Billy Bodin


Billy Paul Bodin is a professional footballer who plays for Championship club Preston North End. He plays as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. Bodin is the son of former Wales international and Swindon Town youth coach, Paul Bodin.
He spent the first half of the 2011–12 season on loan to Torquay United before returning to Swindon Town to score his first goal for the club. Bodin subsequently joined Bristol Rovers, playing for the club for three seasons before joining Preston North End on 3 January 2018.
Having represented Wales at several youth levels, he was called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time on 15 March 2018.

Career

Swindon Town

Bodin began his career with Swindon Town, moving from the youth set-up, where he finished top scorer in both the youth side and the reserves during the 2009–10 season, to become a professional in April 2010. Bodin was an unused substitute on the Swindon bench, on 20 March 2010 in their 1–1 league draw against Norwich City.
On 2 October 2010, Bodin followed in his father's footsteps by making his 1st team debut for Swindon Town as a late substitute in the 2–1 League One defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge, replacing Thomas Dossevi. Later in the season, Swindon were relegated to League Two after the club placed 24th. Following Swindon's relegation, Bodin believed he could earn a first team opportunity in the next season.
Having returning to Swindon in early January 2012, he scored his first goal for the club, scoring the final goal in the 4–1 victory over Southend United on 31 January 2012 and scored the next game in a 3–0 win over Crawley Town on 14 February 2012 which was his second. His third goal came against Dagenham & Redbridge in a 4–0 win on 6 March 2012.

Torquay United (loan)

On 25 August 2011, Bodin joined Torquay United on loan until January 2012. He made his Torquay debut in the 1–1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on 27 August 2011, coming on as a substitute and winning a penalty, which was converted by Rene Howe. On 13 September 2011, Bodin scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Cheltenham Town and scored again the following week on 17 September 2011 in a 3–3 draw against Rotherham United. His next goal came on 29 October 2015 in a 1–0 win over Hereford United and scored again the following week on 5 November 2011 in a 3–0 win over Crewe. After scoring against Hereford United, manager Martin Ling says there will be predicting big things for Bodin since being established in the first team. On 2 January 2012, Bodin scored his 6th goal in a 2–1 win over Plymouth Argyle. Bodin good performance led the club wanted Bodin loan to be extended until the end of the season After left Torquay, Bodin paid respect for Ling, stating that he made tactical change arrested the club's nosedive at the start of the season.

Crewe Alexandra (loan)

In March, he was loaned to Crewe Alexandra for the remainder of the season. Bodin made his debut for the club in a 1–0 win over Hereford United on 24 March 2012. On 21 April 2012, Bodin provided his first assist for David Artell to score the only goal in the game in a 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town and provided another assist for A-Jay Leitch-Smith on 5 May 2012 in a 2–2 draw against Aldershot Town.

Torquay United

On 2 July 2012, Bodin signed a two-year contract with Torquay United on an undisclosed fee believed to be around £70,000, beating Crewe Alexandra who attempted to sign him on a permanent basis. Bodin suffered knee ligament damage whilst playing for Torquay against Dagenham & Redbridge in April 2014. His contract expired during the summer of 2014.

Northampton Town

In January 2015, Bodin joined Northampton Town on a deal until the end of the season having spent time at the club during his knee ligament injury rehabilitation. Bodin made four substitute appearances for the Cobblers before leaving in the summer.

Bristol Rovers

2015–16 season

Bodin went on to sign for Bristol Rovers in July 2015 on a short-term deal, following a successful trial at the club.
Bodin scored his first goal for Rovers in a 3–0 away win against Hartlepool United F.C. He scored his second against Morecambe F.C. in a 4–3 win away from home. His third goal was a spectacular effort in a 1–4 loss vs Newport County A.F.C. He reached 5 goals for the club after successfully scoring against Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. and high flying Plymouth Argyle F.C.. At the end of the season, Bodin scored 5. This helped his side to achieve promotion to Football League One as teammate Lee Brown scored a 92nd-minute winner. On 9 June 2016 he signed a new 2-year deal to stay at Rovers.

2016–17 season

Bodin did not score in the 2016–17 season until 26 November when he scored a volley in a 3–2 defeat to Chesterfield. By the turn of the year he was on 4 goals thanks to a Boxing Day hat trick in a 4–1 victory over Coventry City. All scored with his left foot he scored a screamer from the edge of the box into the far top corner, a long shot from 25 yards and completed his hattrick with a penalty. He kicked off 2017 in style with a screamer at the hands of Northampton Town during a 5–0 thrashing. Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal, Bodin chopped past the defender before unleashing a rising shot off of his weaker right foot into the top corner giving Adam Smith no chance. The goal was overshadowed however by teammate Ellis Harrison scoring 4 goals.

2017–18 season

Bodin scored his first two goals of the season with a brace on 8 August 2017, in a 4–1 Carabao Cup victory over Cambridge United, Bodin's second match of the campaign. His first goal came after a superb 40-yard pass from Lee Brown was controlled by Bodin before finishing past Mitov in the United goal. His second goal came after he received the ball from Stuart Sinclair cut inside and finished with his left foot.
He scored his first two league goals of the season in a 3–2 victory away to Bury heading home a cross from Joe Partington to make it 2–0 and poking home from close range to make it 3–0.
Bodin departed Bristol Rovers on 3 January 2018, having scored 13 goals in the first half of the season for the club.

Preston North End

On 3 January 2018, Bodin joined EFL Championship club Preston North End for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club. He was assigned shirt number 39 on his arrival at Deepdale. He made his debut for the club on 6 January 2018 in a 5–1 victory away at Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup 3rd round. In October 2019 he signed a new contract with PNE until summer 2021.

International career

Bodin is eligible to play for Wales as his father, Paul Bodin, was born in Cardiff and he earned 23 caps for the senior team between 1990 and 1994. Bodin has represented Wales at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level. In January 2013 he was selected in the Wales U21 squad for the friendly match against Iceland on 6 February 2013
He was called into the Welsh senior squad for the first time on 15 March 2018.

Personal life

His father, Paul Bodin, is a former professional footballer.

Career statistics

Honours

;Swindon Town
;Crewe Alexandra
;Bristol Rovers F.C.