Rhys Walters
 Walters with Port Vale in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rhys Anthony Walters[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 November 2005[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Wolverhampton, England[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2022 | Port Vale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Port Vale | 11 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Leek Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:27, 27 April 2024 (UTC) | |||
Rhys Anthony Walters is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He came through the academy at Port Vale and played on loan at Leek Town.
Career
[edit]At nine, Walters joined the youth set-up at Port Vale.[4] He made his first-team debut at the age of sixteen on 18 October 2022, coming on for Mipo Odubeko 89 minutes into a 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park.[5] On 4 March 2023, he joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Leek Town on a work experience loan agreement until the end of the 2022–23 season.[3]
Walters made his first start for Port Vale on 29 August 2023, in a 0–0 draw with Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the EFL Cup; he was substituted on 57 minutes, going on to win the man of the match award.[6] Seven days later, he played his first full 90 minutes for the club in a 1–0 victory against the same opponents in a group stage game of the EFL Trophy, where he was paired in the centre of midfield with the experienced Jason Lowe.[7] He provided the assist for Josh Thomas to score the first goal in a 2–1 win over Sutton United in the third round of the EFL Cup on 26 September.[8] He was named as man of the match in the EFL Trophy tie with Newcastle United U21 on 10 October.[9] Speaking the following month, manager Andy Crosby said that "his performances have gradually improved with the more experience he gets", but that he needed to find an "aggressive edge".[10] However a contract was left unsigned due to objections from the player's agent.[11] In April 2024, new manager Darren Moore said that "we feel though he is at a level where he can contribute to the team".[12] He picked up a foot injury in the last game of the 2023–24 season.[13] Contract talks had remained at a stalemate since the start of the year.[14] The club left a contract offer on the table for the 2024–25 season as Walters had unsuccessful trials elsewhere.[15]
Style of play
[edit]Walters is a midfielder with good vision.[13]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 27 April 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Port Vale | 2022–23[16] | EFL League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24[17] | EFL League One | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Leek Town (loan) | 2022–23[18] | Northern Premier League Division One West |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
References
[edit]- ^ "Retained List 2022-23" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (19 November 2023). "Patrick Shanahan and the inside story of Port Vale kits". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Transfer News | Rhys Walters signs for Leek Town on work experience loan until the end of the season". Port Vale F.C. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (18 October 2022). "Lowdown on Plant, Walters and Pevide in Port Vale's Trophy squad". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Papa Johns Trophy (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Carville, Matt (5 September 2023). "Match Report | Port Vale 1-0 Crewe Alexandra". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Youlton, Clive; Travers, Chris (27 September 2023). "Fun times for Port Vale in the Carabao Cup as Ojo strikes late winner". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (12 October 2023). "Jesse Debrah, repaying trust and how Dave Flitcroft clinched the deal". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (8 November 2023). "Port Vale take consolations from Wrexham defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2024). "Port Vale chiefs talk transfers, investment and stadium plans". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (18 April 2024). "Vale talking points and injury news ahead of Bolton showdown". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (24 June 2024). "Vale youngsters making the grade". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (4 July 2024). "Experience, goals and stepping up preparations". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (3 November 2024). "Vale stretched too far in FA Cup exit". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Leek Town | Appearances | Rhys Walters | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2023.