Reece Cole
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Reece Cole
| image = ReeceColeFirhill.png
| image_size = 200
| caption = Cole warming up with Partick Thistle in October 2019
| full_name = Reece George Cole{{Cite web |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Brentford |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2017-18.pdf |access-date=16 June 2018 |publisher=English Football League |page=8}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1998|2|17}}
| birth_place = Hillingdon, England{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/reece-cole-251900/ |access-date=5 July 2017 |website=11v11.com}}
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}
| position = Central midfielder
| currentclub = Exeter City
| clubnumber = 12
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012
| youthclubs1 = Hayes & Yeading United
| youthyears2 = 2012–2016
| youthclubs2 = Brentford
| years1 = 2016–2020
| clubs1 = Brentford
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017–2018
| clubs2 = → Newport County (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2018
| clubs3 = → Yeovil Town (loan)
| caps3 = 1
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = → Maidenhead United (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2019
| clubs5 = → Macclesfield Town (loan)
| caps5 = 18
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = → Partick Thistle (loan)
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = Queens Park Rangers
| caps7 = 0
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2021–2022
| clubs8 = Dunfermline Athletic
| caps8 = 10
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2022
| clubs9 = Chertsey Town
| caps9 = 5
| goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2022–2023
| clubs10 = Hayes & Yeading United
| caps10 = 23
| goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2023–
| clubs11 = Exeter City
| caps11 = 57
| goals11 = 10
| club-update = 18:43, 12 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Reece George Cole (born 17 February 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for {{English football updater|ExeterCi}} club Exeter City.
Cole is a graduate of the Brentford academy and made one senior appearance for the club before his release in 2020. Following spells with Queens Park Rangers U23 and Dunfermline Athletic, he dropped into non-League football in 2022. He returned to professional football with Exeter City in 2023.
Career
= Brentford =
Cole began his youth career in the Hayes & Yeading United youth system,{{Cite web |title=Latest News |url=https://www.hyufc.com/news/october.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308230952/https://www.hyufc.com/news/october.html |archive-date=8 March 2023 |access-date=5 October 2022 |website=Hayes & Yeading United Football Club}} before transferring to Brentford at age 14. He was a part of the U15 team which emerged victorious in the Junior category at the 2012 Milk Cup.{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Ciaran |title=Brentford duo Reece Cole and Chris Mepham sign first professional contracts |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/youth-team-duo-sign-first-professional-contracts-_65545 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.com}} Cole made 8 appearances for the U18 team before signing a scholarship deal at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Ciaran |title=Youth Team Stats 2012/13 |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2013/may/youth-team-stats-201213/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719100907/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2013/may/youth-team-stats-201213/ |archive-date=19 July 2022 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.com}}{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Ciaran |title=2013/14 Youth Team Statistics |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2014/april/201314-youth-team-statistics/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719100859/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2014/april/201314-youth-team-statistics/ |archive-date=19 July 2022 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.com}}{{Cite web |last=Wickham |first=Chris |title=Brentford Football Club take on new Youth Team recruits for 2014/15 season |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-fc-take-on-new-scholars_62291 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.com}} He made 32 appearances and scored seven goals during his two-year scholarship and increasingly became part of the Development Squad during the 2015–16 season,{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Ciaran |title=2014/15 Youth Team player statistics |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2015/may/201415-youth-team-player-statistics/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524213812/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2015/may/201415-youth-team-player-statistics/ |archive-date=24 May 2021 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.com}}{{Cite web |title=Youth Team Player Stats |url=https://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/stats/youth-team-player-stats.aspx/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907050836/https://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/stats/youth-team-player-stats.aspx/ |archive-date=7 September 2016 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.co.uk}} progressing sufficiently to sign a professional contract in February 2016. Cole was an unused substitute during a number of late-season first team matches in April 2016.
Whilst a regular for the B team, Cole received sporadic calls into the first team squad during the 2016–17 season, before making his senior debut as a late substitute for Nico Yennaris in a 3–2 victory over Nottingham Forest on 7 March 2017. One month later, he signed a new three-year contract.{{Cite web |title=Brentford B Team midfielder Reece Cole signs new three year contract |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/reece-cole-signs-new-three-year-deal_159691 |access-date=3 April 2017}} Cole won further attention with long-range goals in pre-season friendly wins over Aldershot Town and Oxford United in July 2017,{{Cite news |title=Aldershot Town 1 Brentford 5 |language=en-gb |work=Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/gallery/aldershot-town-1-brentford-5_180427 |access-date=10 August 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Oxford United vs Brentford |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/gallery/oxford-united-3-brentford-4_185788 |access-date=10 August 2017 |website=Brentford FC |language=en-gb}} before departing to join League Two club Newport County on loan until January 2018.{{Cite news |title=Reece Cole joins Newport County on loan |language=en-gb |work=Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/reece-cole-joins-newport-county-on-loan_193964 |access-date=10 August 2017}} He made his debut versus Coventry City 9 days later and scored the first senior goal of his career with the only goal of the game.{{soccerbase season|90922|2017|access-date=8 August 2017}} Cole made four further appearances and returned to Brentford in late September 2017, after suffering a knee injury.{{Cite news |title=Reece Cole and Zain Westbrooke return to Jersey Road |language=en-gb |work=Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/reece-cole-and-zain-westbrooke-return-to-jersey-road_210084 |access-date=2 October 2017}} He returned to match play with the B team in December,{{Cite news |title=Reece Cole loan ends |language=en-gb |work=Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/reece-cole-loan-ends_237184 |access-date=3 January 2018}} but did not win any further calls into the first team squad before the end of the season.
