Reece Hannam Explained

Reece Hannam
Fullname:Reece Phillip Peter Hannam[1]
Birth Date:11 September 2000
Birth Place:Enfield, England
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:VfR Aalen
Youthyears1:–2020
Youthclubs1:West Ham United
Youthyears2:2020–2021
Youthclubs2:Crystal Palace
Years1:2021–2023
Clubs1:Crystal Palace
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Bromley (loan)
Caps2:17
Goals2:2
Years3:2023–2024
Clubs3:Stevenage
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2024
Clubs4:AFC Croydon Athletic
Caps4:10
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:VfR Aalen
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Club-Update:15:51, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Reece Phillip Peter Hannam (born 11 September 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Regionalliga club VfR Aalen.

A product of the West Ham United and Crystal Palace academies, Hannam signed his first professional contract at Crystal Palace following his release from West Ham. He spent the first half of the 2022–23 season on loan at Bromley where he gained his first experience of regular senior football. Hannam was released by Crystal Palace in June 2023 and signed for League One club Stevenage in August that year.

Early life

Born in Enfield, London, Hannam started playing in the West Ham United pre-academy at the age of six.[2]

Career

Crystal Palace

Having progressed at West Ham through to playing regularly in the under-18 team, Hannam earned a two-year academy scholarship in May 2017.[3] He made three EFL Trophy appearances for West Ham's under-21 team and also played for the under-23 team during his time there.[1] He was released by West Ham in February 2020[2] and joined Crystal Palace on trial in March 2020, ultimately spending six months training on his own due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The trial proved successful and Hannam signed a one-year contract for the 2020–21 season.[2] Hannam was called up to the Crystal Palace first-team squad for the club's Premier League match against Fulham on 28 February 2021 and was an unused substitute in a 0–0 draw.[2] He signed a three-year contract extension in March 2021,[4] [5] and was named under-23 Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season in June 2021, having captained the team to promotion that season.[4]

Hannam was part of new Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira's pre-season squad ahead of the 2021–22 season, although he had a groin injury before the season began, halting his involvement in both the first and under-23 squads.[5] Nearing a return from injury, Hannam developed pericarditis, which meant he was unable to exercise and did not return to playing football until April 2022.[5]

Loan to Bromley

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, having stated he felt he needed to gain first-team experience playing senior football,[5] Hannam joined National League club Bromley on an initial season-long loan agreement on 16 July 2022.[6] He debuted for Bromley in a 3–2 away defeat to Wealdstone on 6 August 2022, before scoring his first goal in senior football in a 1–0 away victory against Aldershot Town on 20 August 2022. Having scored two goals in 18 appearances during the first half of the season, Hannam was recalled by Crystal Palace in January 2023.[1] He was released in June 2023.[7]

Stevenage

Hannam trialled with League One club Stevenage during pre-season ahead of the 2023–24 season, signing a contract on 14 August 2023.[8] He made his English Football League debut as a 67th-minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to Reading on 19 August 2023.

AFC Croydon Athletic

On 20 February 2024, Hannam was announced to have joined Combined Counties League Premier Division South club AFC Croydon Athletic.[9]

VfR Aalen

On 20 August 2024, Hannam signed for German Oberliga Baden-Württemberg on an initial one-year deal.[10]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crystal PalacePremier League0000000000
Premier League0000000000
2022–23Premier League0000000000
Total0000000000
Crystal Palace U211010
Bromley (loan)2022–23National League1721000182
StevenageLeague One3000103070
Career total202101040262

Notes and References

  1. News: Soccerway – Reece Hannam. Soccerway. 25 August 2023.
  2. News: Who is Reece Hannam? Meet Palace defender in recent first-team squads. Crystal Palace F.C.. 10 April 2021. 25 August 2023.
  3. News: Twelve youngsters sign two-year scholarships. West Ham F.C.. 12 May 2017. 26 August 2023.
  4. News: Reece Hannam named Under-23 Player of the Season. Crystal Palace F.C.. 3 June 2021. 25 August 2023.
  5. News: Exclusive: Crystal Palace full-back on 'panic' after heart issue flagged and gaining regular game time on loan at Bromley. London News Online. 26 August 2022. 25 August 2023. Edmund. Brack.
  6. News: Reece Hannam joins Bromley on loan. Crystal Palace F.C.. 16 July 2022. 25 August 2023.
  7. News: Crystal Palace Academy confirms released and retained players. Crystal Palace F.C.. 16 June 2023. 25 August 2023.
  8. News: Reece Hannam signs for Stevenage. Stevenage F.C.. 14 August 2023. 25 August 2023.
  9. 1759913116257722603. NEW SIGNING ANNOUNCEMENT We are ecstatic to announce our new AFC Croydon signing @reecehannam1 REECE HANNAM! Former Crystal Palace, Bromley & Stevenage player. ⚽️ Bringing an array of experience to the team! #uptherams #croydon #afccroydon #football #newsigning. AFCCroydonAth. AFC Croydon Athletic. 20 February 2024. 20 February 2024.
  10. Web site: VfR Aalen verpflichtet Reece Hannam. VfR Aalen signs Reece Hannam. German. www.vfr-aalen.de. 20 August 2024. 20 August 2024.