John Halls

Club career

Arsenal

His career began in Arsenal's youth set-up, where he featured in the FA Youth Cup-winning team of 2000. However, the young defender found first-team football at Highbury hard to come by, making only a few League Cup appearances for the club. The first of these League Cup appearances was as a substitute against Manchester United in November 2001, a game in which Halls was dismissed for two bookable offences. Like many Arsenal juniors, he was frequently loaned out; firstly to Colchester United in January 2002 where he made six first-team appearances.

The player spent the entire 2002–03 season playing for KSK Beveren in Belgian First Division along with fellow Arsenal youngsters Graham Stack, Steve Sidwell and Liam Chilvers. These loans came about as part of an agreement between the two clubs which existed between 2001 and 2006. In October 2003, Halls was loaned out again, this time to Stoke City, making his debut in the home match versus Nottingham Forest on 4 October.

Stoke City

After impressing manager Tony Pulis during his loan spell Halls joined Stoke City on a permanent basis in December 2003 and spent a little over two years at the Britannia Stadium before his departure in January 2006. During this period he featured in a total of 66 games (plus eight whilst on loan) and scored two goals. Both of these goals were scored in consecutive matches during August 2005. The first came in a 4–2 defeat at Leicester City, whilst the second was notched in a 1–0 defeat of Millwall. Halls also accumulated a total of three red cards during his time at Stoke.

His last appearance in a Stoke shirt was on 28 December 2005 at home to Leeds United. Halls' contract was due to expire in the summer of 2006 but the player had expressed a desire to seek pastures new, provoking a number of clubs to show an interest in capturing his signature.

Reading

High-flying Reading paid an initial fee of £250,000 for Halls' services on 19 January 2006. Fellow Championship sides Crystal Palace and Southampton had both shown interest in signing Halls at the time.

Halls made his Reading debut in the fourth round FA Cup tie versus Birmingham City on 28 January 2006. The match finished 1–1, with Birmingham proceeding to the next round after a replay. He had to bide his time until making his league bow in April 2006, against his former club, Stoke, he also scored in this game, helping Reading to a 3–1 victory. The player found his first team chances limited after Reading's promotion in 2006. In the 2006–07 season he did not make a single Premier League appearance, having to settle for two League Cup appearances. His chances of breaking into the first team were hampered by an achilles injury which plagued him throughout the season.

Halls' one and only Premier League appearance to date was away at Bolton Wanderers in August 2007. This was followed by two more League Cup run-outs, one of which was a game at home to Liverpool in which Halls scored. As first team opportunities again proved scarce at the Madejski Stadium he was loaned out on three separate occasions in the 2007–08 season. Halls was loaned out to Championship sides Preston North End, Crystal Palace, and Sheffield United making a handful of appearances for each. Despite Reading's relegation into the Championship, Halls was released by the club on 16 May 2008. During his two-and-a-half-year stay at Reading he made eight first-team appearances, the majority of which came in cup competitions. He also scored two goals, one each in the Championship and the League Cup.

On 19 July, Halls featured in a pre-season match for Blackpool, with whom he was on trial. The match was played at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground and finished goalless.

On 26 August, it was announced on the official Sheffield Wednesday website that Halls had joined the club on trial. Halls would play in a friendly against Shrewsbury Town on 27 August. Halls was rejected by Sheffield Wednesday after failing to impress in that game against Shrewsbury Town.

Brentford

Halls joined Brentford on a one-year deal on 25 September 2008. He featured 23 times for the club before being released at the end of the season.

Aldershot Town

The summer of 2009 saw Halls leave Griffin Park and he joined Aldershot Town as a trialist. The club confirmed on 28 July 2009 that Halls had signed a two-year contract. Halls was allocated the number 11 shirt for the 2009–10 season and on 6 August, Gary Waddock announced that Halls would be the vice-captain for the season. Whilst playing in a reserve game for Aldershot, Halls was sent off for punching an opposition player. He moved on a free transfer to Wycombe Wanderers at the end of the 2010–2011 season.

Wycombe Wanderers

Halls joined up again with Gary Waddock at Wycombe signing a one-year contract in June 2011 on a free transfer from Aldershot. Halls struggled in his first few performances for the club with the player and management blaming it on a hidden injury. Halls has rarely appeared since then due to further injuries and poor performances, leaving him outcast. He was released by the club in May 2012 and retired from football.

International career

Halls was capped by England at U20 level.

After football

After leaving Wycombe Wanderers in May 2012, Halls decided to set up his own male fashion business.

Career statistics

Honours

Arsenal

• FA Youth Cup: 1999–2000

Brentford

• League Two: 2008–09

References

References

1. (2008). "Sky sports Football Yearbook: 2008–2009". Headline.
2. [http://www.nextmanagement.com/london/profile/john-halls Next / London / John Halls]
3. {{Soccerbase
4. "History Boys: John Halls".
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080516232409/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10306~19071%2C00.html "Halls' profile"] Reading FC. Retrieved 21 July 2008
6. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/reading/4627512.stm "Halls' Royal Appointment"], BBC Sport, 19 January 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2008
7. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4680422.stm "Birmingham 2 Reading 1"], BBC Sport, 7 February 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2008
8. (16 May 2008). "Four offered deals, six released". Reading F.C..
9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080928003052/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10432~1347360%2C00.html "Pre-season friendly ends in stalemate"], Blackpool F.C. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
10. "Halls handed Hillsborough trial". Sheffield Wednesday F.C..
11. "Two More Deals Agreed By Gary Waddock". theshots.co.uk.
12. "Captain And Vice Captain Announced". theshots.co.uk.
13. "Halls Carried Injury for weeks". Buckinghamshire Advertiser.
14. (9 May 2012). "Relegated Wycombe Wanderers release six players". BBC.
15. "England Matches – Under-20's".
16. "Halls new blog helping to set fashion trends". The Sentinel.
17. {{Soccerbase season
18. {{Soccerbase season
19. {{WorldFootball.net
20. {{Soccerbase season
21. {{Soccerbase season
22. {{Soccerbase season
23. {{Soccerbase season
24. {{Soccerbase season
25. {{Soccerbase season
26. {{Soccerbase season
27. {{Soccerbase season
28. {{Soccerbase season
29. "Class Of 2000".