Cole spent much of the remainder of his contract away on loan with League Two, National League and Scottish Championship clubs Yeovil Town, Maidenhead United, Macclesfield Town and Partick Thistle.{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole joins Maidenhead United on loan |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/reece-cole-joins-maidenhead-united-on-loan_339019 |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole makes Macclesfield move |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/january/reece-cole-joins-macclesfield-on-loan-18.01.19/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721072439/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/january/reece-cole-joins-macclesfield-on-loan-18.01.19/ |archive-date=21 July 2020 |access-date=20 January 2019 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole extends Partick Thistle loan |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/reece-cole-extends-partick-thistle-loan-455326 |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}} He gained significant game time at the latter two clubs, in particular scoring four goals in a five-match spell during November 2019, which saw him win the Partick Thistle Player of the Month award.{{Cite web |title=Marcus Forss on target as AFC Wimbledon secure three points |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/december/loan-round-up-20191216/ |access-date=16 December 2019 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}} Cole was released by Brentford in June 2020.{{Cite web |title=Nine players depart Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/july/nine-players-released-by-brentford-fc/ |access-date=6 July 2020 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}
=Queens Park Rangers=
On 15 March 2021, Cole signed a short-term contract with the U23 team at Championship club Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer.{{Cite web |title=Under-23s sign Reece Cole on short-term deal |url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/under-21s-news/under-23s-sign-reece-cole-on-short-term-deal-150321/ |access-date=15 March 2021 |website=QPR |language=en}} He failed to win a call into the first team squad before the end of the season and was released when his contract expired.{{Cite web |last=Temple |first=Alan |title=Dunfermline sign ex-Partick Thistle midfielder as Pars await Kai Kennedy clarity |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-championship/2393293/dunfermline-transfer-news-former-partick-thistle-midfielder-reece-cole-pars-await-kai-kennedy-rangers/ |access-date=20 July 2021 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
= Dunfermline Athletic =
On 20 July 2021, Cole signed a one-year contract with Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on a free transfer.{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole signs for Dunfermline |url=https://dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=Reece_Cole_signs_for_Dunfermline&ID=13225 |access-date=20 July 2021 |website=Dunfermline Athletic Football Club}} After featuring predominantly as a substitute during the early months of the season, Cole undertook extra fitness training at the Joe Cardle Academy.{{Cite web |title=Cole has Pars goal after training with Joe |url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/19613175.dunfermline-reece-cole-joe-cardle-raith-rovers-clash/ |access-date=25 October 2021 |website=Dunfermline Press |language=en}} On his 12th and final appearance of a 2021–22 season which culminated in relegation to the Scottish League One,{{Cite web |title=Dunfermline 0 Queens Park 1 |url=https://dafc.co.uk/fixture.php?SID=First%20Team&D=2022-05-07&ID=2249 |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=Dunfermline Athletic Football Club}} Cole scored his only goal for the club in a 2–1 victory over Ayr United on 16 April 2022. Cole was released at the end of the season and remarked in July 2023 that he fell out of love with football during the latter stages his time with the club.{{Cite web |title=Playing Squad Update |url=https://dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=Playing_Squad_Update_&ID=13786 |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=Dunfermline Athletic Football Club}}{{Cite web |title=💬 Reece Cole: "I've fallen in love with football again." |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/reece-cole-interview/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |website=www.exetercityfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
= Non-League football =
Seeking to play part-time football, Cole dropped into non-League football and began the 2022–23 season with Isthmian League South Central Division club Chertsey Town. He scored three goals in his first seven appearances for the club,{{Cite web |title=Chertsey Town {{!}} Appearances {{!}} Reece Cole {{!}} 2022–2023 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/chertsey-town/appearances/2022-2023/reece-cole/942343 |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=Football Web Pages}} before departing to rejoin Southern League Premier Division South club Hayes & Yeading United in October 2022.{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole – Midfielder |url=https://www.hyufc.com/current_players/ReeceCole.htm |access-date=10 October 2022 |website=Hayes & Yeading United Football Club}} He made 27 appearances and scored five goals during a 2022–23 season in which the club won the Middlesex Senior Cup. He became a free agent at the end of the season.{{Cite news |title=Exeter City sign midfielder Cole after trial |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66158469 |access-date=10 July 2023}}
= Exeter City =
