Will Patching
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Will Patching
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = William Luke Patching{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/698753|title=Premier League clubs publish released lists|date=8 June 2018|accessdate=11 June 2018|publisher=Premier League}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|18|df=y}}{{soccerway|william-patching/387387|accessdate=5 June 2018}}
|birth_place = Stockport, England
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = Coleraine
(on loan from Carlisle United)
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = 2004–2018
|youthclubs1 = Manchester City
|years1 = 2018–2019
|clubs1 = Notts County
|caps1 = 6
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2020–2021
|clubs2 = Dundalk
|caps2 = 23
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2021
|clubs3 = → Derry City (loan)
|caps3 = 16
|goals3 = 6
|years4 = 2022–2024
|clubs4 = Derry City
|caps4 = 95
|goals4 = 24
|years5 = 2025–
|clubs5 = Carlisle United
|caps5 = 10
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2025–
|clubs6 = → Coleraine (loan)
|caps6 = 0
|goals6 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2013–2014
|nationalteam1 = England U16
|nationalcaps1 = 7
|nationalgoals1 = 1
|nationalyears2 = 2014–2015
|nationalteam2 = England U17
|nationalcaps2 = 16
|nationalgoals2 = 1
|nationalyears3 = 2015
|nationalteam3 = England U18
|nationalcaps3 = 2
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|club-update = 21:12, 5 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
William Luke Patching (born 18 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for NIFL Premiership side Coleraine on loan from Carlisle United.
He joined Notts County from the Manchester City Academy in July 2018. He was released by County in August 2019, and joined Irish club Dundalk in November 2019.
A former youth team player with England up until under-18 level, participating at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Club career
=Notts County=
Born in Stockport, Patching joined the Academy at Manchester City at the age of six.{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Alex |title=Introducing... Will Patching |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/academy/academy%20news/2015/september/will%20patching%20academy%20interview |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=mancity.com |date=4 September 2015}} He signed a two-year contract with Notts County on 1 July 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44357622|title=Will Patching: Notts County to sign Man City midfielder on 1 July|date=4 June 2018|accessdate=5 June 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}} "Magpies" manager Kevin Nolan said that "when we spoke to a couple of people at Man City they were surprised Will had been released".{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Stuart |title=Man City's release of England starlet 'a surprise' to academy staff |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-academy-transfer-news-14858900 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=3 July 2018}} Patching had rejected a transfer move to Derby County only six months previously.{{cite news |last1=Curtis |first1=Leigh |title=How a twist of fate and help from Michael Owen led to Patching's move to Notts |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/how-twist-fate-help-michael-1642887 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=Nottingham Post |date=5 June 2018}} He picked up an injury in pre-season.{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Matt |title=Patching pushing to become a first-team regular at Notts County |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/patching-pushing-become-first-team-2242878 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=Nottingham Post |date=21 November 2018}} He made his professional debut on 14 August, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Noor Husin in a 3–3 draw at Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup; County lost the subsequent shoot-out despite him converting his penalty.{{cite news |title=Carabao Cup: Middlesbrough beat Notts County on penalties after 3-3 draw |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45092544 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2018}} He made his first start at Meadow Lane on 9 October, in a 2–0 defeat to Newcastle United U21s in the EFL Trophy.{{cite news |title=Leasing.Com Trophy (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/notts-co-vs-newcastle-united-u21/400953 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=SkySports |language=en}} He made a total of ten appearances during the 2018–19 campaign as County were relegated out of the English Football League with a 23rd-place finish in League Two. On 12 August 2019, manager Neal Ardley stated that Patching could go out on loan to gain experience and match fitness,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/notts-county-allow-trio-leave-3202409|title=Notts County to allow trio to leave the club on loan|first=Leigh|last=Curtis|date=12 August 2019|website=nottinghampost}} but Patching left the club by mutual consent two days later.{{cite news |title=Patching leaves Notts County • West Bridgford Wire |url=https://westbridgfordwire.com/patching-leaves-notts-county/ |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=West Bridgford Wire |date=14 August 2019}}
=Dundalk=
