Joe Widdowson

Joe Widdowson

Widdowson playing for Northampton Town in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Widdowson[1]
Date of birth	(1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth	Forest Gate, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
0000–2007	West Ham United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2009	West Ham United	0	(0)
2008	→ Rotherham United (loan)	3	(0)
2009	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	20	(1)
2009–2010	Grimsby Town	38	(0)
2010–2012	Rochdale	66	(0)
2012–2014	Northampton Town	64	(0)
2014–2015	Bury	1	(0)
2014	→ Morecambe (loan)	8	(0)
2014–2015	→ Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)	3	(0)
2015–2017	Dagenham & Redbridge	94	(0)
2017–2021	Leyton Orient	117	(1)
2021–2022	Barnet	9	(3)
Total		423	(5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joseph Widdowson (born 28 March 1989) is an English former professional footballer who plays as a defender.

He began his career with Premier League side West Ham United, spending time on loan with Rotherham United. He later signed a permanent contract with Grimsby Town which was the start of an extensive Football League career with Rochdale, Northampton Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and Leyton Orient. His final season was in the National League with Barnet.

Career

West Ham United

Widdowson began his career as a trainee at West Ham United in July 2007.[3] He joined Football League Two side Rotherham United in February 2008 on a one-month loan,[4] where he made three league appearances.[3] He made his non-competitive debut for West Ham on 17 July 2008 against Hampton & Richmond Borough completing 90 minutes in a 2–4 victory. This match was then followed with a full 90 minutes on 24 July 2008 in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game in Toronto in which Widdowson was handed the difficult task of marking England legend David Beckham. Widdowson impressed many spectators during the game with the way he handled the task set in such a controlled manner, and ended the game swapping shirts with the Los Angeles Galaxy star.[5]

Grimsby Town

On 2 January 2009 Widdowson joined Grimsby Town on an initial one-month loan.[6] Widdowson made his debut for Grimsby on 17 January 2009 in a 1–0 away victory against Wycombe Wanderers.[7] He scored his first league goal, against Rotherham United, in a 3–0 home win for the Mariners on 24 January 2009.[8] The goal was good enough to win 2nd place in the club's goal of the season awards. Grimsby manager Mike Newell managed to extend Widdowson's loan until the end of the season, and he remained as the club's first choice left back, despite regular starter Tom Newey returning from injury. Newey was then loaned out to Rochdale,[9] and Widdowson became an integral part of the Grimsby side that managed too stave off relegation from the Football League. He was given his first red card for the club on 25 April 2009 after being controversially dismissed in the 87th minute of play for a second bookable offence in the club's relegation crunch tie with AFC Bournemouth.[10] On 18 May 2009, the Mariners announced Widdowson had signed a three-year contract with the club.[11]

Rochdale

On 22 June 2010 Widdowson signed for Rochdale ahead of the club's first campaign in League One.[12] In May 2012, Widdowson was released from Rochdale after being told his contract would not be renewed.[13]

Northampton Town

On 5 July 2012 Widdowson joined Northampton Town on a two-year contract.[14]

Bury

On 6 August 2014, Widdowson signed for Bury just days prior to the start of the new season, having impressed on a short-term trial.[15]

Morecambe

On 29 August 2014, Widdowson signed for Morecambe on a two-month loan.[16]

Dagenham & Redbridge

On 27 November 2014, Widdowson joined Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until 4 January 2015.[17] In January 2015, his loan with Dagenham ended and he returned to Bury having made three appearances for the side.[18] Later in the month he signed for Dagenham & Redbridge on a six-month contract until the end of the season after his short-term deal with Bury came to an end.[18]

Leyton Orient

On 1 July 2017, Widdowson signed for Leyton Orient on a two-year contract.[19] In May 2019, after winning promotion to League Two with the O's, his contract was renewed until 2021.[20] Widdowson was released at the end of the 2020-21 season after 137 appearances for the O's.[21]

Barnet

Widdowson signed a two-year contract with Barnet in July 2021.[22] He scored three times in ten games for the Bees. After opening the scoring away at Stockport County in October 2021, he was stretchered off after a foul by Macauley Southam-Hales that saw the latter sent off. Widdowson spent the rest of the season out injured and departed the Bees following the conclusion of the season.[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 October 2021

