Rekeil Pyke

Rekeil Pyke
Personal information
Full name Rekeil Leshaun Pyke[1]
Date of birth (1997-09-01) 1 September 1997 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Leeds, England[3]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[4][5]
Position(s) Forward, winger, wing back
Team information
Current team
 Grimsby Town
Number 15
Youth career
–2009 Rothwell Juniors
2009–2016 Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2020 Huddersfield Town 1 (0)
2016 → Wrexham (loan) 3 (0)
2017 → Colchester United (loan) 12 (0)
2017–2018 → Port Vale (loan) 7 (0)
2018–2019 → Wrexham (loan) 23 (5)
2019 → Rochdale (loan) 6 (0)
2019–2020 → Rochdale (loan) 13 (1)
2020–2023 Shrewsbury Town 65 (3)
2022 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 10 (0)
2023– Grimsby Town 30 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:04, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Rekeil Leshaun Pyke (born 1 September 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward, winger and wing back for EFL League Two club Grimsby Town.

A product of the Academy at Huddersfield Town, he was loaned out to Wrexham in November 2016, Colchester United in January 2017, and Port Vale in July 2017. He returned to Wrexham on loan for the first half of the 2018–19 season before moving on loan to Rochdale for the campaign's second half. He returned on loan to Rochdale for the first half of the 2019–20 season before Huddersfield released him in July 2020. He signed with Shrewsbury Town the following month and was loaned to Scunthorpe United in January 2022. He signed with Grimsby Town in June 2023.

Career

Huddersfield Town

Born in Leeds,[6] Pyke is a product of the Huddersfield Town Academy.[7] He first joined the club at under-12 level from local junior side Rothwell Juniors.[8] He signed his first professional contract in February 2015, having already represented the under-21 team at the age of 17.[9] He joined National League side Wrexham on a month long loan in November 2016.[10] He made his debut on 29 November in Wrexham's 1–0 defeat at Lincoln City.[11] "Dragons" manager Dean Keates said Pyke "did okay... the physicality was all new to him, a new environment, but there is still a lot more to come from him".[12] After three appearances at the Racecourse Ground, Pyke returned to Huddersfield at the end of his loan spell on 28 December.[8] On 30 January 2017, Pyke joined League Two club Colchester United on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[13] He came on as a second-half substitute for Owen Garvan to make his professional debut on 15 February during Colchester's 3–2 defeat to Crawley Town at the Colchester Community Stadium.[14] He made his first start in a 2–0 home victory over Mansfield Town on 14 March, after which "U's" manager John McGreal said he was "delighted" with Pyke, describing him as a "beast of a kid".[15] He failed to score in four league starts and eight substitute appearances for Colchester.[16]

On 11 July 2017, Pyke joined League Two side Port Vale on loan for the entire 2017–18 season.[17] Manager Michael Brown warned fans not to burden the teenager with too much expectation after Pyke scored four goals in his first two pre-season friendly matches.[18] However, he struggled to even appear on the first-team bench, and speaking in October, new manager Neil Aspin blamed league rules that prevented him from naming more than five loanees in a matchday squad.[19] He then picked up a hamstring injury in a reserve team game and returned to the Kirklees Stadium for treatment.[20] He was recalled to Huddersfield permanently on 2 January 2018.[21]

On 10 July 2018, he returned to Wrexham on a season-long loan for the 2018–19 season.[22] He signed a new contract at Huddersfield to keep tied to the club until summer 2020.[23] He scored five goals in 27 appearances during his loan spell at Wrexham, being absent from Graham Barrow's first-team only during six weeks at Christmas when he was in recovery from a hamstring injury. On 26 January, he was named in the National League team of the day for his man of the match performance in a 1–0 win over Maidenhead United.[24] However, he was recalled to Huddersfield four days later; Welsh newspaper The Leader reported that "Pyke's departure is a big blow in Wrexham's push for a top-seven finish".[25]

