Billy Reeves (footballer)
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Billy Reeves
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|18|df=y}}{{cite web |title=FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2017/2018 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2017-2018/fltwo/portv.htm |website=www.footballsquads.co.uk |access-date=1 February 2021}}
| birth_place = Wrexham, Wales
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Leek Town
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Port Vale
| years1 = 2015–2018
| clubs1 = Port Vale
| caps1 = 15
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015–2016
| clubs2 = → Witton Albion (loan)
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → Hyde United (loan)
| caps3 = 14
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = → Witton Albion (loan)
| caps4 = 4
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016
| clubs5 = → Witton Albion (loan)
| caps5 = 2
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017
| clubs6 = → Stafford Rangers (loan)
| caps6 = 4
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2018
| clubs7 = Stafford Rangers
| caps7 =
| goals7 =
| years8 = 2018–2023
| clubs8 = Leek Town
| caps8 = 130
| goals8 = 10
| years9 = 2023
| clubs9 = Bootle
| caps9 = 7
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2023–2024
| clubs10 = Bury
| caps10 = 27
| goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2024–
| clubs11 = Leek Town
| caps11 = 34
| goals11 = 0
| club-update = 15:33, 16 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
William David Reeves (born 18 December 1996) is a Welsh semi-professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|LeekTown}} club Leek Town.
Reeves began his career at Port Vale in April 2015 and later went out on loan to Witton Albion, Hyde United and Stafford Rangers. He was released by Port Vale in May 2018 and joined Leek Town via Stafford Rangers later in the year. He spent five years with Leek before joining Bury via Bootle in 2023. He returned to Leek Town in the summer of 2024.
Career
=Port Vale=
Reeves graduated through the Port Vale Academy to sign professional forms in April 2015.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Lowdown on five youth players offered professional deals|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Lowdown-youth-players-offered/story-26385135-detail/story.html|accessdate=28 April 2015|work=The Sentinel|date=24 April 2015}} He joined Northern Premier League Division One North side Witton Albion on a one-month loan in November 2015.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Billy Reeves joins Witton Albion|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-billy-reeves-joins-witton-albion/story-28127663-detail/story.html|accessdate=15 July 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=6 November 2015}} His loan was extended after he established himself in the first-team and he went on to make 14 appearances, scoring one goal in a 5–0 win over Harrogate Railway Athletic on 2 January.{{cite web|title=Player Bio|url=http://wittonalbionfc.89media.co.uk/playersdetials.php?player_id=18829&team_id=21&season_id=8&division_id=2|website=wittonalbionfc.89media.co.uk|accessdate=15 July 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He then joined Hyde United on a one-month loan in February 2016.{{cite web|title=Kapend & Reeves Join Non-League Sides On Loan|url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/article/kapend-reeves-join-non-league-sides-on-loan-2951686.aspx|website=port-vale.co.uk|accessdate=12 February 2016}} He also made 14 appearances for Hyde, as the club were relegated out of the Northern Premier League Premier Division.{{cite web|title=Player Statistics: Billy Reeves|url=http://www.hydeunited.com/playerstats.php?p=899|website=hydeunited.com|accessdate=15 July 2016}}
On 16 September 2016, he returned to Witton Albion – now playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South – on a 28-day loan.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Port Vale: Billy Reeves joins Witton Albion on loan|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-billy-reeves-joins-witton-albion-on-loan/story-29722240-detail/story.html|accessdate=16 September 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=16 September 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917075926/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-billy-reeves-joins-witton-albion-on-loan/story-29722240-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}} He returned to Witton Albion on loan in mid-November, but played just two games before being sidelined with injury.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=The lowdown on Port Vale's loan deals|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/the-lowdown-on-port-vale-s-loan-deals/story-30035384-detail/story.html|accessdate=7 January 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=6 January 2017}} He joined Stafford Rangers of the Northern Premier League Premier Division on a 28-day loan on 3 February 2017.{{cite news|last1=Broome|first1=Dave|title=Stafford Rangers sign midfielder Billy Reeves from Port Vale|url=http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/stafford-rangers-sign-midfielder-billy-reeves-from-port-vale/story-30110221-detail/story.html|accessdate=4 February 2017|work=Staffordshire Newsletter|date=3 February 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203203404/http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/stafford-rangers-sign-midfielder-billy-reeves-from-port-vale/story-30110221-detail/story.html|archive-date=3 February 2017|url-status=dead}} He made his EFL League One debut for Port Vale after coming on as a 47th-minute substitute for Danny Pugh in a 1–1 draw with Southend United at Roots Hall on 4 March.{{cite news|title=Southend United 1 – 1 Port Vale|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39086473|accessdate=4 March 2017|work=BBC Sport|date=4 March 2017}} After two further substitute appearances that month he thanked central midfield partner Sam Foley and caretaker manager Michael Brown for helping him to adapt to League One football.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Port Vale's Billy Reeves relishing first-team chance|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-s-billy-reeves-thriving-on-first-team-chance/story-30216162-detail/story.html|accessdate=20 March 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=20 March 2017|language=en}} He went on to feature in 12 of the club's final 14 games of the 2016–17 relegation campaign, and signed a new one-year contract in May 2017.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Port Vale agree new deal with Billy Reeves|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-agree-new-deal-with-billy-reeves/story-30314760-detail/story.html#comments|accessdate=5 May 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=5 May 2017|language=en}}
