Oliver Hawkins

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Oliver Hawkins

| image = OH Mansfield.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Hawkins playing for Mansfield Town in 2022

| fullname = Oliver Jack Hawkins{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Portsmouth |publisher=English Football League |page=56 |access-date=25 October 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|4|8|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Oliver Hawkins |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/oliver-hawkins-243181/|work=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=19 November 2016}}

| birth_place = Ealing, England

| height = {{convert|1.98|m|order=flip}}

| position = Forward/defender

| currentclub = Gillingham

| clubnumber = 12

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2009–2010

| clubs1 = North Greenford United

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2010–2011

| clubs2 = Hillingdon Borough

| caps2 = 24

| goals2 = 10

| years3 = 2011–2013

| clubs3 = Northwood

| caps3 = 90

| goals3 = 34

| years4 = 2013–2016

| clubs4 = Hemel Hempstead Town

| caps4 = 81

| goals4 = 24

| years5 = 2013–2014

| clubs5 = → Harrow Borough (dual-reg)

| caps5 = 11

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2016–2017

| clubs6 = Dagenham & Redbridge

| caps6 = 63

| goals6 = 19

| years7 = 2017–2020

| clubs7 = Portsmouth

| caps7 = 77

| goals7 = 14

| years8 = 2020–2021

| clubs8 = Ipswich Town

| caps8 = 20

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2021–2023

| clubs9 = Mansfield Town

| caps9 = 63

| goals9 = 10

| years10 = 2023–

| clubs10 = Gillingham

| caps10 = 31

| goals10 = 5

| club-update = 23:46, 11 February 2024 (UTC)

}}

Oliver Jack Hawkins (born 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker or centre back for {{English football updater|Gillingh}} side Gillingham.

Club career

=Early career=

Hawkins began his career at North Greenford United but it was at Hillingdon Borough where he really began to break through, scoring 10 goals during the 2010–11 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/oliver-hawkins|title=Oliver Hawkins Profile | Aylesbury United FC|publisher=aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk|access-date=16 January 2016}} He joined Northwood in 2011. Hawkins would finish as Northwood's top scorer, scoring 19 goals in all competitions in both seasons (2011–12, 2012–13).{{cite web|url=http://www.northwoodfc.com/AZ/H/Hawkins-Oliver.html|title=Northwood F C ||publisher=northwoodfc.com|access-date=16 January 2016}}

Unsurprisingly Hawkins' excellent form attracted the attention of clubs at higher levels, and the striker duly signed for then Southern League Premier Division side Hemel Hempstead Town in the summer of 2013 having impressed in pre-season. Hawkins would spend time at Isthmian League side Harrow Borough, before returning and establishing himself as a regular for the Tudors.

During the 2013–14 season, Hawkins helped Hemel Hempstead Town earn promotion as champions of the Southern League Premier Division, making 23 league appearances and scoring four times. During the 2014–15 season he found his goalscoring touch, and he also lined up against Bury in the first round of the FA Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29907066|title=BBC Sport – Bury 3–1 Hemel Hempstead Town|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 January 2016}} The striker remained a prolific scorer as the club embarked on their second season in the National League South.

=Dagenham & Redbridge=

On 15 January 2016, Hawkins completed his move to League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/daggers-sign-striker-2902256.aspx|title=Daggers Sign Striker|publisher=daggers.co.uk|access-date=16 January 2016}} Hawkins had first come to the attention of Dagenham boss John Still when Still was manager of Luton Town. He made his debut the next day as an 81st-minute substitute against Northampton Town.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35270301|title = Dagenham & Redbridge 1-2 Northampton Town|work = BBC Sport}} His first Football League goal came on 20 February 2016 in a 3–2 defeat against Mansfield Town.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35567286|title=Mansfield Town 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge|work=BBC Sport}} Hawkins was unable to help prevent Dagenham's relegation to the National League in 2016.

