Will Antwi

Will Antwi
Antwi playing for Luton Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name Agyei William Kwabena Antwi[1]
Date of birth (1982-10-19) 19 October 1982 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Epsom, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 England U19s (Head Coach)
Youth career
1999–2002 Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Crystal Palace 4 (0)
2002 → Ljungskile SK (loan) 0 (0)
2004–2005 Aldershot Town 48 (0)
2005–2009 Wycombe Wanderers 42 (1)
2008 → Northwich Victoria (loan) 5 (0)
2009–2011 Dagenham & Redbridge 30 (2)
2011–2012 Luton Town 12 (2)
2011–2012 → Grimsby Town (loan) 4 (1)
2012 Staines Town 7 (1)
2012–2014 AFC Wimbledon 41 (1)
Total 193 (8)
International career
2003 Ghana 3 (0)
Managerial career
2022–2024 England U15s
2024– England U19s
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Agyei William Kwabena "Will" Antwi (born 19 October 1982), is an English-born Ghanaian former professional footballer and head coach for the England U19s.

As a player, he was a defender who played between 2002 and 2014. He represented the Ghana national football team as well as appearing for Crystal Palace, Ljungskile SK, Aldershot Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Northwich Victoria, Dagenham & Redbridge, Luton Town, Grimsby Town, Staines Town and AFC Wimbledon.

Career

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Crystal Palace

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Born in Epsom, Surrey, Antwi attended Chace Community School in north London before moving as a trainee to Crystal Palace where he became a professional player. After a brief spell in Sweden with Ljungskile SK, he returned to England with Conference side Aldershot Town where he played a pivotal part in their promotion push, including scoring the winning penalty against Hereford United in the 2003–04 Conference play–off semi–final, losing out on penalties in the final.

Wycombe Wanderers

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Antwi joined Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer in the summer of 2005 after leaving Aldershot but a groin injury in pre season meant he made his full debut on 8 April 2006, against Macclesfield Town and went on to keep his place for the 2005–06 League Two play–off games against Cheltenham Town. Antwi was given the number 5 shirt for the 2006–07 season and the 2007–08 season. Antwi captained the side on several occasions early on in the season, and took on the role of vice-captain for the 2007–08 season but found his time there to be devastated by injury.

Antwi went out on loan to Northwich Victoria on 14 November 2008, after returning from a broken toe which he suffered in the League Cup match against Birmingham City on 13 August. He returned to help guide Wycombe to automatic promotion to League One that season.[2]

Dagenham & Redbridge

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Antwi left Wycombe on 6 May 2009 and signed for Dagenham and Redbridge on a two-year contract on 17 July.[3] He enjoyed a commanding first half of the season but on 5 December was sidelined with an ankle injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. However Dagenham went on to clinch promotion to League One in the 2009–10 League Two play–off final on 30 May 2010 at Wembley Stadium, the highest position in the club's history. Antwi left Dagenham after their relegation from League One in the 2010–11 season.

Luton Town

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On 29 July 2011, he signed a six-month contract with Luton Town in the Conference.[4] On 24 November 2011 he joined Grimsby Town on a one-month loan.[5] Upon his return to Luton he left to take a look at options in the Veikkausliiga following the end of his contract at Kenilworth Road.[6]

Staines Town

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On 14 February 2012, Antwi joined Conference South side Staines Town.[7] On 14 March 2012, Antwi went on, an ultimately unsuccessful, trial at Finnish Premier League side Vaasan Palloseura.[8]

AFC Wimbledon

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On 14 September 2012, Antwi joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon, teaming up once again with manager Terry Brown whom he had worked with at Aldershot Town.[9] On 31 January 2013, his Wimbledon contract was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season.[10] Antwi then agreed to stay on with AFC Wimbledon for the 2013–14 season.

Antwi was released by the club at the end of the 2013–14 season and went on to join Barnet on trial, he featured in the club's 1-0 friendly defeat against Peterborough United.[11]

Career statistics

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Source:[12][13]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crystal Palace 2002–03 Division One 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 7 0
Aldershot Town 2003–04 Conference 14 0 0 0 0 0 5[a][b] 0 19 0
Aldershot Town 2004–05 Conference National 34 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 35 0
Wycombe Wanderers 2005–06 League Two 5 0 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 7 0
Wycombe Wanderers 2006–07 League Two 25 1 2 1 5 0 2[d] 0 34 2
Wycombe Wanderers 2007–08 League Two 6 0 0 0 0 0 1[d] 0 7 0
Wycombe Wanderers 2008–09 League Two 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
→ Northwich Victoria (loan) 2008–09 Conference Premier 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Dagenham & Redbridge 2009–10 League Two 19 1 1 0 1 0 1[d] 0 22 1
Dagenham & Redbridge 2010–11 League One 11 1 2 0 0 0 1[d] 0 14 1
Luton Town 2011–12 Conference Premier 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 2
→ Grimsby Town (loan) 2011–12 Conference Premier 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Staines Town 2011–12 Conference South 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
Wimbledon 2012–13 League Two 23 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 25 0
Wimbledon 2013–14 League Two 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 1
Career total 193 8 6 1 12 0 12 0 223 9
  1. ^ 2 appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ^ 3 appearance(s) in Conference play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in League Two play-offs
  4. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

Coaching career

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In August 2012, Antwi began working as a part-time academy coach at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.[14]

On 16 August 2022, Antwi was appointed as the head coach of England U15s.[15]

On 21 March 2024, Antwi took charge of his first match as England U19s head coach; a 1-1 draw away to Morocco.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ^ "Antwi leaves for Victoria". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  3. ^ "Nine out, two in". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Curtis Osano and Will Antwi earn Luton Town deals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Antwi joins Mariners". Grimsby Town F.C. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Antwi departs Hatters". Bedford Today. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Antwi joins Staines". Pitchero.com. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  8. ^ "VPS testaa englantilais-ghanalaista topparia". Veikkausliiga.com. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Update from Terry". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Neal's January update". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Bees beaten by Posh in opening pre-season friendly". Times Series. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Will Antwi | Football Stats | No Club | Age 41 | 2001-2014 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.
  13. ^ "England - Staines Town FC - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  14. ^ "About the academy". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  15. ^ "England youth team coaches appointed for 2022-23 season". 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Report: Morocco 1-1 England MU19s". 21 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
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