Reece Kendall

PositionDefender
Birthday18/08/1999
Age25

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Reece signed an initial one month loan deal with The Lions on 9th January 2021 before returning to the club for a second spell on 4th July 2023 in a permanent move from Spennymoor Town.

Kendall joined Matlock in June 2019 from Brighouse Town and in his final season with Brighouse he played 26 games for the West Yorkshire club scoring five times.

Matlock made an undisclosed compensation payment to Brighouse for the transfer. The Gladiators manager Paul Phillips said at the time:”I had been after him for 18 months, I wanted to sign him when I was at Buxton. He’s a left-back with loads of energy, tons of potential and he’s still learning the game. I’ve had lads that have played for England C but he is head and shoulders above them.”

“His enthusiasm and energy around the place is a different class. He is a massive signing for us and I expect him to go far in the game. He has the ability to push on to the next level and beyond.”

Reece’s loan move only lasted for one game before the 2020/21 season was cut short and he returned to Matlock Town.

The Halifax-based player then re-joined Guiseley after spending the 2022/23 campaign as a regular in the Spennymoor side in National League North.

Kendall started out as a junior with Halifax Irish and was then attached to Burnley for five years. He had a year at Barnsley and then became an Academy scholar at Halifax Town.

He then spent a title winning season under former Guiseley player and assistant manager Danny Forrest at Silsden. This was followed by a spell at Brighouse Town.

Kendall joined Matlock in June 2019 after his final season with Brighouse saw him play 26 games and score five goals.

The attacking left-back’s impressive form for The Gladiators in the 2021-22 season earned him an England C call up against Wales – the only player from the Northern Premier League to do so.

In his last season at Matlock he scored eight goals and his then boss Craig Elliott wanted him to stay but fully understood Kendall’s desire to play at a higher level.

Away from football Kendall enjoys his job as a teaching assistant working with children with disabilities and learning difficulties. He also enjoys playing cricket for the Low Moor club in Bradford.

On 15th May 2024 it was announced that an option had been taken up in Kendall’s contract to keep the full back with the club for an extra year, Reece made 39 appearances hitting 11 goals along the way during the 2023/24 campaign.

On 13th September 2024 Reece left the club and joined Matlock Town for an undisclosed fee. Kendall had made 50 appearances for the club scoring 12 goals.