Login
Login

Will Hatfield

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1991)}}

{{other people|William Hatfield}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Will Hatfield

| image = Will Hatfield 2011-03-12 1.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Hatfield playing for York City in 2011

| fullname = William Henry Hatfield{{cite web |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |title=Professional retain list & free transfers: 2012/13 |publisher=The Football League |date=18 May 2013 |page=51 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2014}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Liversedge, England

| height = {{convert|1.73|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/will-hatfield-230806/ |title=Will Hatfield |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=7 February 2018}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Darlington

| clubnumber = 14

| youthyears1 = 199?–2010

| youthclubs1 = Leeds United

| years1 = 2010–2012

| clubs1 = Leeds United

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2011

| clubs2 = → York City (loan)

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2011

| clubs3 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)

| caps3 = 4

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2012

| clubs4 = FC Halifax Town

| caps4 = 1

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2012–2015

| clubs5 = Accrington Stanley

| caps5 = 83

| goals5 = 5

| years6 = 2014

| clubs6 = → FC Halifax Town (loan)

| caps6 = 6

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2015

| clubs7 = FC Halifax Town

| caps7 = 11

| goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2015–2019

| clubs8 = Guiseley

| caps8 = 144

| goals8 = 14

| years9 = 2019–2022

| clubs9 = Darlington

| caps9 = 69

| goals9 = 9

| years10 = 2022–2023

| clubs10 = AFC Fylde

| caps10 = 34

| goals10 = 2

| years11 = 2023–

| clubs11 = Darlington

| caps11 = 88

| goals11 = 13

| club-update = 07:45, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

William Henry Hatfield (born 10 October 1991) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|Darlingt}} club Darlington. He began his career with Leeds United, but never made an appearance for their first team. He went on to play in the Football League for Accrington Stanley as well as in non-League for York City, FC Halifax Town, Guiseley, Darlington and AFC Fylde. He returned to Darlington in August 2023.

Early life

Hatfield was born in Liversedge, West Yorkshire,{{Hugman|23359|access-date=7 February 2018}} and attended Woodhouse Grove School in Apperley Bridge.{{cite news |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/10472390.Football_the_right_choice_for_Accrington_Stanley_ace_Hatfield/ |title=Football the right choice for Accrington Stanley ace Hatfield |first=Suzanne |last=Geldard |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |location=Blackburn |date=8 June 2013 |access-date=7 February 2018}}

Career

Hatfield came through the Leeds United youth system, having joined the club as an eight-year-old.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-v-accrington-stanley-hatfield-relishing-return-to-former-club-1-6780144 |title=Leeds United v Accrington Stanley: Hatfield relishing return to former club |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |location=Leeds |access-date=7 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208064139/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-v-accrington-stanley-hatfield-relishing-return-to-former-club-1-6780144 |archive-date=8 February 2018}} His first matchday involvement in the first team came on 3 February 2010 as an unused substitute in a 3–1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup fourth-round replay.{{cite news |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-substitutes-nearly-men-18151939 |title=The Leeds United nearly men – those who never made it off the Whites' substitute bench |first1=Andrew |last1=Dalton |first2=Joe |last2=Mewis |website=Leeds Live |date=16 May 2020 |access-date=28 February 2021}} Hatfield joined Conference Premier club York City on 28 January 2011 on a one-month loan,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/york_city/9379768.stm |title=Leeds United's Will Hatfield goes to York City on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2011 |access-date=7 February 2018}} playing four matches.

