Rhys Wilmot

Rhys Wilmot (born 21 February 1962 in Newport) is a Welsh former professional footballer who is currently employed as a youth academy & first team goalkeeping coach at Football League One side Plymouth Argyle.

Rhys Wilmot
Personal information
Full name Rhys Wilmot
Date of birth (1962-02-21) 21 February 1962
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Plymouth Argyle
(Youth academy & first team goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
1977–1980 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1989 Arsenal 8 (0)
1983 → Hereford United (loan) 9 (0)
1984 → Leyton Orient (loan) 46 (0)
1988 → Swansea City (loan) 16 (0)
1989–1992 Plymouth Argyle 133 (0)
1992–1994 Grimsby Town 33 (0)
1994–1996 Crystal Palace 6 (0)
1996–1997 Torquay United 33 (0)
Total 284 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

As a player Wilmot featured as a goalkeeper in a 17-year career spanning from 1980 to 1997 for clubs Arsenal, Hereford United, Leyton Orient, Swansea City, Plymouth Argyle, Grimsby Town, Crystal Palace and Torquay United.

Playing career

Wilmot started out at Arsenal, joining as a schoolboy in 1977 before turning professional in 1980. Mainly an understudy to Pat Jennings, George Wood and then John Lukic, Wilmot had loan spells at both Hereford United and Leyton Orient. He had to wait six years until his Arsenal first-team debut, against Aston Villa on 28 March 1986. He had six games deputising for Lukic in 1986-87 before another loan spell, this time at Swansea City.

Unable to break into the first team properly, he left Arsenal in 1989 for Plymouth Argyle. During his time in Devon Rhys Played under Peter Shilton until he was sold for a sum of £87,500. He later played for Grimsby Town, Crystal Palace and Torquay United.

Coaching career

Wilmot was in the role of a youth academy goalkeeping coach at Plymouth Argyle, and on 26 June 2013 was promoted as the first team goalkeeping coach.[2][3]

On 15 June 2015 Rhys left his position as first team goalkeeping coach due to a backroom staff restructuring under then manager John Sheridan. He returned to his old role within the club's youth academy.[3]

Wilmot served as a part-time coach for two seasons in a row, after the departure of James Bittner, often being unable to travel to away games as he balanced his coaching job with working for Devon and Cornwall Police. On 23 May 2018 it was announced that Wilmot would be returning to a full-time coaching role at Plymouth Argyle for the 18-19 season, under manager Derek Adams.[4][5]

References
  1. Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Macdonald Futura Publishers. 1980. p. 50. ISBN 0362020175.
  2. "Back Room Staff Announced". PAFC.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. "Staff Departures". PAFC.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. "Rhys For Keeps". PAFC.co.uk. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  5. "Derek Adams welcomes full-time role for Rhys Wilmot". The Herald (Plymouth). 6 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
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