Will Huffer

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Will Huffer

| fullname = William Matthew Scobie Huffer

| image = Will Huffer January 2021 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Huffer in January 2021

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|30|df=y}}{{Cite web |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2017-18.pdf |access-date=17 June 2018 |publisher=English Football League |page=21 }}

| birth_place = Wandsworth, England

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}{{Cite web |date=3 November 2020 |title=Avenue sign Championship goalkeeper in short term deal |url=https://bpafc.com/avenue-sign-championship-goalkeeper-in-short-term-deal/ |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=bpafc.com |publisher=Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C.}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Whitehawk

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = –2018

| youthclubs1 = Leeds United

| years1 = 2018–2020

| clubs1 = Leeds United

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2019

| clubs2 = → Barnet (loan)

| caps2 = 2

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2020–2021

| clubs3 = Bradford (Park Avenue)

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2021

| clubs4 = Bradford City

| caps4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2021

| clubs5 = AFC Telford United

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2021–2022

| clubs6 = Stalybridge Celtic

| caps6 = 7

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2022–2023

| clubs7 = Burgess Hill Town

| caps7 = 19

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2023–2024

| clubs8 = Carshalton Athletic

| caps8 = 13

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2024

| clubs9 = Burgess Hill Town

| caps9 = 3

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2024–

| clubs10 = Whitehawk

| caps10 = 3

| goals10 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2014–2015

| nationalteam1 = England U17

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2015

| nationalteam2 = England U18

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 0

| club-update = 11:43, 5 November 2024 (UTC)

}}

William Matthew Scobie Huffer (born 30 October 1998) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Whitehawk.

Career

=Leeds United=

Huffer started his career at Leeds United's youth academy from an early age. On 21 December 2017, Huffer signed his first professional contract.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2017 |title=WILL HUFFER PENS PROFESSIONAL DEAL |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/academy/22763/will-huffer-pens-professional-deal |access-date=24 November 2018 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}{{Cite news |date=24 November 2018 |title=Who are Leeds United goalkeepers Will Huffer and Kamil Miazek? Whites Bristol City options profiled |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/who-are-leeds-united-goalkeepers-will-huffer-and-kamil-miazek-whites-bristol-city-options-profiled-1-9458917 |access-date=24 November 2018}}

He made his first appearance for Leeds' first team in a pre-season friendly 1–1 draw against York City on 20 July 2018, under recently appointed Leeds' head coach Marcelo Bielsa.{{Cite web |date=20 July 2018 |title=RONALDO VIEIRA: EVERYONE IS FEELING FIT |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/23543/ronaldo-vieira-everyone-is-feeling-fit |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}{{Cite web |date=19 July 2018 |title=REPORT: YORK CITY 1–1 LEEDS UNITED |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/23540/report-york-city |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}

Huffer was given the number 13 shirt for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2018 |title=2018/19 SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/23576/2018-19-squad-numbers-announced |access-date=11 August 2018 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}} His first call up to a senior first-team match was on 14 August when he was named on the bench in the EFL Cup win against Bolton Wanderers.

He made his debut on 24 November 2018 in the EFL Championship against Bristol City, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win, after being named in the starting lineup after injuries to Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamal Blackman.{{Cite web |date=24 November 2018 |title=Leeds 2–0 Bristol City: Visiting boss Lee Johnson says hosts were 'lucky' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46244063 |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} He remained Leeds' second choice goalkeeper until the signing of Spanish international goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid in January 2019.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2019 |title=Leeds United sign Kiko Casilla |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/24407/leeds-united-sign-kiko-casilla |access-date=17 January 2019 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C}}{{Cite web |date=17 January 2019 |title=Official announcement: Casilla |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2019/01/official-announcement-casilla |access-date=17 January 2019 |website=realmadrid.com |publisher=Real Madrid C.F}}

==Barnet (loan)==

Huffer joined Barnet on a one-month loan on 25 January 2019.{{Cite web |date=25 January 2019 |title=Loan {{!}} Will Huffer joins Barnet FC |url=https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2019/january/loan--will-huffer-joins-barnet-fc/ |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=www.barnetfc.com |publisher=Barnet F.C.}} He made his debut for the club on 28 January, starting in a 3–3 draw as Barnet caused an FA Cup upset to earn a replay against Championship opposition Brentford.{{Cite web |date=28 January 2019 |title=Barnet 3–3 Brentford |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46941901 |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} After five appearances in all competitions, Leeds recalled Huffer from his loan due to an injury to Kamil Miazek.{{Cite news |last=Hay |first=Phil |date=20 February 2019 |title=Leeds United recall Will Huffer from Barnet after goalkeeper injury |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/latest-leeds-united-news/leeds-united-recall-will-huffer-barnet-after-goalkeeper-injury-106761 |access-date=3 November 2020}}

==Return to Leeds==

On 18 May 2019, Leeds announced that Huffer, alongside fellow goalkeeper Kamil Miazek, had extended his contract by one year, with the club having taken up an automatic option on their existing contracts.{{Cite web |date=18 May 2019 |title=Leeds United 2019/20 retained list |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/24990/leeds-united-2019-20-retained-list |access-date=19 May 2019 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}

