Freddy Hall

Frederick Michael George Hall (3 March 1985 – 24 April 2022) was a Bermudian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

For similarly named people, see Frederick Hall.

Freddy Hall
Hall playing for Toronto FC in a friendly against Liverpool
Personal information
Full name Frederick Michael George Hall
Date of birth (1985-03-03)3 March 1985
Place of birth St George's, Bermuda
Date of death 24 April 2022(2022-04-24) (aged 37)[1]
Place of death St George's, Bermuda
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
St. George's Colts
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 South Florida Bulls 4 (0)
2006–2009 Quinnipiac Bobcats 55 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Bermuda Hogges 11 (0)
2010–2011 St. George's Colts
2011–2012 Northampton Town 3 (0)
2012 Toronto FC 6 (0)
2014 Burton Albion 0 (0)
2014 Chester 4 (0)
2014 Oxford City 1 (0)
2014–2015 AFC Telford United 21 (0)
2015–2018 Limerick 41 (0)
2018–2022 St. George's Colts
International career
2011–2015 Bermuda 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Hall grew up in St. George's, Bermuda, and started his football career as goalkeeper for the St. George's Colts in the island's junior league. From 2000 to 2004, he attended Holderness School in New Hampshire, where he was an all-state and a Lake Region All-Star, as well as being a Boston Globe All-Scholastic player, an All-New England selection, and a nominee for the Boston All-Scholastic Player of the Year, and was honored as a member of the NEPSSA Senior All-Star Game.[2]

College career

Hall began playing college soccer at the University of South Florida in 2004, earning his first-career victory, recording six saves, in USF’s 4–1 win over East Carolina.[2]

He transferred to Quinnipiac University in 2006. At Quinnipiac, his goalkeeper coach was former Trinidad and Tobago, Portsmouth and West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who continued to be involved in his career later, arranging trials for Hall.[3] Hall was a three-year starter for the Bobcats, earning 26 wins and 22 shutouts, while leading them to back-to-back NEC Tournament berths for the first time in program history in 2008 and 2009.[1] In 2007, as a sophomore he the NCAA in save percentage (.915 or 91.5%) and saves per game (7.38).[1] In 2007 and 2008, he was named to the All-NEC Second Team.[4] During his senior year in 2009, he led the entire country with 121 saves.[1] He was named to ESPN Soccernet's Top 10 Goalkeepers of 2010 Class of Prospects list following his senior season, also being named an All-NEC First Team All-star and named to the All-Tournament team,[5] and a 2009 Adidas National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-North Atlantic Regional Second Team.[6] He was also named the Bobats MVP and the Players' Player of the Year Award.[7]

Club career

In the winter of 2009, Hall was invited to trials with Charlton Athletic,[8] but opted to finish university before attempting trials or pursuing professional football.[9]

He then joined the Bermuda Hogges in the USL Premier Development League.

Hall was allowed to leave the Hogges prior to the end of the 2010 PDL season to attend a trial in England at League 1 team Plymouth Argyle.[10] Hall made his first appearance for The Pilgrims on trial, having come on for the injured Romain Larrieu in an away defeat against Devon rivals Torquay United in a pre-season game that ended 3–1 to The Gulls.[11] He was unable to sign with Plymouth, who were under administration at the time.[12] in addition, Argyle manager Peter Reid described Hall's performance during trials as "smashing", with no firm deal in place, Hall returned home to Bermuda after the two-week trial with the possibility of returning to Argyle later in the year.[13]

In 2011, he played with St. George's Colts in the Bermudian Premier Division.[14]

On 7 July 2011, Hall signed a one-year deal with English League Two side Northampton Town.[15] Hall made his Northampton Town debut in an away game against Morecambe on 7 January 2012 after new signing Shane Higgs suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in training after having only played a few games for Northampton himself.[16][17]