On 30 January 2019, he moved up two divisions from Wrexham to join struggling League One side Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[26] He made three starts and three substitute appearances for the "Dale" by the end of the 2018–19 campaign. On 3 July, he rejoined Rochdale on loan for the whole of the 2019–20 season, with manager Brian Barry-Murphy feeling that his "unique... skills and qualities... [added] a different dimension to our attacking play".[27] Having scored three goals in 20 appearances at Spotland, he was recalled by new Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley on 5 January.[28] Cowley said that with Pyke's contract due to expire in the summer he wanted to assess the player at Huddersfield.[29] He made his Huddersfield debut as a late substitute in a 3–2 defeat at Fulham on 1 February.[30] However, this was to prove his only appearance for the "Terriers" before he was released on 24 July 2020.[31]

Shrewsbury Town

On 3 August 2020, Pyke joined League One side Shrewsbury Town, signing a three-year deal and reuniting with boss Sam Ricketts who Pyke had played under at Wrexham.[32][33] He scored on his "Shrews" debut, a 4–3 defeat at Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup.[34] However, later in September Pyke was ruled out for four months due to a thigh injury after being forced off in a 2–1 defeat to Northampton Town at the New Meadow.[35] Ricketts commented that Pyke and injured strike partner Leon Clarke were both a big miss for the team.[36] By the time he returned to fitness Steve Cotterill had replaced Ricketts as manager, and assistant boss Aaron Wilbraham said that Pyke would have to work hard to win back his place in the starting eleven.[37] He ended the 2020–21 campaign with 14 appearances to his name, without scoring any further goals.[38]

On 31 January 2022, Pyke joined League Two bottom side Scunthorpe United on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[39] He had previously worked with manager Keith Hill at Rochdale.[40] He started six games and made four substitute appearances as the "Iron" were relegated out of the English Football League.[41]

Speaking in August 2022, Shrewsbury manager Steve Cotterill said that the Scunthorpe loan was "a waste of time" and was the player's choice rather than Cotterill's decision.[42] Three months later, Cotterill praised Pyke for adapting to the wing-back role as Julien Dacosta and Elliott Bennett were sidelined with injury.[43] Pyke ended the 2022–23 season with three goals in 19 starts and 23 substitute appearances,[44] departing the club upon the expiration of his contract.[45]

Grimsby Town

On 26 June 2023, Pyke signed a two-year deal with Grimsby Town, with manager Paul Hurst confirming that he was signed to play at centre-forward.[46] The Grimsby Telegraph reported in September that he "he has struggled to get up to speed both with his match fitness and fitting into Paul Hurst's system".[47] He scored eight goals in 34 games in the 2023–24 season.[48]