He began training with Port Vale in August 2019,{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Former Manchester City and Notts County midfielder training with Port Vale |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/patching-man-city-port-vale-3242853 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=23 August 2019}} but was subsequently signed by League of Ireland Premier Division team Dundalk in November 2019 ahead of the 2020 season.{{cite web |last1=Dempsey |first1=Andrew |title=Dundalk snap up former Manchester City youngster Will Patching |url=https://www.extratime.ie/articles/23972/dundalk-snap-up-former-manchester-city-youngster-will-patching/ |website=www.extratime.ie |accessdate=21 November 2019 |date=20 November 2019}}
On 22 February 2021 it was announced that Patching had joined fellow League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City initially on loan until July 2021, with the option to buy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derrycityfc.net/2021/02/city-sign-will-patching-on-loan/|title=City Sign Will Patching On Loan|first=Ethan|last=Barr|date=22 February 2021|website=Derry City Football Club}}
Upon his return to Dundalk, he scored in both legs to help defeat Newtown A.F.C. and FCI Levadia Tallinn in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase and play-off round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40348886.html|title=Vinny Perth 'proud' as Will Patching fires Dundalk to Euro win in Tallinn|first=John|last=Fallon|date=29 July 2021|website=Irish Examiner}}
=Derry City=
On 22 November 2021, it was announced that Patching had signed a two-year contract with Derry City following the expiry of his contract at Dundalk, from the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/midfielder-will-patching-makes-move-from-dundalk-to-derry-city-41077464.html|title=Midfielder Will Patching makes move from Dundalk to Derry City|website=independent}}
=Carlisle United=
In December 2024 it was announced that Patching would join Carlisle United on 1 January 2025, on a two-and-a-half year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg60p5xgrqo|title=Will Patching: Carlisle United sign Derry City midfielder|date=27 December 2024|website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1228/1488306-patching-leaves-derry-to-join-carlisle-united/|title=Patching leaves Derry City to join Carlisle United|date=28 December 2024|via=www.rte.ie}}
On 12 June 2025, Patching joined NIFL Premiership side Coleraine on a season-long loan deal. {{cite web|url=https://colerainefc.com/will-power/|title=Signing: Will Patching|website=colerainefc.com|date=12 June 2025|accessdate=13 June 2025}}
International career
Patching was selected by head coach Neil Dewsnip for England's under-17 squad for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, and came on as a substitute in the group stage draws with Guinea and South Korea.{{cite web |title=FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 - Matches - England - Guinea |url=https://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=271783/match=300298366/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020220516/http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=271783/match=300298366/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 October 2015 |website=FIFA.com |accessdate=23 August 2019 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 - Matches - Korea Republic - England |url=https://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=271783/match=300298365/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029011456/http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=271783/match=300298365/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2015 |website=FIFA.com |accessdate=23 August 2019 |language=en}}
Style of play
Port Vale assistant manager Dave Kevan described Patching as a "very promising young player" who was a very "creative" midfielder, "very comfortable in possession, [who] likes to join the front man and get forward".
Career statistics
{{updated|4 March 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 & FAI Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup & League of Ireland Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Notts County
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|113170|2018|accessdate=7 May 2019}} |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=3|Dundalk
|2020 |rowspan=2|League of Ireland Premier Division |7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2021
|16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League|name=UECL}} | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| Derry City (loan)
|2021 |League of Ireland Premier Division |16 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 6 | |||||
| rowspan=4|Derry City
|2022 |rowspan=3|League of Ireland Premier Division |33 | 10 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=UECL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 11 | |||
| 2023
|29 | 7 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|name=UECL}} | 2 | 1{{efn|Appearances in President of Ireland's Cup|name=POIC}} | 1 | 38 | 11 | ||
| 2024
|33 | 7 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 7 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!95 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 115 | 29 | |
| rowspan=3|Carlisle United
|EFL League Two |10 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | |||||
| 2025–26
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| |Coleraine (loan)
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!150 | 29 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 185 | 38 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Carlisle United F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = Gold
| list1 =
{{2021 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
{{2022 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
{{2023 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patching, Will}}
Category:Footballers from Stockport
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Derry City F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Coleraine F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland