Reece Grego-Cox
{{Short description|English footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Reece Grego-Cox
| image = Reece Grego-Cox September 2019.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Grego-Cox playing for Crawley Town in 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1996|11|12}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/reece-grego-cox-248793/ |title=Reece Grego-Cox |publisher=11v11 |access-date=12 January 2016}}
| birth_place = Hammersmith, England
| height = {{convert|1.74|m|order=flip}}
| currentclub = Dagenham & Redbridge
(on loan from Woking)
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Bedfont Sports
| youthyears2 = 2010–2015
| youthclubs2 = Queens Park Rangers
| years1 = 2015–2018
| clubs1 = Queens Park Rangers
| caps1 = 5
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = → Newport County (loan)
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2018
| clubs3 = Woking
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2018–2022
| clubs4 = Crawley Town F.C.
| caps4 = 66
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 2022
| clubs5 = → Barnet (loan)
| caps5 = 13
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2022–
| clubs6 = Woking
| caps6 = 33
| goals6 = 15
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
| caps7 = 16
| goals7 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U17
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2015–2018
| nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps3 = 11
| nationalgoals3 = 4
| club-update = 18:27, 23 April 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 13:07, 29 March 2018 (UTC)
}}
Reece Randall Grego-Cox (born 12 November 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for {{English football updater|Dagenh&R}} club Dagenham & Redbridge on loan from {{English football updater|Woking}} club Woking.
He joined Queens Park Rangers in 2010 after a prolific season for Bedfont Eagles under-14. He was first selected for a matchday squad in January 2015, and made his debut in the Premier League in March. In late 2016, he had a short loan at Newport County in League Two. He was released by QPR in January 2018 and joined Woking of the National League. He went onto feature eighteen times, scoring four goals before leaving for Crawley Town in July. He returned to Woking in July 2022.
Born in England, Grego-Cox chose to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level. He has featured for them up to under-21 level.
Club career
=Queens Park Rangers=
Born in Hammersmith, London, Grego-Cox joined the club at the age of 13 in 2010, after scoring nearly 60 goals in a season for Bedfont Eagles under-14. In the 2014–15 season, while a part of the Queens Park Rangers Under-18 team, he was also a regular with the Under-21s under Steve Gallen, scoring 4 goals in 7 starts. In August 2014, with the Under-18 team, he scored from 50 yards in a 3–2 win over Manchester City, which the Daily Mirror compared to a goal by David Beckham in 1996.{{Cite news |last=Prenderville |first=Liam |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-qpr-youngsters-score-two-4043407 |title=Watch QPR youngsters score two long-range screamers in Under-18s win over Manchester City |date=13 August 2014 |work=Daily Mirror |access-date=7 March 2015}}
He signed his first professional contract with the club on 22 December 2014, a two-and-a-half-year deal lasting until 2017. He said "It's really weird actually. Growing up watching QPR and then being in the position you wish you were, playing for QPR. It's a great feeling."{{Cite news |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/reece-grego-cox-professional-contract-qpr-2159250.aspx |title=REECE GREGO-COX CELEBRATES PRO DEAL |date=22 December 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015 |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C.}} He took part in a friendly on the same day with the first team against Southend United, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Niko Kranjčar and scoring with his first touch in a 3–2 victory.{{Cite news |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/qpr-southend-united-friendly-2159617.aspx |title=FRIENDLY: QPR 3, SOUTHEND UNITED 2 |date=22 December 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015 |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C.}} Grego-Cox was included in a matchday squad for the first time on 4 January 2015, remaining an unused substitute as they lost 0–3 to League One side Sheffield United at Loftus Road in the third round of the FA Cup.{{Cite news |last=Chowdhury |first=Saj |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30614330 |title=QPR 0–3 Sheff Utd |date=4 January 2015 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 March 2015}} He made his professional debut on 7 March, replacing Karl Henry for the last two minutes of a 1–2 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Adam |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31670542 |title=QPR 1–2 Tottenham |date=7 March 2015 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 March 2015}} After two more substitute appearances, he was given his first start on 24 May, playing the full 90 minutes as relegated QPR ended the season with a 5–1 defeat away to Leicester City.{{Cite news |last=Canavan |first=Steve |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32770769 |title=Leicester 5-1 QPR |date=24 May 2015 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=24 May 2015}}
