Billy Crellin Explained

Billy Crellin
Full Name:William Francis Crellin[1]
Birth Date:30 June 2000
Birth Place:Blackpool, England
Height:1.85m (06.07feet)
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Everton
Clubnumber:43
Youthyears1:–2018
Youthclubs1:Fleetwood Town
Years1:2018–2022
Clubs1:Fleetwood Town
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:2018
Clubs2:FC United of Manchester (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Chorley (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–2021
Clubs4:Bolton Wanderers (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:2022–
Clubs5:Everton
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:England U17
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:England U18
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018
Nationalteam3:England U19
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019
Nationalteam4:England U20
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:20:43, 26 September 2023 (UTC)

William Francis Crellin (born 30 June 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Everton.

Club career

Born in Blackpool, Crellin moved on loan from Fleetwood Town to FC United of Manchester in August 2018,[2] [3] but was recalled early in September 2018.[4]

In July 2019 he was the subject of a failed transfer bid from Premier League club Everton.[5] He moved on loan to Chorley in August 2019.[6]

He signed on loan for Bolton Wanderers in August 2020.[7] His debut came on 5 September in Bolton's first match of the season, a 1–2 home defeat against Bradford City in the first round of the EFL Cup.[8] On 28 September Crellin was defended by Bolton head coach Ian Evatt after being criticised for perceived errors in games.[9] A month later however, Evatt criticised Crellin, stating that he needed to "man up" and that Bolton could not afford for their goalkeeper to keep making so many mistakes, after Crellin was at fault for two of Barrow's goals in a 3–3 draw and four days later scored an own goal in a 1–1 draw against Cambridge United.[10] In the next match Crellin saved a penalty to help Bolton beat Bradford City 1–0[11] and was voted Man of the Match by the Bolton fans.[12] Evatt praised Crellin for responding to the criticism by putting on the Man of the Match display.[13] Crellin continued to make mistakes however[14] and on 13 November he was dropped to the bench for Bolton's derby match against Salford City.[15] He then spent the rest of the season as a back up goalkeeper, first to Matt Gilks, and then to both Gilks and January signing Lukas Jensen.[16]

On 31 January 2022, Crellin joined Everton for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal, linking up with their under-23 squad.[17] [18] [19] On 20 September 2023, he signed a new contract until 2025.[20]

International career

Crellin has represented England at under-17 to under-20 youth levels.[3] [21] In October 2017, Crellin was included in the squad for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[22] His only appearance in the tournament was a group stage match against Iraq.[23]

On 14 October 2019, Crellin made his England U20 debut against Czech Republic at Peterborough United.[24]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fleetwood Town2018–19League One0000001010
2019–205020001080
2020–210000
2021–220000004040
Total50200060130
F.C. United of Manchester (loan)2018–19National League North7070
Chorley (loan)2019–20National League9090
Bolton Wanderers (loan)2020–21League Two110101030160
Everton2021–22Premier League0000000000
2022–230000000000
2023–240000000000
Total0000000000
Everton U212022–231010
2023–242020
Total0000003030
Career total3203010120480

Honours

England U17

2017[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Fleetwood Town . English Football League . 27 . 20 October 2019.
  2. Web site: Fleetwood academy boss Donnelly: Loans to benefit Crellin and co. 6 September 2018. 15 January 2019. Rosie Swarbrick. Blackpool Gazette.
  3. Web site: Billy Crellin joins FC United on youth loan deal. 1 August 2018. 26 October 2018. Fleetwood Town F.C..
  4. Web site: Fleetwood Town boss Barton: Why we recalled Billy Crellin from FC United. 21 September 2018. 26 October 2018. Rosie Swarbrick. Blackpool Gazette.
  5. Web site: Everton told to improve bid for England youth international. Phil. Kirkbride. 13 July 2019. liverpoolecho.
  6. Web site: Fleetwood Town keeper Alex Cairns backs Billy Crellin to shine as he joins Chorley on a youth loan. www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk.
  7. News: Billy Crellin: Bolton Wanderers sign Fleetwood Town goalkeeper on loan. BBC Sport. 3 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Report: Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Bradford City. www.bwfc.co.uk.
  9. Web site: "No criticism" - Wanderers boss Evatt backs keeper Crellin after Newport defeat. The Bolton News.
  10. Web site: MATCH REACTION: Cambridge United 1 Bolton Wanderers 1. The Bolton News.
  11. News: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Bradford City. BBC Sport.
  12. https://twitter.com/OfficialBWFC/status/1321229876536528902 Bolton Wanderers @OfficialBWFC: @BillyCrellin1 You voted the Wanderers stopper the Man of the Match after tonight's victory. Well played, Billy! #BWFC"
  13. Web site: MATCH REACTION: Bolton Wanderers 1 Bradford City 0. The Bolton News.
  14. Web site: Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt poised to make decision on keeper Billy Crellin. The Bolton News.
  15. News: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Salford City. BBC Sport.
  16. Web site: Bolton boss Ian Evatt on Billy Crellin's status and Tom White's exit. The Bolton News.
  17. Web site: Under-23s Seal Deal For Keeper Crellin. www.evertonfc.com. 31 January 2022. 1 February 2022.
  18. Web site: Goalkeeper Billy Crellin signs for Everton. www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 31 January 2022. 1 February 2022.
  19. News: Everton sign Alli from Tottenham. BBC Sport.
  20. Web site: Crellin Signs New Everton Contract. www.evertonfc.com.
  21. Web site: Billy Crellin named in England U19 squad. 31 August 2018. 26 October 2018. Fleetwood Town F.C..
  22. Web site: U17 World Cup squad. 4 October 2017. 21 November 2018. BBC Sport.
  23. Web site: Young Lions beat Iraq 4-0 in Kolkata to seal spot in U17 World Cup knock-out stage. 14 October 2017. 21 November 2018. The Football Association.
  24. Web site: YENGLAND MU20S MISS OUT AS CZECH REPUBLIC PREVAIL AT PETERBOROUGH UNITED. 14 October 2019. 16 October 2019. The Football Association.
  25. Web site: England's U17 World Cup winners - where are they now?. 17 January 2019. 17 January 2019. Shamoon Hafez. BBC Sport.