He joined League Two club Accrington Stanley on 14 October 2011 on a one-month loan.{{cite news |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/9307695.Accrington_Stanley_sign_Dobie_and_Hatfield/ |title=Accrington Stanley sign Dobie and Hatfield |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |location=Blackburn |date=14 October 2011 |access-date=7 February 2018}} He made his debut the following day as a half-time substitute in a 2–0 home defeat to Swindon Town in League Two. Having made four appearances, his loan was extended until the end of December 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15782698 |title=Accrington Stanley extend Will Hatfield loan from Leeds |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 November 2011 |access-date=7 February 2018}} After his loan spell at Accrington ended, Hatfield and his Leeds teammate Sanchez Payne joined Conference Premier club Lincoln City on trial.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/9456948.Match_preview__Lincoln_City_v_York_City/ |title=Match preview: Lincoln City v York City |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=6 January 2012 |access-date=7 February 2018}}

Hatfield left Leeds on 12 January 2012 after agreeing to mutually terminate his contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/6219/midfielder-allowed-to-move-on |title=Midfielder allowed to move on |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=12 January 2012 |access-date=7 February 2018}} He signed for FC Halifax Town later that month,{{cite web |url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/alt1112e.htm |title=Altrincham FC archived news: January, 2012 |publisher=Altrincham F.C. |access-date=7 February 2018}} making his debut on 24 January 2012 as a 66th-minute substitute in a 2–2 home draw with Gainsborough Trinity in the Conference North.

On 10 February 2012, Hatfield re-signed for League Two club Accrington Stanley on a contract until the end of 2011–12 season.{{cite news |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9525845.Accrington_Stanley_cool_Cook_interest/ |title=Accrington Stanley cool Cook interest |first=Chris |last=Flanagan |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |location=Blackburn |date=20 February 2012 |access-date=7 February 2018}} He signed a new one-year contract with the club in June 2012.{{cite news |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9746372.Hatfield_commits_future_to_Stanley/ |title=Hatfield commits future to Stanley |first=Andy |last=Cryer |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |location=Blackburn |date=6 June 2012 |access-date=7 February 2018}} He scored four goals in an FA Cup tie against AFC Fylde on 3 November 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20107380 |title=AFC Fylde 1–4 Accrington |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 November 2012 |access-date=7 February 2018}}

Hatfield re-joined Conference Premier club FC Halifax Town on 27 November 2014 on a 28-day loan,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30227426 |title=Will Hatfield: FC Halifax sign Accrington Stanley midfielder |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2014 |access-date=7 February 2018}} and signed for the club permanently on 15 January 2015 after leaving Accrington by mutual consent.{{cite web |url=http://www.halifaxafc.co.uk/news/article/fc-halifax-town-accrington-stanley-will-hatfield-2201809.aspx |title=Hatfield back at the Shay |publisher=FC Halifax Town |date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321010345/http://www.halifaxafc.co.uk/news/article/fc-halifax-town-accrington-stanley-will-hatfield-2201809.aspx |archive-date=21 March 2016}} Hatfield signed for newly promoted National League club Guiseley on 19 June 2015,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33204531 |title=Will Hatfield: Guiseley sign former Accrington midfielder |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 June 2015 |access-date=7 February 2018}} and went on to spend four seasons with the club. He left Guiseley in July 2019 and signed for National League North club Darlington.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/17754278.will-hatfield-becomes-darlingtons-latest-arrival/ |title=Will Hatfield becomes Darlington's latest arrival |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=7 July 2018 |access-date=5 August 2019}}

Hatfield was named as Darlington's Away Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season, as well as winning their Goal of the Season award for his strike against Kidderminster Harriers.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/will-wins-four-awards-and-alex-wins-young-player-of-the-year |title=Will wins four awards and Alex wins young player of the year |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=23 August 2020 |access-date=25 August 2020}}

On 22 March 2022, Hatfield signed for fellow National League North club AFC Fylde for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web |url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/will-hatfield-joins-the-coasters/ |title=Will Hatfield joins the Coasters |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=22 March 2022 |accessdate=22 March 2022}} He was a regular starter for the rest of the season, and although playing less often in 2022–23, he made a major contribution to AFC Fylde's league title and promotion.{{cite web |url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/will-hatfield-departs-for-darlington/ |title=Will Hatfield departs for Darlington |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=14 August 2023 |access-date=14 August 2023}} Unable to guarantee him regular football at the higher level, AFC Fylde cancelled his contract, which had a year still to run, and Hatfield re-signed for Darlington on 14 August 2023 on a two-year deal.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/will-signs-for-quakers-for-the-second-time |title=Will signs for Quakers for the second time |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=14 August 2023 |access-date=14 August 2023}} After the dismissal of manager Alun Armstrong and assistant Darren Holloway on 6 September, Hatfield was one of a group of three senior players tasked with covering managerial duties until an appointment was made.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/club-statement-senior-players-take-caretaker-charge |title=Club statement: Senior players take caretaker charge |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=6 September 2023 |access-date=6 September 2023}}