Cole joined League One club Exeter City on trial during the 2023–24 pre-season.{{Cite web |title=✍️ Reece Cole is a Grecian! |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/reece-cole/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |website=www.exetercityfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} After {{frac|2|1|2}} weeks at St James Park, he signed a one-year contract, with the option of a further year, on 10 July 2023. The move reunited him with his former Partick Thistle manager Gary Caldwell. Following 17 appearances and one goal by mid-November 2023, Cole signed a new 18-month contract, with the option of a further year.{{Cite web |title=✍️ Reece Cole signs new City deal! |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/november/reece-cole-contract-extension/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=www.exetercityfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} Cole captained the team during three matches late in December and ended a mid-table 2023–24 season with 42 appearances and seven goals.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |date=25 January 2024 |title=Reece Cole on his journey from teacher to playing for Exeter City |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/reece-cole-journey-teacher-playing-9052597 |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=Devon Live |language=en}}{{Fchd|id=EXETERC|name=Exeter City F.C.}}
In July 2024, Cole signed a one-year extension to his existing contract, with the option of a further year.{{Cite web |title=It's an extender! Reece Cole signs new one year deal |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/cole2026 |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=Exeter City F.C. |language=en}} Three injuries (one of which was misdiagnosed) and illness restricted him to just 13 appearances during the first half of the 2024–25 season.{{Cite web |date=6 February 2025 |title=Reece Cole hopes his injury frustrations are finally behind him |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/reece-cole-hopes-exeter-city-9922487 |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Devon Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=Reece Cole hopes to put frustration of injuries behind him |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/reece-cole-hopes-put-frustration-9713510 |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Devon Live |language=en}}
Personal life
Cole attended Chalfonts Community College.{{Cite tweet |number=841642771429625857 |user=CCChalfonts |title=Congratulations to former Chalfonts student @reececole98 who made his league debut for @BrentfordFC recently!! #cccpe}} While out of professional football during the 2022–23 season, Cole worked as a teacher in the London area.
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 12 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" |National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup}} ! colspan="2" |League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals
!Apps | Goals
!Apps | Goals
!Apps | Goals
!Apps | Goals | |||
| rowspan="5" |Brentford
|2015–16{{Soccerbase season|90922|2015|access-date=7 March 2017}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016–17{{Soccerbase season|90922|2016|access-date=7 March 2017}}
|Championship |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017–18
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018–19
|Championship |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |—
!1 | 0 | ||
| Newport County (loan)
|4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Yeovil Town (loan)
|2018–19{{Soccerbase season|90922|2018|accessdate=27 July 2018}} |League Two |1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||
| Maidenhead United (loan)
|2018–19{{Soccerway|id=442892|accessdate=2 July 2017}} |6 | 1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Macclesfield Town (loan)
|League Two |18 |1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |18 |1 | |||||||||
| Partick Thistle (loan)
|2019–20{{Soccerbase season|90922|2019|accessdate=2 September 2019}} |19 |2 |2 |1 |1 |0 |3Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup |1 |25 |4 | |||||||||
| Dunfermline Athletic
|2021–22{{Soccerbase season|90922|2021|accessdate=20 July 2021}} |Scottish Championship |10 |1 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |12 |1 | |||||||||
| Chertsey Town
|Isthmian League South Central Division |5 |3 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |7 |3 | |||||||||
| Hayes & Yeading United
|2022–23{{Cite web |title=Reece Cole Profile |url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/reece-cole |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=Aylesbury United FC}} |Southern League Premier Division South |23 |2 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |4Appearances in Middlesex Senior Cup |3 |27 |5 | |||||||||
| rowspan="3" |Exeter City
|2023–24{{Soccerbase season|90922|2023|accessdate=10 July 2023}} |39 |7 |0 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |42 |7 | |||||||||
| 2024–25{{Soccerbase season|90922|2024|accessdate=11 August 2024}}
|League One |18 |3 |2 |0 |1 |0 |0 |23 |3 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!57 !10 !2 !0 !4 !0 !2 !0 !64 !10 | |||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!144 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 168 | 26 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Hayes & Yeading United
- Middlesex Senior Cup: 2022–23{{Cite web |title=Match Report |url=https://www.hyufc.com/teams/2223reports/Harrow_MSC%20Final.html |access-date=22 April 2023 |website=Hayes & Yeading United Football Club}}
Individual
- Partick Thistle Player of the Month: November 2019
- Exeter City Player of the Month: February 2024{{Cite web |title=🏆 Reece Cole scoops both of February's awards! |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2024/march/reece-cole-awards/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=www.exetercityfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|90922}}
- [https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/midfielder/reece-cole/ Reece Cole] at exetercityfc.co.uk
{{Exeter City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Reece}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Hillingdon
Category:People from Hillingdon
Category:Brentford F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players
Category:Maidenhead United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Macclesfield Town F.C. players
Category:Partick Thistle F.C. players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Chertsey Town F.C. players
Category:Isthmian League players
Category:Hayes & Yeading United F.C. players
Category:Southern Football League players