on a youth loan|website=www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk}}
He signed on loan for Bolton Wanderers in August 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53641509|title=Billy Crellin: Bolton Wanderers sign Fleetwood Town goalkeeper on loan|work=BBC Sport|date=3 August 2020}} His debut came on 5 September in Bolton's first match of the season, a 1–2 home defeat against Bradford City in the first round of the EFL Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/report-bolton-wanderers-1-2-bradford-city/|title=Report: Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Bradford City|website=www.bwfc.co.uk}} On 28 September Crellin was defended by Bolton head coach Ian Evatt after being criticised for perceived errors in games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/18753612.bolton-wanderers-boss-ian-evatt-wont-criticise-keeper-newport-defeat/|title="No criticism" – Wanderers boss Evatt backs keeper Crellin after Newport defeat|website=The Bolton News}} A month later however, Evatt criticised Crellin, stating that he needed to "man up" and that Bolton could not afford for their goalkeeper to keep making so many mistakes, after Crellin was at fault for two of Barrow's goals in a 3–3 draw and four days later scored an own goal in a 1–1 draw against Cambridge United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/18820235.cambridge-united-1-bolton-wanderers-1---ian-evatts-post-match-reaction/|title=MATCH REACTION: Cambridge United 1 Bolton Wanderers 1|website=The Bolton News}} In the next match Crellin saved a penalty to help Bolton beat Bradford City 1–0{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54610211|title=Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Bradford City|work=BBC Sport}} and was voted Man of the Match by the Bolton fans.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/OfficialBWFC/status/1321229876536528902|title=x.com}} Evatt praised Crellin for responding to the criticism by putting on the Man of the Match display.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/18826621.bolton-1-bradford-0-ian-evatt-billy-crellin-penalty-save-first-home-win/|title=MATCH REACTION: Bolton Wanderers 1 Bradford City 0|website=The Bolton News}} Crellin continued to make mistakes however{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/18856367.will-bolton-boss-ian-evatt-stick-goalkeeper-billy-crellin-salford/|title=Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt poised to make decision on keeper Billy Crellin|website=The Bolton News}} and on 13 November he was dropped to the bench for Bolton's derby match against Salford City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54835447|title=Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Salford City|work=BBC Sport}} He then spent the rest of the season as a back up goalkeeper, first to Matt Gilks, and then to both Gilks and January signing Lukas Jensen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/19070212.bolton-boss-not-shut-door-fleetwood-loanee/|title=Bolton boss Ian Evatt on Billy Crellin's status and Tom White's exit|website=The Bolton News}}
=Everton=
On 31 January 2022, Crellin joined Everton for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal, linking up with their under-23 squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2468671/under-23s-seal-deal-for-keeper-crellin|title=Under-23s Seal Deal For Keeper Crellin|website=www.evertonfc.com|date=31 January 2022|accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/january/crellin-everton/|title=Goalkeeper Billy Crellin signs for Everton|website=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com|date=31 January 2022|accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60207597|title=Everton sign Alli from Tottenham|work=BBC Sport}} On 20 September 2023, he signed a new contract until 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3692007/crellin-signs-new-everton-contract|title=Crellin Signs New Everton Contract|website=www.evertonfc.com}}
In August 2024 he moved on loan to Accrington Stanley.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn02znd817do|title=Billy Crellin & Sonny Aljofree: Everton keeper and Man Utd defender join Accringtonon on loan|date=30 August 2024|website=BBC Sport}}
On 9 June 2025, Everton announced that Crellin would be departing the club at the end of the month upon the expiration of his contract. {{cite web|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2025/june/09/everton-player-contracts-update/|title=Everton Player Contracts Update|website=www.evertonfc.com|date=9 June 2025|accessdate=9 June 2025}}
International career
Crellin has represented England at under-17 to under-20 youth levels.{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2018/august/billy-crellin-named-in-england-u19-squad/|title=Billy Crellin named in England U19 squad|date=31 August 2018|accessdate=26 October 2018|publisher=Fleetwood Town F.C.}} In October 2017, Crellin was included in the squad for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41495760|title=U17 World Cup squad|date=4 October 2017|accessdate=21 November 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}} His only appearance in the tournament was a group stage match against Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2017/oct/14/england-u17s-v-iraq-match-report---141017|title=Young Lions beat Iraq 4–0 in Kolkata to seal spot in U17 World Cup knock-out stage|date=14 October 2017|accessdate=21 November 2018|publisher=The Football Association}}
On 14 October 2019, Crellin made his England U20 debut against Czech Republic at Peterborough United.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/oct/14/england-mu20s-czech-republic-report-141019|title=YENGLAND MU20S MISS OUT AS CZECH REPUBLIC PREVAIL AT PETERBOROUGH UNITED|date=14 October 2019|accessdate=16 October 2019|publisher=The Football Association}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 6 April 2025}}{{soccerbase|108962}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Fleetwood Town
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|108962|2018|accessdate=25 June 2022}} |rowspan="4"|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{Efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|108962|2019|accessdate=25 June 2022}}
|5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{Efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|108962|2020|accessdate=25 June 2022}}
|0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|108962|2021|accessdate=25 June 2022}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{Efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| F.C. United of Manchester (loan)
|2018–19{{Soccerway|william-francis-crellin/514116|accessdate=7 September 2020}} |7 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Chorley (loan)
|9 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Bolton Wanderers (loan)
|11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{Efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| rowspan="5"|Everton
|rowspan="4"|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|108962|2022|accessdate=11 September 2022}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|108962|2023|accessdate=24 September 2023}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|108962|2024|accessdate=5 October 2024}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Everton U21
|— |colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{Efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24
|— |colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{Efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Accrington Stanley (loan)
|League Two |34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{Efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!66 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 86 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crellin, Billy}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players
Category:F.C. United of Manchester players
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Footballers from Blackpool