Career statistics

{{updated|end of 2024–25 season}}

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

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan=4|Leeds United

|2009–10{{soccerbase season|53281|2009|access-date=7 February 2018}}

|League One

|0

00000colspan=2|—00
2010–11{{soccerbase season|53281|2010|access-date=7 February 2018}}

|Championship

|0

00000colspan=2|—00
2011–12

|Championship

|0

00000colspan=2|—00
colspan=2|Total

!0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0

York City (loan)

|2010–11{{cite book |editor1-first=Mike |editor1-last=Williams |editor2-first=Tony |editor2-last=Williams |title=Non-League Club Directory 2012 |date=2011 |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |isbn=978-1-869833-70-1 |pages=156–157}}

|Conference Premier

|4

0colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—40
Accrington Stanley (loan)

|2011–12

|League Two

|4

000colspan=2|—colspan=2|—40
FC Halifax Town

|2011–12{{cite book |editor1-first=Mike |editor1-last=Williams |editor2-first=Tony |editor2-last=Williams |title=Non-League Club Directory 2013 |date=2012 |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |isbn=978-1-869833-77-0 |pages=202–203}}

|Conference North

|1

0colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—10
rowspan=5|Accrington Stanley

|2011–12{{soccerbase season|53281|2011|access-date=7 February 2018}}

|League Two

|13

3colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—133
2012–13{{soccerbase season|53281|2012|access-date=13 October 2013}}

|League Two

|32

2141000346
2013–14{{soccerbase season|53281|2013|access-date=7 February 2018}}

|League Two

|31

000201{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance in Football League Trophy}}0340
2014–15{{soccerbase season|53281|2014|access-date=7 February 2018}}

|League Two

|7

000101{{efn|name=FLT}}090
colspan=2|Total

!83||5||1||4||4||0||2||0||90||9

FC Halifax Town

|2014–15

|Conference Premier

|17

2colspan=2|—colspan=2|—3{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}0202
rowspan=5|Guiseley

|2015–16

|National League

|38

320colspan=2|—5{{efn|name=FAT}}1454
2016–17

|National League

|44

620colspan=2|—1{{efn|name=FAT}}0476
2017–18

|National League

|30

112colspan=2|—00313
2018–19For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/lions-ease-into-next-round-with-kingsley-james-hat-trick/ |title=Lions ease into next round with Kingsley James hat-trick |publisher=Guiseley A.F.C. |date=22 September 2019 |access-date=12 November 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/lions-pegged-back-by-two-late-goals-as-town-force-replay/ |title=Lions pegged back by two late goals as Town force replay |publisher=Guiseley A.F.C. |date=7 October 2019 |access-date=12 November 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/lions-through-after-tough-encounter-with-cleethorpes/ |title=Lions through after tough encounter with Cleethorpes |publisher=Guiseley A.F.C. |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=12 November 2022}}
For FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round: {{cite web |url=https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/late-will-thornton-equaliser-sees-lions-live-to-fight-another-day/ |title=Last gasp Will Thornton equaliser sees Lions live to fight another day |publisher=Guiseley A.F.C. |date=24 November 2019 |access-date=12 November 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/lions-in-disappointing-trophy-exit/ |title=Lions in disappointing Trophy exit |publisher=Guiseley A.F.C. |date=12 December 2019 |access-date=12 November 2022}}