Afterwards, he went on trial with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC.[18] On 21 July 2012, during his three-week trial with Toronto FC, Hall debuted against Liverpool F.C. in a friendly that ended in a 1–1 draw.[19] Hall signed a contract with Toronto FC on 31 July 2012.[20] Hall made his league debut on 22 August, in a 2–1 away defeat to Columbus Crew.[21][22] In a CONCACAF Champions League match against Mexican club Santos Laguna on 28 August, Hall made a notable save while a black cat sprinted across the field behind him.[23][24] Hall was released by Toronto in December 2012.[25] After returning to Bermuda, he went back to the United Kingdom in September 2013 to pursue a new contract.[26]

In March 2014, he signed a short-term contract with League Two side Burton Albion,[27] but did not make any appearances.[28]

On 7 August 2014, Hall returned to England, joining Conference Premier side Chester following a successful pre-season trial period.[29][30] He departed the club on 27 August after making four appearances for the club as a non-contract player (playing for free), but a lack of finances meant they could not retain Hall's services permanently.[31][32]

Afterwards, he joined Oxford City,[33] making his first and only appearance on 4 October against Colwyn Bay.[34][35]

On 8 October 2014, he signed for Conference Premier club AFC Telford United.[36][37] Hall made his debut in a 3–1 away win against Woking F.C. on 20 October.[38] He left the club after the season after the club was relegated having made 23 total appearances for the club (21 in league play).[39]

In July 2015, Hall went on trial with League of Ireland Premier Division side Limerick,[40] signing with them later that month. He made his debut against Derry City on 17 July 2015, it ended in a 0–0 draw.[41] He was named Limerick FC Official Supporters’ Club Player of the Month for September.[42] In November 2015, he extended his contract for another two seasons.[43] On 28 August 2016, Hall won the First Division title with Limerick with six games to spare with a 3–2 win against UCD.[44] He was named to the 2016 PFAI First Division Team of the Year.[45] Hall left the club by mutual consent in February 2018 to return to his native Bermuda.[46][47]

He later returned to play with St. George's Colts,[48] serving as team captain and a coach.[49][50] He was named the top goalkeeper of the Bermudian First Division during the 2019-20 season, helping the Colts earn promotion to the Bermudian Premier Division.[51]

International career

Hall represented the Bermuda national team at U17, U21 and senior level.[2]

Hall made his full debut against Trinidad and Tobago on 2 September 2011.[52][53]

Personal life

On 24 April 2022, Hall was killed in a car crash in Bermuda.[54][55]