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
West Ham United	2007–08[24]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2008–09[25]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Rotherham United (loan)	2007–08[24]	League Two	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
Grimbsy Town (loan)	2008–09[25]	League Two	20	1	—		—		—		20	1
Grimbsy Town	2009–10[26]	League Two	38	0	1	0	1	0	1[a]	0	41	0
	Total		58	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	61	1
Rochdale	2010–11[27]	League One	34	0	1	0	2	0	1[a]	0	38	0
	2011–12[28]	League One	32	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	35	0
	Total		66	0	1	0	5	0	1	0	73	0
Northampton Town	2012–13[29]	League Two	39	0	2	0	2	0	4[b]	0	47	0
	2013–14[30]	League Two	25	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	28	0
	Total		64	0	4	0	3	0	4	0	75	0
Bury	2014–15[31]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
Morecambe (loan)	2014–15[31]	League Two	8	0	—		—		1[a]	0	9	0
Dagenham & Redbridge	2014–15[31]	League Two	21	0	—		—		—		21	0
	2015–16[32]	League Two	31	0	2	0	1	0	1[a]	0	35	0
	2016–17[33]	National League	45	0	3	0	—		3[c]	0	51	0
	Total		97	0	5	0	1	0	4	0	107	0
Leyton Orient	2017–18[33]	National League	36	0	3	0	—		5[d]	0	44	0
	2018–19[33]	National League	44	0	0	0	—		2[d]	0	46	0
	2019–20[34]	League Two	16	1	1	0	1	0	1[a]	0	19	1
	2020–21[35]	League Two	21	0	1	0	2	0	4[a]	0	28	0
	Total		117	1	5	0	3	0	12	0	137	1
Barnet	2021–22[33]	National League	9	3	1	0	—		0	0	10	3
Career total			423	5	17	0	13	0	23	0	476	5

1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
2. Three appearances in Football League Trophy, one in Football League Two play-offs
3. Two appearances in National League play-offs, one in FA Trophy
4. Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Leyton Orient

• National League: 2018–19[36]
• FA Trophy runner-up: 2018–19[37]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Leyton Orient" (PDF). English Football League. p. 37. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
3. "Joe Widdowson". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
4. "Millers sign young Hammer on loan". BBC Sport. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
5. "MLS All-Stars 3–2 West Ham United FT". West Ham United F.C. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
6. "Widdowson goes out on loan". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
7. "Wycombe 0–1 Grimsby". BBC News. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
8. "Grimsby 3–0 Rotherham". BBC News. 24 January 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
9. "Rochdale swoop for defender Newey". BBC News. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
10. "Bournemouth 2–1 Grimsby". BBC News. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
11. "Widdowson makes permanent switch". Grimsby-townfc.premiumtv.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
12. "Football – Joe Widdowson completes Rochdale move". BBC News. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
13. Coleman to make big changes Skysports, 10 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
14. "Northampton Town agree deal with defender Joe Widdowson". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
15. "Bury make double swoop". Skysports.com. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
16. "Morecambe sign Bury's Joe Widdowson on two-month loan". BBC Sport. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
17. "Dagenham: Patrick Agyemang and Joe Widdowson join on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
18. "Dagenham: Patrick Agyemang and Joe Widdowson join on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
19. "Dagenham & Redbridge left back Joe Widdowson joins Leyton Orient". Romford Recorder. 1 July 2017.
20. "Leyton Orient: Jobi McAnuff, Matt Harrold & Joe Widdowson sign new contracts". BBC Sport. 21 May 2019.
21. "2021 RETAINED LIST". Leyton Orient F.C. June 2021.
22. "Experienced Defender Joe Widdowson joins the Bees". Barnet F.C. 30 July 2021.
23. 2021/22 Released & Retained List
24. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
25. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
26. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
27. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
28. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
29. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
30. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
31. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
32. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
33. Joe Widdowson at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
34. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
35. "Games played by Joe Widdowson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
36. "National League: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    "Leyton Orient FC: Squad". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
37. Stevens, Rob (19 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 1–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

External links

• Joe Widdowson at Soccerbase