On 7 November 2017, he scored his first goal in professional football in a 4–2 victory over Crewe Alexandra in an EFL Trophy group stage match at Vale Park.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Michael|title=Aspin revolution continues as Port Vale beat Crewe 4-2 in Checkatrade Trophy|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/neil-aspin-revolution-continues-port-743214|accessdate=8 November 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=7 November 2017}} However, he featured just eight times for the "Valiants" during the 2017–18 campaign. He was not retained by new manager Neil Aspin in May 2018.{{cite news|title=Port Vale: Neil Aspin releases 10 players from struggling League Two club|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44045937|accessdate=8 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|date=8 May 2018}}
=Non-League=
On 14 August 2018, Reeves joined Stafford Rangers on a short-term contract.{{cite news |title=Stafford Rangers snap up youngsters Lewis Banks and Billy Reeves from Stoke City and Port Vale |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/stafford-rangers-snap-up-youngsters-1893953 |accessdate=14 August 2018 |publisher=Stoke-on-Trent Live |date=13 August 2018}} On 25 September 2018, he moved on to Northern Premier League Division One West club Leek Town after manager Neil Baker lost six players to injury.{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=James |title=Ex-Port Vale midfielder in for Leek - The Evo-Stik League |url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/ex-port-vale-midfielder-in-for-leek-53057 |website=www.evostikleague.co.uk |accessdate=1 February 2019 |language=en}} The "Blues" reached the play-offs at the end of the 2018–19 season, but lost 2–1 to Radcliffe in the final.{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Richard |title=Leek Town boss Neil Baker: I'm proud of my players but better team won today |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leek-town-radcliffe-play-off-2833989 |accessdate=22 May 2019 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=4 May 2019}} The 2019–20 season was formally abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, with no promotions taking place despite Leek sitting top of the Division One South East table.{{cite web |title=Coronavirus: All football below National League to end |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52052351 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=26 March 2020 |date=26 March 2020}} He featured eleven times in the 2020–21 campaign, and was sent off in a 1–0 defeat at Kidsgrove Athletic, before the season was curtailed early due to the ongoing pandemic.{{cite web |title=FA Update On Steps 3-6 |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fa-update-on-steps-3-6-65182 |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=24 February 2021}} He made 43 appearances in the 2021–22 season. Leek were beaten 4–1 by Runcorn Linnets in the play-off semi-finals.{{cite news |title=Leek Town 1 - 4 Runcorn Linnets - The Pitching In Northern Premier League |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/match-info/match-centre/2-11199529 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=www.thenpl.co.uk |language=en}} He featured 47 times in the 2022–23 campaign as Leek finished second in the league; his goal tally of seven included a hat-trick of penalties in a 4–1 win over Prescot Cables on 20 September.{{cite news |last1=Yates |first1=John |title=Leek Town 4-1 Prescot Cables: Hat-trick of penalties for Billy Reeves |url=https://www.liverpoolworld.uk/sport/football/leek-town-4-1-prescot-cables-hat-trick-of-penalties-for-billy-reeves-3852266 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=LiverpoolWorld |date=22 September 2022 |language=en}} Leek again were beaten at home by Runcorn Linnets in the semi-finals of the play-offs, this time losing 3–1.{{cite web |title=Northern Premier League - West Division Play-off Semi final – Leek Town 1 - 3 Runcorn Linnets |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2022-2023/northern-premier-league-west-division/leek-town/runcorn-linnets/457278 |website=Football Web Pages |access-date=9 May 2023 |language=en}}
Reeves joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Bootle in May 2023.{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=James |title=Fawns swaps Mossley for Bootle - The Pitching In Northern Premier League |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fawns-swaps-mossley-for-bootle-76308 |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=www.thenpl.co.uk |date=25 May 2023 |language=en}} However, he decided to leave the club five months later following the departure of manager Dave McNabb.{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=James |title=Bootle duo exits club - The Pitching In Northern Premier League |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/bootle-duo-exits-club-78479 |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=www.thenpl.co.uk |date=11 October 2023 |language=en}} He subsequently signed with Bury in the North West Counties League Premier Division.{{cite news |title=Incoming: Billy Reeves & Tom Moore – Bury Football Club |url=https://buryfc.co.uk/incoming-billy-reeves-tom-moore/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=Bury F.C. |date=11 October 2023}} He featured 28 times in the remainder of the 2023–24 season.