Style of play

Port Vale assistant manager Chris Morgan said that Pyke was "quick and powerful" and had good finishing skills.[49] Pyke is primarily a striker but during his three years at Shrewsbury Town he was predominantly converted to play as a winger and a wing back.[50]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 October 2024
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
Huddersfield Town 2016–17[16] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18[51] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[52] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019–20[53] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Wrexham (loan) 2016–17[16] National League 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Colchester United (loan) 2016–17[16] League Two 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Port Vale (loan) 2017–18[51] League Two 7 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 9 0
Wrexham (loan) 2018–19[54] National League 23 5 3 0 — 1[b] 0 27 5
Rochdale (loan) 2018–19[52] League One 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2019–20[53] League One 13 1 4 0 2 1 1[a] 1 20 3
Total 19 1 4 0 2 1 1 1 26 3
Shrewsbury Town 2020–21[38] League One 12 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 14 1
2021–22[41] League One 16 0 1 0 2 0 2[a] 1 21 1
2022–23[44] League One 37 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 42 3
Total 65 3 5 0 5 1 2 1 77 5
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2021–22[41] League Two 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Grimsby Town 2023–24[48] League Two 27 4 3 2 1 0 3[a] 2 34 8
2024–25[55] League Two 3 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 4 0
Total 30 4 3 2 1 0 4 2 38 8
Career total 170 13 15 2 9 2 9 4 203 21
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in the FA Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ Rekeil Pyke at Soccerbase
  3. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2017/2018". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Rekeli Pyke". Shrewsbury Town F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Rekeil Pyke: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Colchester United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  7. ^ Griffiths, Rob (1 December 2016). "Rekeil Pyke on his Wrexham AFC debut and why he signed for club". Daily Post. Conwy. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  8. ^ a b Threlfall-Sykes, David (28 December 2016). "Loan: Rekeil Pyke returns to HTAFC". Huddersfield Town AFC. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  9. ^ Thomson, Doug (26 February 2015). "Teenage striker Rekeil Pyke signs contract at Huddersfield Town". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  10. ^ Williams, Aled (29 November 2016). "Rekeil Pyke: Huddersfield Town youngster joins Wrexham on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Lincoln City 1–0 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  12. ^ Griffiths, Rob (2 December 2016). "Wrexham AFC boss Dean Keates continuing to cast net wide in search for players". Daily Post. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Rekeil Pyke: Colchester United sign Huddersfield Town forward on loan". BBC Sport. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Colchester United 2–3 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  15. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (15 March 2017). "McGreal is delighted with "beast" Rekeil". Gazette. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
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  19. ^ Baggaley, Michael (12 October 2017). "Neil Aspin sympathises with Port Vale's loan players". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
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  23. ^ Williams, Richard (7 November 2018). "On-loan Wrexham AFC striker Rekeil Pyke signs a new deal at Huddersfield Town". The Leader. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  24. ^ Benson, Rory (28 January 2019). "Town loanee Rekeil Pyke named in National League Team of the Day". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
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  26. ^ "Rekeil Pyke: Rochdale sign forward on loan from Huddersfield Town". BBC Sport. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  27. ^ "Rekeil Pyke: Rochdale re-sign Huddersfield Town forward". BBC Sport. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  28. ^ Chicken, Steven (5 January 2020). "Huddersfield Town recall promising winger from League One loan". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  29. ^ Chicken, Steven (10 January 2020). "Danny Cowley explains Huddersfield Town's youth loan policy". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  30. ^ "REPORT: FULHAM 3-2 TOWN". www.htafc.com. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
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  33. ^ "Rekeil Pyke, Scott High and Josh Daniels: Shrewsbury Town complete triple transfer". BBC Sport. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Boro beat Shrews in seven-goal thriller". BBC Sport. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  35. ^ Hatfield, Luke (25 September 2020). "Shrewsbury Town striker Rekeil Pyke set for four month injury lay-off". www.shropshirestar.com.
  36. ^ Cox, Lewis (18 November 2020). "Shrewsbury Town missing powerful pair". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  37. ^ Cox, Lewis (4 February 2021). "Rekeil Pyke is urged to earn his Shrewsbury Town chance". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
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  39. ^ "Reeil Pyke signs on loan from Shrewsbury Town". www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  40. ^ Moody, James (1 February 2022). "Pyke: I can't wait for the game on Saturday now". Scunthorpe United F.C. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  41. ^ a b c "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  42. ^ Westbury, Ollie (11 August 2022). "Rekeil Pyke's loan switch was not Steve Cotterill's call". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  43. ^ Westbury, Ollie (22 November 2022). "Steve Cotterill praises Shrewsbury's Rekeil Pyke for adapting to new position". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  44. ^ a b "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  45. ^ "Retained List 2023". www.shrewsburytown.com. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  46. ^ "Mariners catch Pyke! - Grimsby Town Football Club". gtfc.co.uk. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  47. ^ Allen, Sam (26 September 2023). "Mariners striker struggles analysed as Pyke struggles to slot in". Grimsby Live. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  49. ^ Baggaley, Mike (8 July 2017). "Port Vale excited about loan of Huddersfield striker Rekeil Pyke". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 July 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  50. ^ Smailes, James (29 June 2023). "Rekeil Pyke's new Grimsby Town role after questions over his best position". GrimsbyLive. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  51. ^ a b "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  52. ^ a b "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  53. ^ a b "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  54. ^ Rekeil Pyke at Soccerway
  55. ^ "Games played by Rekeil Pyke in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.