=Portsmouth=

On 31 August 2017, Hawkins signed for League One side Portsmouth on transfer deadline day, joining on a 3-year deal.{{cite news|title=Blues Bring In Hawkins|url=https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2017/august/blues-bring-in-hawkins/|access-date=31 August 2017|publisher=Portsmouth Official Site|date=31 August 2017}} He made his debut for Portsmouth against Rotherham United on 3 September.{{cite news|title=Portsmouth 0–1 Rotherham United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41064651|access-date=31 August 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 September 2017}} He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win over Bristol Rovers on 26 September.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41315347|title=Portsmouth 3–0 Bristol Rovers |publisher=BBC|date=26 September 2017 |access-date=27 September 2017}} He scored 8 goals in 35 appearances in his first season at the club, including braces in wins against Milton Keyenes Dons and Northampton Town. Hawkins displayed versatility for Portsmouth, filling in as a central defender on several occasions during his time at the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/pompey/hawkins-i-could-become-best-defender-in-league-one-with-pompey-1-8272548|title=Hawkins: I could become best defender in League One with Pompey|publisher=The News|date=2 December 2017 |access-date=2 December 2017}}

Hawkins became a key part of the Portsmouth squad during the 2018–19 season. He featured regularly as a striker as Portsmouth finished 4th in the league, while also reaching the final of the 2018–19 EFL Trophy Final, which took place on 31 March 2019 at Wembley. Hawkins scored the winning spotkick in the penalty shootout to win the trophy for Portsmouth for the first time in the club's history.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/31/portsmouth-sunderland-checkatrade-trophy-final-match-report|title=Portsmouth's Oliver Hawkins sinks Sunderland to seal Checkatrade Trophy|last=Wembley|first=Ben Fisher at|date=31 March 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

He featured less regularly during the 2019–20 season, making 9 starts and 3 substitute appearances without scoring during an injury hit season. Hawkins left Portsmouth at the end of the 2019–20 season after Pompey's play-off semi final exit.{{cite news |title=Pompey Retained List: Summer 2020 |url=https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/pompey-retained-list-summer-2020/ |access-date=15 July 2020 |publisher=Portsmouth F.C. |date=9 July 2020}}

=Ipswich Town=

On 17 August 2020, Hawkins signed a 2-year deal at League One side Ipswich Town.{{Cite news|url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2020/august/ipswich-sign-ward-hawkins-and-cornell/|title= Town Land Trio|date=17 August 2020|work=Ipswich Town|access-date=17 August 2020|language=en-GB}} He made his debut for the club on 5 September, featuring as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 home win over Bristol Rovers at Portman Road in a first round EFL Cup tie.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/ipswich-vs-bristol-r/teams/428557|title= Ipswich Town 3 – Bristol Rovers|date=5 September 2020|work=Sky Sports|access-date=26 September 2020|language=en-GB}} He scored his first goal for Ipswich in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra on 31 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54671143 |title=Ipswich 1–0 Crewe |date=31 October 2020 |publisher=BBC|access-date=31 October 2020}} On 22 January, Ipswich announced that Hawkins required a knee operation which would rule him out of action for up to 6 weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/oli-hawkins-out-for-up-to-six-weeks/ |title=Injury Blow for Oli |date=22 January 2021 |publisher=Ipswich Town F.C.|access-date=24 January 2021}} He ended the season having made 23 appearances for Ipswich, scoring once.

=Mansfield Town=

On 21 June 2021, Hawkins joined Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/june/stags-sign-ipswich-striker/ |title=Stags sign Ipswich striker |date=21 June 2021 |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C.|access-date=21 June 2021}} He scored on his debut in a 2-1 win against Bristol Rovers. On 28 May 2022 he was sent off in the League Two play-off final against Port Vale.