On 31 August 2016, Grego-Cox joined League Two club Newport County on loan until 31 January 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37221512 |title=Grego-Cox loan to Newport |date=31 August 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=31 August 2016}} He made his debut on 3 September by starting at home to Barnet but the match was abandoned at half time due to a waterlogged pitch.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37202427 |title=Newport County A-A Barnet |date=3 September 2016 |access-date=19 September 2016}} He returned to QPR on 7 December after his loan was cut short due to injury.{{Cite news |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14951275.Newport_County_loan_star_s_stay_ended_by_injury/ |title=Newport County loan star's loan cut short by injury |date=7 December 2016 |work=South Wales Argus |access-date=2 January 2017}}
On 12 January 2018, Grego-Cox left Queens Park Rangers by mutual consent, alongside teammate Michael Petrasso.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42669624 |title=QPR release Reece Grego-Cox and Michael Petrasso by mutual consent |date=12 January 2018 |access-date=3 February 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
=Woking=
Following his release from QPR, Grego-Cox joined National League side Woking on a deal until the end of the season.{{Cite news |url=http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/6069/republic-of-ireland-u21-striker-signs-/ |title=Republic of Ireland U21 Striker Signs! |date=12 January 2018 |access-date=12 January 2018 |publisher=Woking Official Site}} A day later, he made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against Tranmere Rovers, replacing Declan Appau in the 54th minute.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42588023 |title=Woking 0–1 Tranmere Rovers |date=13 January 2018 |access-date=3 February 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport}} On 23 January, Grego-Cox scored his first career goal to open a 1–1 draw at Gateshead.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42374270 |title=Gateshead 1–1 Woking |date=23 January 2018 |access-date=3 February 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
Grego-Cox went onto score three more times for the Cards before leaving the club following their relegation to the National League South.
=Crawley Town=
On 16 July 2018, Grego-Cox made the move to League Two side Crawley Town on a two-year deal, following a successful trial period.{{Cite news |url=https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2018/july/16.07.18-reece-grego-cox-signs/ |title=REDS SIGN FORWARD REECE GREGO-COX |date=16 July 2018 |access-date=16 July 2018 |publisher=Crawley Town Official Site}}
He signed a new contract, running until 2022, in July 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49003991 |title=Reece Grego-Cox: Crawley midfielder signs new contract with League Two club |date=16 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport}} In February 2022, he joined Barnet on loan until the end of the season.[https://www.barnetfc.com/bees-complete-signing-of-reece-grego-cox Bees complete signing of Reece Grego-Cox] Grego-Cox was released at the end of the 2021–22 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2022/may/202122-released-and-retained-list/|title=2021/22 RELEASED AND RETAINED LIST|website=www.crawleytownfc.com|date=20 May 2022}}
=Return to Woking=
On 15 June 2022, Grego-Cox agreed to return to Woking ahead of the 2022–23 campaign, signing a one-year deal following his release from Crawley.{{Cite news |title=Reece Grego-Cox Signs |url=https://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/7880/reece-grego-cox-signs/ |publisher=Woking F.C. |first=Daniel |last=O'Sullivan |date=15 June 2022 |accessdate=15 June 2022}}
On 4 June 2024, Grego-Cox joined National League rivals Dagenham & Redbridge on a season-long loan deal.{{cite web|url=https://daggers.co.uk/news/-NzYDWnMdNh9-y0noUMU|title=Daggers Sign Reece Grego-Cox|website=daggers.co.uk|date=4 June 2024|accessdate=4 June 2024}}
International career
File:Gigg-lane.jpg debut at Gigg Lane]]
Although born in England, Grego-Cox represents the Republic of Ireland at international level qualifying to do so through his grandparents.{{Cite news |last=Brennan, Rob |url=http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/10-brightest-irish-prospects-in-britain-for-the-future |title=10 brightest Irish prospects in Britain for the future |date=30 May 2014 |work=The Irish Post |access-date=8 March 2015}} He began in the Under-17 team, in their elite round for the 2013 European Championship. He made his debut on 25 March 2013 against Austria, scoring the only goal of the game in Schwechat in the 22nd minute.{{Cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2011182--republic-of-ireland-vs-austria/ |title=Republic of Ireland 1–0 Austria |date=25 March 2013 |access-date=7 March 2015 |publisher=UEFA}} He also featured in the two other games of the round against Georgia and Serbia, as group hosts Austria advanced to the finals.
On 13 November 2014, Grego-Cox made his debut for the Under-19s as they hosted their group in the qualifying round for the 2015 European Championship, starting in a 1–0 win over Malta at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford.{{Cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/match/2013524--republic-of-ireland-vs-malta/ |title=Republic of Ireland 1–0 Malta |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015 |publisher=UEFA}} Two days later, he opened the scoring in the 3rd minute of a 4–1 victory against Gibraltar at Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford,{{Cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/match/2013550--republic-of-ireland-vs-gibraltar/ |title=Republic of Ireland 4–1 Gibraltar |date=15 November 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015 |publisher=UEFA}} and on 18 November in Waterford he netted the equaliser for a 1–1 draw with Switzerland.{{Cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/match/2013576--switzerland-vs-republic-of-ireland/ |title=Switzerland 1–1 Republic of Ireland |date=18 November 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015 |publisher=UEFA}} The Republic of Ireland came second in their group and advanced to the elite round.
On 4 September 2015, Grego-Cox made his under-21s debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sean Kavanagh in their 4–1 win over Qatar at Gigg Lane in Bury; he scored their third goal.{{Cite web |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/reece-grego-cox-ireland-under-21s-qatar-debut-2670678.aspx |title=REECE GREGO-COX SCORES ON IRELAND U21 DEBUT |date=4 September 2015 |publisher=qpr.co.uk |access-date=6 September 2015}} In qualification for the 2019 European Championship on 9 October 2017, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 home win over Israel, including a goal after 40 seconds.{{Cite news |last=Fallon |first=John |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/reece-grego-cox-hat-trick-helps-ireland-go-four-points-clear-1.3249971 |title=Reece Grego-Cox hat-trick helps Ireland go four points clear |date=9 October 2017 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=3 February 2018}}
Style of play
In May 2014, The Irish Post named Grego-Cox as one of 10 young British-based prospects for the Republic of Ireland. They noted how his "pace and aggressive style of play" had proven successful with the international under-17 team, but acknowledged concerns over his temperament, despite concluding that "a competitive edge didn't do Roy Keane much harm".
Queens Park Rangers under-18 manager Steve Gallen compared Grego-Cox to first-team player Charlie Austin in August 2014, saying "They are tenacious, they cause problems for defenders and they can score goals. They won't give you a moments [sic] rest. Like Charlie has done at times for the first team, Reece creates a goal out of nothing".{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Jordan |url=http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/sport/football/queens-park-rangers/reece_grego_cox_is_a_lot_like_charlie_austin_says_qpr_under_21_boss_steve_gallen_1_3825430 |title=Reece Grego-Cox is a lot like Charlie Austin, says QPR Under-21 boss Steve Gallen |date=29 October 2014 |work=Kilburn Times |access-date=7 March 2015}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 09 February 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"|Queens Park Rangers
|2014–15{{soccerbase season|80306|2014|accessdate=5 November 2017}} |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16{{soccerbase season|80306|2015|accessdate=5 November 2017}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|80306|2016|accessdate=5 November 2017}}
|Championship |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | ||
| Newport County (loan)
|7 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=EFT|Appearance in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| Woking
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|80306|2017|accessdate=5 November 2017}} |18 | 4 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 18 | 4 | ||||
| rowspan="5"|Crawley Town
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|80306|2018|accessdate=16 July 2018}} |League Two |28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFT}} | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|80306|2019|accessdate=19 May 2020}}
|League Two |28 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 6 | |
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|80306|2020|accessdate=2 March 2021}}
|League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22
|League Two |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFT}} | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!91 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 103 | 12 | |
| Barnet (loan)
|National League |13 | 3 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 13 | 3 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Woking
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|80306|2022|accessdate=16 July 2018}} |National League |16 | 9 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 18 | 9 | ||
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|80306|2023|accessdate=16 July 2018}}
|National League |17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 20 | 7 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!46 | 18 | 4 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | 51 | 19 | ||
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
|2024–25{{soccerbase season|80306|2024|accessdate=16 July 2018}} |National League |16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=NLC|Appearance(s) in National League Cup}} | 0 | 18 | 1” | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!158 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 178 | 32 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|reece-grego-cox/290209}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grego-Cox, Reece}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Category:People from Hammersmith
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Crawley Town F.C. players
Category:Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English people of Irish descent