Huffer left Leeds in summer 2020 when his contract was not renewed.{{Cite web |last=Hay |first=Phil |date=28 October 2020 |title='I just want to play football': Will Huffer on his Leeds release and injury hell |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2154019/2020/10/29/will-huffer-leeds-united/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=The Athletic}}

=Bradford (Park Avenue)=

He joined Bradford (Park Avenue) on a short-term deal on 3 November 2020.{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Rowan |date=3 November 2020 |title=Bradford sign former Leeds United stopper to increase competition between the sticks |work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18842869.former-leeds-united-keeper-will-huffer-joins-bradford/ |access-date=3 November 2020}}

=Bradford City=

On 7 January 2021, Huffer signed for League Two side Bradford City with the terms of the transfer undisclosed.{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55577004 |title=Will Huffer: Bradford City sign goalkeeper from Bradford (Park Avenue) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2021}} On 12 May 2021 he was one of nine players that Bradford City announced would leave the club on 30 June 2021 when their contracts expire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/nine-bantams-to-depart/|title=NINE BANTAMS TO DEPART|website=www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19296490.bradford-city-release-nine-players-contracts-expire/|title=City wave goodbye to nine - including long-serving defensive duo|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}

=Stalybridge Celtic=

After a brief spell at AFC Telford United, where he was an unused substitute on one occasion, he signed for Stalybridge Celtic in October 2021.{{cite web |last1=Dhamrait |first1=Taran |title=Former Leeds United and England youth team goalkeeper joins Celtic |url=https://www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk/news.php?id=3272 |publisher=Stalybridge Celtic |access-date=8 January 2022 |date=15 October 2021}} He left the club in January 2022, having made eleven appearances for the club, including seven in the league.{{cite web |title=Player Profile: Will Huffer |url=https://www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk/play.php?code=HUFFW |publisher=Stalybridge Celtic |access-date=8 January 2022}}

=Burgess Hill Town=

Huffer joined Burgess Hill Town in January 2022 and later signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.{{cite tweet|number=1504867724186554369|user=Official_BHTFC|title=We are delighted to confirm that the club have secured the signature of Will Huffer until the end of next season.…|date=18 March 2022}}

=Carshalton Athletic=

In June 2023, Huffer joined Carshalton Athletic.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Will Huffer joins the Robins |url=https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/post/will-huffer-joins-the-robins |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=carshaltonathletic |language=en}}

=Whitehawk=

In October 2024, following a short spell back with Burgess Hill Town, Huffer joined Whitehawk.{{cite web|url=https://www.isthmian.co.uk/articles/huffer-of-the-hawks|title=Huffer of the Hawks|website=www.isthmian.co.uk|date=21 October 2024|accessdate=21 October 2024}}

International career

Huffer has represented England at several international levels including under-18.{{Cite news |date=24 November 2018 |title=Kamil Miazek profiled as Leeds United's goalkeeping injury crisis provides sudden opportunity |work=Leeds Live |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-goalkeeper-kamil-miazek-15453691 |access-date=24 November 2018}} Including proving to be the hero for England under-17's in 2015 saving a penalty in the World Cup Playoff Place game against Spain under-17's to qualify for the Under 17's World Cup in Chile.{{Cite news |last=Urquhart |first=Joe |date=31 July 2019 |title=Leeds United's back-up goalkeepers profiled as Bailey Peacock-Farrell nears Burnley switch |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-latest/leeds-united-s-back-up-goalkeepers-profiled-as-bailey-peacock-farrell-nears-burnley-switch-1-9908817 |access-date=31 July 2019}}

He was called up to the England U20 squad in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Wylie |first=Jack |date=16 March 2018 |title=England Under-20s Choose Five Former Apprentices |work=lfe.org.uk |publisher=League Football Education |url=https://www.lfe.org.uk/news/england-under-20s-choose-five-former-apprentices |access-date=16 March 2018}}{{Cite news |date=31 August 2018 |title=ENGLAND U20S SQUAD NAMED FOR SEPTEMBER DOUBLE HEADER |work=thefa.com |publisher=The Football Association |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/aug/30/england-u20s-squad-switzerlands-netherlands-310818 |access-date=25 January 2019}}

Style of play

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Joe Urqhuart compared Huffer's goalkeeping style similar to former England goalkeeper Joe Hart.{{Cite news |date=22 November 2018 |title=Leeds United Podcast - Inside Elland Road: EFL TV rights, Bristol City and the Whites goalkeeping situation |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-podcast-inside-elland-road-efl-tv-rights-bristol-city-and-the-whites-goalkeeping-situation-1-9457741 |access-date=24 November 2018}} With Huffer also described as 'tall, commanding and loud'.

Personal life

In his second year as a professional at Leeds United, Huffer started a degree in classical history in Open University.

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;"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leeds United \|2018–19 \|Championship \|1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Barnet (loan) \|2018–19 \|National League \|2	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	5	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !3	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	6	0