Reeves rejected a new contract offer at Bury and returned to Leek Town in June 2024.{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Richard |title=Billy Reeves becomes Leek Town's 4th summer signing as he returns to the club - Moorlands Radio |url=https://moorlandsradio.co.uk/billy-reeves-becomes-leek-towns-4th-summer-signing-as-he-returns-to-the-club/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Moorlands Radio |date=15 June 2024}} He featured 36 times across the 2024–25 campaign
Style of play
The Port Vale website described Reeves as an "energetic technical midfielder". Port Vale youth team coach Mick Ede said that: "he is a powerful player who is good with the ball at his feet".{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Port Vale: A look at who could be the next Nathan Smith|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-a-look-at-who-could-be-the-next-nathan-smith/story-29745174-detail/story.html|accessdate=23 September 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=23 September 2016}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}
| 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=4|Port Vale | 2015–16{{Soccerbase season|id=86781|season=2015|accessdate=1 January 2017}} | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17{{Soccerbase season|id=86781|season=2016|accessdate=1 January 2017}} | EFL League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2017–18{{Soccerbase season|id=86781|season=2017|accessdate=1 January 2017}} | EFL League Two | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=eft|Appearance(s) and goal(s) in the EFL Trophy.}} | 1{{efn|name=eft}} | 8 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 1 | |||
| Witton Albion (loan) | 2015–16 | Northern Premier League Division One North | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Hyde United (loan) | 2015–16 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Witton Albion (loan) | 2016–17 | Northern Premier League Division One South | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=fat|Appearance/s in the FA Trophy.}} | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| rowspan=6|Leek Town | 2018–19{{cite web |title=Leek Town {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Billy Reeves {{!}} Football Web Pages |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/leek-town/appearances/billy-reeves/564567 |website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk |accessdate=2 July 2020}} | Northern Premier League Division One West | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=pof|Appearance/s in the play-offs.}} | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| 2019–20{{cite web |title=Leek Town {{!}} Appearances {{!}} William Reeves {{!}} 2019-2020 {{!}} Football Web Pages |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/leek-town/appearances/2019-2020/william-reeves/873515 |website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk |access-date=9 May 2023}} | Northern Premier League Division One South East | 27 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=fat}} | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| 2020–21 | Northern Premier League Division One South East | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=fat}} | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Northern Premier League Division One West | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|1 appearance in the FA Trophy, 2 appearances in the Staffordshire Senior Cup and 1 appearance in the play-offs.}} | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| 2022–23 | Northern Premier League Division One West | 37 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9{{efn|4 appearances in the FA Trophy, 4 appearances in the Staffordshire Senior Cup and 1 appearance in the play-offs.}} | 1 | 47 | 7 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!130 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 171 | 11 | |||
| Bootle | 2023–24{{cite web |title=Bootle {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Billy Reeves {{!}} Football Web Pages |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/bootle/appearances/billy-reeves/564567 |website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk |access-date=14 May 2024}} | Northern Premier League Division One West | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=fat}} | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Bury | 2023–24{{cite web |title=Billy Reeves – Bury Football Club |url=https://buryfc.co.uk/player/billy-reeves/ |website=Bury F.C. |access-date=14 May 2024}} | North West Counties League Premier Division | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=fav|Appearance/s in the FA Vase.}} | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| Leek Town | 2024–25{{cite web |title=Leek Town {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Billy Reeves {{!}} Football Web Pages |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/leek-town/appearances/billy-reeves/965975 |website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk |access-date=21 August 2024}} | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=ssc|Appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup.}} | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| colspan="3"|Career total{{efn|name=fnr|Full statistics for Stafford Rangers not recorded.}}
!247 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 283 | 15 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reeves, Billy}}
Category:Footballers from Wrexham
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Witton Albion F.C. players
Category:Hyde United F.C. players
Category:Stafford Rangers F.C. players
Category:Leek Town F.C. players
Category:Northern Premier League players
Category:English Football League players