Regan Poole
{{short description|Welsh footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Regan Poole
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Regan Leslie Poole{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |accessdate=15 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|6|18|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/regan-poole-242797/ |title=Regan Poole |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=6 July 2019}}
| birth_place = Cardiff, Wales
| height = {{convert|1.80|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.weareimps.com/Teams/first-team/defender/regan-poole/ |title=Regan Poole |publisher=Lincoln City FC |access-date=7 October 2022}}
| position = Centre-back{{Hugman|26808|accessdate=6 July 2019}}
| currentclub = Portsmouth
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014
| youthclubs1 = Cardiff City
| youthyears2 = 2014
| youthclubs2 = Newport County
| years1 = 2014–2015
| clubs1 = Newport County
| caps1 = 15
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015–2019
| clubs2 = Manchester United
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2018
| clubs3 = → Northampton Town (loan)
| caps3 = 22
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2019
| clubs4 = → Newport County (loan)
| caps4 = 20
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2019–2021
| clubs5 = Milton Keynes Dons
| caps5 = 41
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2021–2023
| clubs6 = Lincoln City
| caps6 = 111
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = Portsmouth
| caps7 = 38
| goals7 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2014
| nationalteam1 = Wales U17
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2016
| nationalteam2 = Wales U19
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2017
| nationalteam3 = Wales U20
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2016–2020
| nationalteam4 = Wales U21
| nationalcaps4 = 23
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalteam5 = Wales
| nationalcaps5 = 1
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 00:52, 19 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 21:14, 11 October 2023 (UTC)
}}
Regan Leslie Poole (born 18 June 1998) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a centre back for {{English football updater|Portsmou}} club Portsmouth and the Wales national team.
Early life
Poole was born in Cardiff and loved playing football from an early age.{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-defender-regan-poole-11016964 |title=Manchester United defender Regan Poole can become new Rio Ferdinand |first=Samuel |last=Luckhurst |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=9 March 2016 |accessdate=6 July 2019}}
Club career
=Newport County=
Poole was a member of the Cardiff City academy and joined the Newport County Academy as a scholar in June 2014. In September 2014, he was on trial at Manchester United before he made his debut for the Newport County first team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/29067527|title=Man Utd trial for Newport teenager|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} His Newport County debut came on 20 September 2014, at the age of 16 years and 94 days, when he was named in the starting line-up for a League Two match against Shrewsbury Town which ended in a 0–0 draw.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11487557.a-star-is-born-as-regan-poole-shines-on-football-league-debut/|title=A star is born as Regan Poole shines on Football League debut|date=22 September 2014|website=South Wales Argus}} Poole became the youngest Newport County player, surpassing the record set by Steve Aizlewood in 1969. He retained his place for the EFL Trophy first round match against Swindon Town on 23 September 2014. Swindon won the game 2–1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11491389.county-1-swindon-2/|title=County 1 Swindon 2|date=23 September 2014|website=South Wales Argus}} In February 2015, Poole was shortlisted for the Football League Apprentice of the Year award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11799415.countys-regan-poole-represents-wales-u17s-in-newport/|title=County's Regan Poole represents Wales u17s in Newport|date=17 February 2015|website=South Wales Argus}} On 18 May 2015, Poole had a one-week trial with Liverpool.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32787447|title=Newport's Poole has Liverpool trial|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}
=Manchester United=
On 1 September 2015, Newport County confirmed Poole had joined Premier League club Manchester United for an initial fee of £100,000, potentially rising to £400,000 with future add-ons.{{cite web |url=http://www.weareexiles.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38200&start=30 |title=We Are Exiles Forum |publisher=Newport County AFC Trust |accessdate=2 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/regan-poole-joins-manchester-united-2663546.aspx |title=Regan Poole secures a switch to Manchester United |publisher=Newport County AFC |accessdate=1 September 2015}} It was assumed that Poole would join the club's Academy squad and "possibly be required for Under-21 and UEFA Youth League" matches.{{cite news |title=Manchester United sign Regan Poole |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/The-Academy/Academy-News/2015/Sep/manchester-united-sign-newport-county-defender-regan-poole.aspx |publisher=Manchester United |date=1 September 2015 |accessdate=1 September 2015}} On 7 October, it was reported that Poole had yet to receive international clearance to move from Wales to England, and consequently was unable to play in a competitive match for Manchester United.{{cite news |last1=Penman |first1=Andrew |title=Red tape delays Man Utd debut for ex-County teen Regan Poole |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/13810259.Red_tape_delays_Red_Devils_debut_for_Regan_Poole/? |accessdate=8 October 2015 |newspaper=South Wales Argus |location=Newport |date=7 October 2015}} On 1 February 2016, five months after joining Manchester United, Poole received international clearance and was free to play competitive football;{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Penman |title=Former Newport County star Regan Poole finally cleared to play for Manchester United |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14244697.Former_Newport_County_star_Regan_Poole_finally_cleared_to_play_for_Manchester_United/ |newspaper=South Wales Argus |location=Newport |date=1 February 2016 |accessdate=2 February 2016}} that evening he appeared as an 89th-minute substitute for the under-21 side in a 2–0 defeat to Everton.{{cite news |first=Cliff |last=Butler |title=Under-21s: Everton 2 United 0 |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/Reserves-News/2016/Feb/u21s-match-report-everton-v-manchester-united.aspx |publisher=Manchester United |date=1 February 2016 |accessdate=2 February 2016}}
Poole was included in Manchester United's squad for the knockout phase of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League and given the number 41 shirt. He was an unused substitute in their last 32 first leg match away to Midtjylland on 18 February; in the home leg a week later he made his United debut as a last-minute substitute for Ander Herrera in a 5–1 win.{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Neil |title=Manchester United 5–1 FC Midtjylland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35632870 |accessdate=26 February 2016 |website=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2016}}
=Loans=
On 7 July 2017, Poole agreed a season-long loan deal with League One side Northampton Town, where he would reunite with manager Justin Edinburgh, who gave Poole his Newport County debut three years earlier.{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Marshall |title=United defender Poole agrees loan move |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2017/Jul/regan-poole-joins-northampton-town-on-season-long-loan-from-manchester-united.aspx |publisher=Manchester United |date=7 July 2017 |accessdate=7 July 2017}} Poole's debut for Northampton came on 12 August in a 1–0 defeat to Fleetwood Town at Sixfields.{{cite news |title=Northampton Town 0–1 Fleetwood Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40834869 |website=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2017 |accessdate=13 August 2017}} While naturally a defender, after the appointment of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager on 4 September, Poole featured regularly as a midfielder – a position he has played in for the Manchester United Reserves, first doing so against Wigan Athletic on 19 September.{{cite news |title=Wigan Athletic 1–0 Northampton Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41058183 |website=BBC Sport |date=19 September 2017 |accessdate=30 October 2017}}
Poole was a regular in the Manchester United reserve team during the 2018–19 season, but was unable to break into the first team and on 18 January 2019 he returned to Newport County on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Marshall |title=Poole heads to Newport County on loan |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/regan-poole-rejoins-newport-county-on-loan-for-rest-of-the-2018-19-season |publisher=Manchester United |date=18 January 2019 |accessdate=18 January 2019}} He was part of the team that reached the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019. Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers, 1-0 after a goal in the 119th minute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48318580|title=League Two play-off final: Newport County 0-1 Tranmere Rovers|first=Michael |last=Pearlman|date=25 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 December 2019}}
=Milton Keynes Dons=
Following his release from Manchester United, on 14 June 2019 Poole signed for newly promoted League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a free transfer on a contract of undisclosed length.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48638598 |title=Regan Poole: MK Dons sign former Manchester United defender |website=BBC Sport |date=14 June 2019 |accessdate=6 July 2019}} On 8 September 2020, Poole scored his first career professional goal in a 3–1 EFL Trophy win over Northampton Town.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2020/september/report-mk-dons-v-northampton-town |title=Report: MK Dons 3-1 Northampton Town |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=8 September 2020 |accessdate=8 September 2020 }} On 29 December 2020 he scored his first professional league goal in a 4–1 away win over Swindon Town.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55406660 |title=Swindon Town 1-4 Milton Keynes Dons |publisher=BBC |date=29 December 2020 |accessdate=29 December 2020 }}
=Lincoln City=
On 30 January 2021, it was announced that Poole had signed a multi-year contract for Lincoln City for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |title=Imps Welcome Welsh Defender|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2021/january/210130-poole/|publisher=Lincoln City F.C. |access-date=30 January 2021}} He made his debut less than a week later, coming on as a second-half substitute at Gillingham on 5 February.{{Cite news|title=Gillingham v Lincoln City|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55850858|access-date=5 February 2021}} He scored his first goal for the club on 16 October 2021, a last-minute winner against Charlton Athletic.{{cite web |title='What a moment!' - Regan Poole's joy at overdue Lincoln City goal|url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lincoln-city-charlton-regan-poole-6072083|publisher=LincolnshireLive |access-date=17 October 2021}} Following the end 2021-22 season, Poole would be named Lincoln City's Player and Players Player of the Season at the end of season awards.{{cite web |title=Poole honoured at Awards|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/may/poole-honoured-at-awards/|publisher=Lincoln City FC |access-date=3 May 2022}} On 10 May 2023, it was announced Poole would be leaving in the clubs retained list, despite the club trying to keep him, Poole wanted to play at a higher level.{{cite web |title=Retained list|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2023/may/retained-list/|publisher=Lincoln City FC |access-date=10 May 2023}}
=Portsmouth=
On 11 July 2023, Poole signed for League One club Portsmouth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66162643|title=Portsmouth sign ex-Lincoln City defender Poole|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}