=Gillingham=

Hawkins joined fellow League Two club Gillingham in January 2023 for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-sell-oli-hawkins-to-rivals-gillingham-3984525|title=Mansfield Town sell Oli Hawkins to rivals Gillingham|first=Stephen|last=Thirkill|work=The Chad|date=12 January 2023|accessdate=12 January 2023}} On 15 May 2024, the club put him on the transfer list.{{Cite web |title=Gillingham FC Released and Retained List 2024 |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2024/may/gillingham-fc-retained-list/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.gillinghamfootballclub.com |language=en-gb}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hillingdon Borough \|2010–11{{cite web \|title=Games played by Oliver Hawkins – Aylesbury United\|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/oliver-hawkins#playingcareer\|work=Aylesbury United\|access-date=19 January 2016}} \|SSM Premier Division \|24	10	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	2Appearances in FA Vase	0	27	10
rowspan="4"\|Northwood \|2010–11 \|SL Division One Central \|9	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	9	1
2011–12 \|SL Division One Central \|40	16	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	7Appearance(s) in FA Trophy	3	48	19
2012–13 \|SL Division One Central \|41	17	5	0	colspan="2"\|—	9	2	55	19
colspan="2"\|Total !90	34	6	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	5	112	39
rowspan="4"\|Hemel Hempstead Town \|2013–14 \|SL Premier Division \|23	4	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	3	0	29	4
2014–15{{cite web \|title=Games played by Oliver Hawkins – Soccerway\|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/oliver-hawkins/319577/ \|work=Soccerway\|access-date=19 January 2016}} \|Conference South \|38	12	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	4	2	46	14
2015–16 \|National League South \|20	8	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	1	2	24	11
colspan="2"\|Total !81	24	10	1	colspan="2"\|—	8	4	99	29
Harrow Borough (dual-reg) \|2013–14 \|IL Premier Division \|11	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	11	2
rowspan="4"\|Dagenham & Redbridge \|2015–16{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2015\|name=Oliver Hawkins\|access-date=16 January 2016}} \|League Two \|18	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	18	1
2016–17{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2016\|access-date=16 January 2016}} \|National League \|38	18	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	3Two appearances in National League play-offs, one appearance in FA Trophy	0	44	19
2017–18{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2017\|access-date=9 August 2017}} \|National League \|7	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	7	0
colspan="2"\|Total !63	19	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	3	0	69	20
rowspan="4"\|Portsmouth \|2017–18 \|League One \|31	7	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	3Appearances in EFL Trophy	1	35	8
2018–19{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2018\|access-date=10 October 2018}} \|League One \|39	7	3	1	1	0	5Three appearances and two goals in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League One play-offs	2	48	10
2019–20{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2019\|access-date=17 August 2020}} \|League One \|7	0	1	0	1	0	4Three appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in EFL League One play-offs	0	13	0
colspan="2"\|Total !77	14	5	1	2	0	7	3	96	18
\|Ipswich Town \|2020–21{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2020\|access-date=17 August 2020}} \|League One \|20	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	23	1
rowspan="3"\|Mansfield Town \|2021–22{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2021\|access-date=17 August 2020}} \|League Two \|41	7	2	1	0	0	3	0	46	8
2022–23{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2022\|access-date=14 January 2023}} \|League Two \|22	3	2	1	1	1	1	0	26	5
colspan="2"\|Total !63	10	4	2	1	1	4	0	72	13
rowspan=3\|Gillingham \|2022–23 \|League Two \|22	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	22	3
2023–24{{Soccerbase season\|78816\|2023\|access-date=13 January 2024}} \|League Two \|9	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	10	2
colspan=2\|Total !31	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	32	5
colspan="3"\|Career total !460	129	31	5	5	1	45	12	540	147

Honours

Hemel Hempstead Town

Southern League Premier Division: 2013–14{{cite news |url=http://fchd.info/lghist/south2014.htm |title=2013–14 Southern League |publisher=FCHD |access-date=18 August 2020}}

Portsmouth

EFL Trophy: 2018–19{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47709134 |title=Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland |first=Adam |last=Williams |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 March 2019 |access-date=6 May 2019}}