References
  1. "QU Athletics Mourns Loss of Freddy Hall ('10)". Quinnipiac Bobcats. 25 April 2022.
  2. "Freddy Hall South Florida Bulls profile". South Florida Bulls.
  3. Wright, Stephen (6 January 2010). "Shaka gets English trial for Bermudian keeper". Soca Warriros. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020.
  4. "Former QU Men's Soccer Goalkeeper Freddy Hall Fares Well Against Liverpool F.C." Quinnipiac Bobcats. 23 July 2012.
  5. "Freddy Hall Named To ESPN Soccernet's Top 10 Goalkeepers Of 2010 Class Of Prospects". Quinnipiac Bobcats. 20 December 2009.
  6. Mio, Giovanni (31 July 2012). "Former Bobcat Hall signs with Toronto FC". The Quinnipiac Chronicle.
  7. "Bermudian Goalkeeper wins MVP Award". Bernews. 28 April 2010.
  8. "Chicago Addick living in Bermuda: Who is Freddy Hall?". Chicagoaddick.blogspot.com. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  9. "Hall hoping to relaunch career in England". The Royal Gazette. 6 February 2013.
  10. "Goalkeeper Freddy Hall on Trial With UK Team". Bernews. 13 July 2010.
  11. "Capaldi joins Arqyle for Dutch challenge". Greens on Screen. 16 July 2010.
  12. Millson, Larry (8 August 2012). "TFC's Insurance Policy In Goal". Toronto FC.
  13. "Wait and See on TC". Plymouth Argyle FC. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  14. "St. George's are proving they belong in the Premier Division". Bermuda Sun. 21 January 2011.
  15. "Northampton Signs Bermudian Freddy Hall". Bernews. 7 July 2011.
  16. "Morecambe 1 – 2 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  17. "Cobblers Past pay tribute to former goalkeeper". Northampton Town F.C. 26 April 2022.
  18. Rowaan, Dave (10 July 2012). "Freddy Hall on trial with Toronto FC". Waking the Red.
  19. Pearman, Mikaela Ian (27 July 2012). "Hall teammates with Lambe at Toronto". Bermuda Sun.
  20. "Toronto FC Signs Goalkeeper Freddy Hall". Bernews. 31 July 2012.
  21. "Freddy Hall Makes MLS Debut With Toronto FC". Quinnipiac Bobcats. 27 August 2012.
  22. "Goalkeeper Freddy Hall On MLS Debut". Bernews. 24 August 2012.
  23. Burgess, Don; Pearman, Mikaela Ian (31 August 2012). "Freddy is the cat's meow in Toronto". Bermuda Sun.
  24. "Black cat runs across pitch during CONCACAF Champions League match, makes expert escape". Yahoo! Sports. 28 August 2012.
  25. "TFC trades Johnson, Kocic to Timbers for third overall pick". TSN. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012.
  26. "Goalkeeper Hall heads back to UK in search of new job". Stabroek News. 27 September 2013.
  27. "Goalkeeper Freddy Hall Signed By Burton Albion". Bernews. 19 March 2014.
  28. "Freddy Hall: Chester sign Bermuda international goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 8 August 2014.
  29. "Goalkeeper Freddy Hall Signed By Chester FC". Bernews. 7 August 2014.
  30. "Ready for Freddy". Chester F.C. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
  31. "Goalkeeper Freddy Hall Parts Ways With Chester". Bernews. 30 August 2014.
  32. Wright, Stephen (29 August 2014). "Hall and Chester go separate ways". The Royal Gazette.
  33. "FOOTBALL: City stopper Freddy ready for his debut". Oxford Mail. 26 September 2014.
  34. "FOOTBALL: Depleted City storm back after frittering lead". Oxford Mail. 6 October 2014.
  35. "FOOTBALL: City boss Merritt pledges to retain attacking focus". Oxford Mail. 7 October 2014.
  36. "Boss Watson takes positives but admits drastic improvement needed to survive". Shropshire Star. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  37. "Freddy Hall: AFC Telford sign Bermuda international goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 8 October 2014.
  38. "Freddy Hall pleased with AFC Telford debut". Shropshire Star. 20 October 2014.
  39. Cox, Lewis (26 April 2022). "AFC Telford United mourn death of former goalkeeper Freddy Hall". Shropshire Star.
  40. "Limerick FC Considering Keeper Freddy Hall". Bernews. 8 July 2015.
  41. "Debutant Hall frustrates Derry". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  42. "Freddy Hall Wins Limerick Player Of The Month". Bernews. 13 October 2015.
  43. "Freddy Hall Signs Two Year Deal With Irish Club". Bernews. 12 November 2015.
  44. "Limerick seal promotion back to the Premier League". the42.ie. The 42. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  45. "Cork City and Dundalk dominate PFAI Team of the Year". Irish Examiner. 18 October 2016.
  46. Kelly, Ryan (19 February 2018). "Bermuda international Freddy Hall leaves Limerick". Lansdowne Roar.
  47. Donnelly, Dave (20 February 2018). "Bermuda shorts: international goalkeeper Freddy Hall leaves Limerick for 'personal reasons'". Extra Time.
  48. Trott, Lawrence (5 November 2020). "Hall's experience is key, says St George's coach Hayward". The Royal Gazette.
  49. Trott, Lawrence (18 September 2020). "Promoted teams face baptism of fire". The Royal Gazette.
  50. Trott, Lawrence (3 February 2022). "St George's determined to continue their climb up the table". The Royal Gazette.
  51. "Photos: Bermuda Football Association Awards". Bernews. 30 August 2020.
  52. "Goalkeeper Freddy Hall aims to keep Cobblers place". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012.
  53. "Goalkeeper Hall Aims To Keep Place". Bernews. 12 January 2012.
  54. "Tributes paid to former League of Ireland goalkeeper Freddy Hall who has died, aged 37". Irish Independent. 26 April 2022.
  55. Bell, Jonathan (27 April 2022). "Freddy Hall – a 'big loss for family, St George's'". The Royal Gazette.
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