International career
In October 2014, Poole was named in the Wales Under-17 squad for the matches against Russia, Belarus and Montenegro. He was an unused substitute in the first two games, but made his debut in the third against Montenegro in Minsk, when he started the 2–1 win.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11534905.county-starlet-regan-poole-in-wales-u17-call-up/|title=County starlet Regan Poole in Wales U17 call-up|date=14 October 2014|website=South Wales Argus}} In November 2015, Poole was named in the Wales under-19 squad for the Euro Under-19 qualifying matches against Georgia, Albania and Austria.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
In August 2016, Poole was promoted to the Wales Under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship matches against Denmark and Luxembourg in September 2016 in place of the injured Lee Evans. In May 2017, Poole was named in the Wales under-20 squad for the 2017 Toulon Tournament. He was named in the starting line-up in all three of Wales' group matches against the Ivory Coast, France and Bahrain as Wales were eliminated in the group stage.{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-foot-espoirs.com/direct_festival_foot_uk.php?tournoi_id=15 |title=Wales U20 2–2 Cote D'Ivoire |publisher=Foot Espoirs |accessdate=16 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40100903 |title=Toulon Tournament: France U20 0–0 Wales U20 |website=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2017 |accessdate=16 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40139643 |title=Toulon Tournament: Wales U20 1–0 Bahrain U20 |website=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2017}}
Poole was named in a preliminary senior Wales squad in May 2018 for a friendly against Mexico, but was left out of the final selection.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44136238 |title=Hal Robson-Kanu not included in Wales squad for Mexico friendly |website=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2018 |accessdate=21 May 2018}} Poole replaced Chris Mepham, who withdrew from injury, in the senior Wales squad for their UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers against Slovakia and Croatia in October 2019.{{cite web |title=Chris Mepham: Injured Bournemouth defender out of Wales squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49934533 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=5 October 2019 |date=4 October 2019}}
On 11 October 2023, he made his senior debut for Wales, starting in a 4–0 friendly win over Gibraltar.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/67069604 Wales debut]
Career statistics
{{Updated|18 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=3|Newport County
|2014–15{{soccerbase season|78006|2014|accessdate=6 July 2019}} |11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Football League Trophy}} | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2015–16
|League Two |4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!15||0||0||0||1||0||1||0||17||0 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=5|Manchester United
|2015–16{{soccerbase season|78006|2015|accessdate=6 July 2019}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|78006|2016|accessdate=6 July 2019}}
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|78006|2017|accessdate=6 July 2019}}
|Premier League |0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|78006|2018|accessdate=6 July 2019}}
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||1||0 | ||||||||||
| Northampton Town (loan)
|22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| Newport County (loan)
|League Two |20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|Appearances in League Two play-offs}} | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Milton Keynes Dons
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|78006|2019|accessdate=8 April 2020}} |League One |19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2020–21{{Soccerbase season|78006|2020|accessdate=23 July 2020}}
|League One |22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 3 | 28 | 4 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 53 | 4 | |
| rowspan="4"|Lincoln City
|League One |22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances in League One play-offs}} | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2021–22{{Soccerbase season|78006|2021|accessdate=23 July 2020}}
|League One |44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2022–23{{Soccerbase season|78006|2022|accessdate=23 July 2020}}
|League One |45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 56 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!111 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 130 | 4 | |
| rowspan="3"|Portsmouth
|2023–24{{Soccerbase season|78006|2023|accessdate=23 July 2020}} |League One |14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2024–25{{Soccerbase season|78006|2024|accessdate=18 April 2025}}
|24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 4 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!247||8||11||0||10||0||24||4||292||12 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Portsmouth
- EFL League One: 2023–24{{cite news |date=16 April 2024 |title=Portsmouth 3–2 Barnsley: Pompey seal promotion to Championship with dramatic win |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/portsmouth-vs-barnsley/report/484077 |access-date=17 April 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}
Individual
- Lincoln City Player of the Season: 2021–22{{Cite web |last=Karran |first=Ellis |date=3 May 2022 |title=Regan Poole the big winner at Lincoln City's end of season awards |url=https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2022/05/regan-poole-the-big-winner-at-lincoln-citys-end-of-season-awards/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=The Lincolnite }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Portsmouth F.C. squad}}
{{Lincoln City F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poole, Regan}}
Category:Footballers from Cardiff
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:Portsmouth F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Wales men's youth international footballers
Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers