Freddy Hall


Frederick Michael George Hall is a Bermudian footballer who most recently played for Irish club Limerick in the League of Ireland.

Career

Youth and amateur

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 for coach Bob Lowe, 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.

College

Hall played years of college soccer at the University of South Florida before transferring to Quinnipiac University in 2006. As a sophomore, he won two NCAA Statistical Awards after leading NCAA Division I men's soccer in save percentage and saves per game while being named to the All-Northeast Conference Second Team and the NSCAA/North Atlantic Region Second Team. He was named to ESPN Soccernet's Top 10 Goalkeepers Of 2010 Class Of Prospects list following his senior season.

Professional

In the winter of 2009, Hall was invited to trials with Charlton Athletic, but opted to finish university before attempting trials or pursuing professional football. Hall graduated from Quinnipiac University in May 2010 and joined the Bermuda Hogges in the USL Premier Development League.
Having made numerous appearance in the United States as a college footballer, former Trinidad and Tobago, Portsmouth and West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop mentored and coached Hall while at Quinnipiac and continues to be involved with progressing Hall's football career.
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.
Former West Ham United striker Clyde Best, one of the first post-World War II black players in British football, has been mentoring Hall and exposing him to professional football since he was a youngster. Best and Paul Scopes, a Bermuda Hogges co-owner and a former semi professional player, have been instrumental in the Plymouth Argyle trials opportunity with Argyle head coach Paul Mariner.
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. After sitting out the first few games of the Pilgrims' Dutch pre-season tour, Hall was able to demonstrate his shot-stopping skills when he played the full game against SC Cambuur, which ended in a 3–3 draw. Although 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.

Northampton Town

On 7 July 2011, Hall signed a one-year deal with English League Two side Northampton Town.
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.

Toronto FC

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. Hall signed a contract with Toronto FC on 31 July 2012. Hall made his league debut on 22 August, in a 2–1 away defeat to Columbus Crew.
Hall was released by Toronto in December 2012.

Chester

On the 7 August 2014 Hall signed for Chester following a successful pre-season trial period. Hall departed the club on the 27 August after making 4 impressive appearances for the club as a non-contract player, but a lack of finances meant they could not retain Freddy's services permanently.

AFC Telford United

Following a short spell at Oxford City, Hall signed for Conference Premier club AFC Telford United which was announced by manager Liam Watson on 6 October 2014. Hall made his debut in a 3-1 away win against high-flying Woking F.C. and regularly won man of the match awards and plaudits for his excellent rearguard performances.

Limerick

Hall signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Limerick in July 2015. He made his debut against Derry City on the 17 July 2015, it ended in a 0-0 draw.
On 28 August 2016, Hall won the First Division title with Limerick with six games to spare with a 3-2 win against UCD.
Hall left the club by mutual consent in February 2018 to return to his native Bermuda.

International

Hall has represented Bermuda at U-17, U-21 and senior level.
Hall made his full debut against Trinidad and Tobago on 2 September 2011 and has since earned 9 more caps in full FIFA fixtures and a number more in unofficial national games. In the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign Freddy kept three consecutive clean sheets against Bahamas and Guatemala, the latter game being considered one of the best performances of his career.