Oliver Hawkins

Oliver Jack Hawkins (born 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker or centre back for League Two side Gillingham.

Oliver Hawkins
Hawkins playing for Mansfield Town in 2022
Personal information
Full name Oliver Jack Hawkins[1]
Date of birth (1992-04-08) 8 April 1992[2]
Place of birth Ealing, England
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward/defender
Team information
Current team
 Gillingham
Number 12
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 North Greenford United
2010–2011 Hillingdon Borough 24 (10)
2011–2013 Northwood 90 (34)
2013–2016 Hemel Hempstead Town 81 (24)
2013–2014 → Harrow Borough (dual-reg) 11 (2)
2016–2017 Dagenham & Redbridge 63 (19)
2017–2020 Portsmouth 77 (14)
2020–2021 Ipswich Town 20 (1)
2021–2023 Mansfield Town 63 (10)
2023– Gillingham 7 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:57, 20 February 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Hawkins began his career at North Greenford United but it was at Hillingdon Borough where he really began to break through, scoring 10 goals during the 2010–11 season.[3] He joined Northwood in 2011. Hawkins would finish as Northwood's top scorer, scoring 19 goals in all competitions in both seasons (2011–12, 2012–13).[4]

Unsurprisingly Hawkins' excellent form attracted the attention of clubs at higher levels, and the striker duly signed for then Southern League Premier Division side Hemel Hempstead Town in the summer of 2013 having impressed in pre-season. Hawkins would spend time at Isthmian League side Harrow Borough, before returning and establishing himself as a regular for the Tudors.

During the 2013–14 season, Hawkins helped Hemel Hempstead Town earn promotion as champions of the Southern League Premier Division, making 23 league appearances and scoring four times. During the 2014–15 season he found his goalscoring touch, and he also lined up against Bury in the first round of the FA Cup.[5] The striker remained a prolific scorer as the club embarked on their second season in the National League South.

Dagenham & Redbridge

On 15 January 2016, Hawkins completed his move to League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[6] Hawkins had first come to the attention of Dagenham boss John Still when Still was manager of Luton Town. He made his debut the next day as an 81st-minute substitute against Northampton Town.[7] His first Football League goal came on 20 February 2016 in a 3–2 defeat against Mansfield Town.[8] Hawkins was unable to help prevent Dagenham's relegation to the National League in 2016.

Portsmouth

On 31 August 2017, Hawkins signed for League One side Portsmouth on transfer deadline day, joining on a 3-year deal.[9] He made his debut for Portsmouth against Rotherham United on 3 September.[10] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win over Bristol Rovers on 26 September.[11] He scored 8 goals in 35 appearances in his first season at the club, including braces in wins against Milton Keyenes Dons and Northampton Town.[12] Hawkins displayed versatility for Portsmouth, filling in as a central defender on several occasions during his time at the club.[13]

Hawkins became a key part of the Portsmouth squad during the 2018–19 season. He featured regularly as a striker as Portsmouth finished 4th in the league, while also reaching the final of the 2018–19 EFL Trophy Final, which took place on 31 March 2019 at Wembley. Hawkins scored the winning spotkick in the penalty shootout to win the trophy for Portsmouth for the first time in the club's history.[14]

He featured less regularly during the 2019–20 season, making 9 starts and 3 substitute appearances without scoring during an injury hit season. Hawkins left Portsmouth at the end of the 2019–20 season after Pompey's play-off semi final exit.[15]

Ipswich Town

On 17 August 2020, Hawkins signed a 2-year deal at League One side Ipswich Town.[16] He made his debut for the club on 5 September, featuring as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 home win over Bristol Rovers at Portman Road in a first round EFL Cup tie.[17] He scored his first goal for Ipswich in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra on 31 October 2020.[18] On 22 January, Ipswich announced that Hawkins required a knee operation which would rule him out of action for up to 6 weeks.[19] He ended the season having made 23 appearances for Ipswich, scoring once.[20]

Mansfield Town

On 21 June 2021, Hawkins joined Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal.[21] He scored on his debut in a 2-1 win against Bristol Rovers. On 28 May 2022 he was sent off in the League Two play-off final against Port Vale.

Gillingham

Hawkins joined fellow League Two club Gillingham in January 2023 for an undisclosed fee.[22]

Career statistics
As of match played 18 February 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hillingdon Borough 2010–11[23] SSM Premier Division 241010—2[lower-alpha 1]02710
Northwood 2010–11[23] SL Division One Central 91———91
2011–12[23] SL Division One Central 401610—7[lower-alpha 2]34819
2012–13[23] SL Division One Central 411750—9[lower-alpha 2]25519
Total 903460—16511239
Hemel Hempstead Town 2013–14[23] SL Premier Division 23430—3[lower-alpha 2]0294
2014–15[24] Conference South 381240—4[lower-alpha 2]24614
2015–16[24] National League South 20831—1[lower-alpha 2]22411
Total 8124101—849929
Harrow Borough (dual-reg) 2013–14[23] IL Premier Division 112———112
Dagenham & Redbridge 2015–16[25] League Two 181———181
2016–17[26] National League 381831—3[lower-alpha 3]04419
2017–18[12] National League 70———70
Total 631931—306920
Portsmouth 2017–18[12] League One 31710—3[lower-alpha 4]1358
2018–19[27] League One 39731105[lower-alpha 5]24810
2019–20[28] League One 7010104[lower-alpha 6]0130
Total 77145120739618
Ipswich Town 2020–21[20] League One 201102000231
Mansfield Town 2021–22[29] League Two 417210030468
2022–23[30] League Two 223211110265
Total 63104211407213
Gillingham 2022–23[30] League Two 7200000072
Career total 436126305514512516144
  1. Appearances in FA Vase
  2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. Two appearances in National League play-offs, one appearance in FA Trophy
  4. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. Three appearances and two goals in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League One play-offs
  6. Three appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in EFL League One play-offs

Honours

Hemel Hempstead Town

Portsmouth

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Portsmouth" (PDF). English Football League. p. 56. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. "Oliver Hawkins". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. "Oliver Hawkins Profile | Aylesbury United FC". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  4. "Northwood F C |". northwoodfc.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  5. "BBC Sport – Bury 3–1 Hemel Hempstead Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  6. "Daggers Sign Striker". daggers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  7. "Dagenham & Redbridge 1-2 Northampton Town". BBC Sport.
  8. "Mansfield Town 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport.
  9. "Blues Bring In Hawkins". Portsmouth Official Site. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  10. "Portsmouth 0–1 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  11. "Portsmouth 3–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  12. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  13. "Hawkins: I could become best defender in League One with Pompey". The News. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  14. Wembley, Ben Fisher at (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth's Oliver Hawkins sinks Sunderland to seal Checkatrade Trophy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  15. "Pompey Retained List: Summer 2020". Portsmouth F.C. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  16. "Town Land Trio". Ipswich Town. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  17. "Ipswich Town 3 – Bristol Rovers". Sky Sports. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  18. "Ipswich 1–0 Crewe". BBC. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. "Injury Blow for Oli". Ipswich Town F.C. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  20. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  21. "Stags sign Ipswich striker". Mansfield Town F.C. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  22. Thirkill, Stephen (12 January 2023). "Mansfield Town sell Oli Hawkins to rivals Gillingham". The Chad. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  23. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins – Aylesbury United". Aylesbury United. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  24. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  25. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  26. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  27. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  28. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  29. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  30. "Games played by Oliver Hawkins in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  31. "2013–14 Southern League". FCHD. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  32. Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
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