|National League North

|32

463colspan=2|—2{{efn|name=FAT}}0407
colspan=2|Total

!144||14||11||5||colspan=2|—||8||1||163||20

rowspan=4|Darlington

|2019–20For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/trafford-v-darlington-updates |title=Quakers win first FA Cup tie in five years |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=21 September 2019 |access-date=23 September 2019}}
{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/leamington-v-darlington-updates |title=Tyrone and Justin put Quakers through |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=5 October 2019 |access-date=6 October 2019}}
For FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round: {{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-gainsborough-trinity-updates |title=Sub Justin scores the winner |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=23 November 2019 |access-date=25 November 2019}}

|National League North

|31

350colspan=2|—4{{efn|name=FAT}}1404
2020–21For FA Cup 2nd qualifying round: {{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-take-on-prescot-cables-in-the-emirates-fa-cup |title=Quakers win penalty shootout to go through in Cup |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=3 October 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020}}

|National League North

|9

020colspan=2|—5{{efn|name=FAT}}2162
2021–22For FA Cup 2nd qualifying round: {{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-chester-updates-2 |title=Quakers held to a goalless draw in FA Cup |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=18 September 2021 |access-date=20 September 2021}}
{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/chester-v-darlington-updates-2 |title=Quakers knocked out of Cup by lucky goal |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=21 September 2021 |access-date=22 September 2021}}

|National League North

|29

620colspan=2|—1{{efn|name=FAT}}0326
colspan=2|Total

!69||9||9||0||colspan=2|—||10||3||88||12

rowspan=4|AFC Fylde

|2021–22

|National League North

|8

1colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—81
2022–23For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/match-report-afc-fylde-1-1-farsley-celtic/ |title=Match Report: AFC Fylde 1–1 Farsley Celtic |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=17 September 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/match-report-farsley-celtic-0-3-afc-fylde/ |title=Match Report: Farsley Celtic 0–3 AFC Fylde |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/match-report-congleton-town-1-1-afc-fylde/ |title=Match Report: Congleton Town 1–1 AFC Fylde |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=1 October 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/match-report-afc-fylde-5-1-congleton-town/ |title=Match Report: AFC Fylde 5–1 Congleton Town |publisher=AFC Fylde |date=4 October 2022 |access-date=5 October 2022}}

|National League North

|26

140colspan=2|—2{{efn|name=FAT}}0321
2023–24

|National League

|0

0colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—00
colspan=2|Total

!34||2||4||0||colspan=2|—||2||0||40||2

rowspan=3|Darlington

|2023–24For FA Cup 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2023-2024/fa-cup/darlington/workington-afc/479360 |title=Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Darlington 3–1 Workington AFC |website=Football Web Pages |access-date=16 September 2023}}
{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-scarborough-updates-1 |title=Scarborough go through with late penalty |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=30 September 2023 |access-date=30 September 2023}}

|National League North

|44

521colspan=2|—1{{efn|name=FAT}}0476
2024–25{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/will-hatfield/132600/ |title=W. Hatfield: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=30 April 2025}}For FA Cup qualifying rounds: {{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/west-didsbury-and-chorlton-v-darlington-updates |title=Nella puts Quakers through |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=14 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024}}
{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-gainsborough-updates-1 |title=Quakers beaten at home in the Cup |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=28 September 2024 |access-date=29 September 2024}}

|National League North

|45

821colspan=2|—2{{efn|name=FAT}}0489
colspan=2|Total

!88||13||4||2||colspan=2|—||3||0||95||15

colspan=3|Career total

!444||45||29||11||4||0||28||4||505||60

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • [http://guiseleyafc.co.uk/player/will-hatfield/ Will Hatfield profile] at the Guiseley A.F.C. website
  • {{Soccerbase}}

{{Darlington F.C. squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hatfield, Will}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Liversedge

Category:Sportspeople from Kirklees

Category:Footballers from West Yorkshire

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Leeds United F.C. players

Category:York City F.C. players

Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players

Category:FC Halifax Town players

Category:Guiseley A.F.C. players

Category:Darlington F.C. players

Category:AFC Fylde players

Category:National League (English football) players

Category:English Football League players

Category:21st-century English sportsmen