Rhoys Wiggins

Crystal Palace

Wiggins was born in Uxbridge, England. He came through the academy at Crystal Palace, played regularly for their reserve team, and was shortlisted for the 2006 Football League Championship Apprentice of the Year, but lost out to Derby County's Lewin Nyatanga. In the summer of 2006, he signed his first professional contract with the club, but his progress was disrupted when he ruptured knee ligaments in a pre-season friendly against Palace's feeder academy, Crystal Palace Baltimore. He needed reconstructive surgery, and was sidelined for the rest of that season. Although manager Neil Warnock thought Wiggins' impressive performances for Wales U21 against England in the European Championship qualification play-off round were not reflected on Palace's training ground, he gave him a first-team start soon afterwards, at home to Nottingham Forest in the Championship. His debut was marred by involvement in Forest's winning goal, but Warnock still "thought he did alright last night, first half I thought he was the only one that tackled. He's got a lot of attributes and he has got to use his strength and become a defender first and foremost." However, that one appearance was not added to, and Wiggins was made available for loan to get more playing time. On 8 January 2009, Wiggins joined EFL League Two club AFC Bournemouth on a month's loan. He made his debut on 17 January, playing the whole of a 1–0 defeat against Rotherham United. He impressed at left back, and…

Wiggins is eligible to play for either England (the country he was born) and Wales (through his father). He previously represented Wales U17 and Wales U19 sides. While at Crystal Palace, Wiggins regularly turned out for the Wales under-21 team. On 9 September 2008, he scored his first Wales U21 goal, in a 3–0 win over Romania U21. Wiggins went on to make ten appearances and scoring once for the U21 side. His appearances led to a call-up to the senior squad for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in May 2006, however he remained on the bench. In October 2013, seven years on from his last call up, he was called up for the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying matches against Belgium and Macedonia.

Charlton Athletic

Football League One: 2011–12 Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 2011–12 League One