Sion Spence (Welsh: Siôn Spence, born 2 October 2000) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League North club Gloucester City.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sion Spence[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2000-10-02) 2 October 2000 (age 22)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Gloucester City | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cardiff City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Cardiff City | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Barry Town United (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2020–2022 | Crystal Palace | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2022– | Gloucester City | 11 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2016–2017 | Wales U16 | ||
| 2018–2019 | Wales U19 | ||
| 2021– | Wales U21 | ||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:02, 23 October 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:10, 20 October 2021 (UTC) | |||
Spence started his career at Cardiff City where he was awarded the club's academy player of the year award for the 2017–18 season.[3] Spence was also part of the Cardiff City Under-18s side that was crowned champions of the PDL2 South.[4]
In September 2019, Spence joined Cymru Premier side Barry Town United on loan.[5]
Following his release from Cardiff, Spence joined Premier League side Crystal Palace in September 2020, initially joining up with the club's under-23s side.[6]
On 9 July 2021, Spence joined recently-relegated League Two side Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan deal.[7][8] He made his professional debut in a 2–0 EFL Cup defeat to Cheltenham Town.[9] On 25 September 2021, Spence made his league debut for the club when he came on as a 90th minute substitute for Harvey Saunders against Walsall. He scored to give Rovers a 2–1 victory, the club's first away win for 9 months.[10]
Spence was released by Crystal Palace at the end of the 2021–22 season.[11]
On 4 August 2022, Spence signed for National League North club Gloucester City on a one-year deal.[12]
In 2016, Spence scored for the Wales under-16 side as they defeated Northern Ireland under-16 side 3–1 to retain the Victory Shield.[13] He has also represented Wales at under-19[14] and under-21 level.[8]
In June 2021, Spence was shown a red card whilst representing the U21 team in a 0–0 draw with Moldova. Spence was shown a second yellow card for what was deemed to be simulation, despite having to leave the field on a stretcher on account of the challenge in the opposing penalty area.[15] In October 2021, Spence was called up to the Wales squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying matches against Moldova and Netherlands on 8 and 12 October 2021 respectively,[16] featuring off of the bench in the 5–0 defeat in the second of the two matches.[17]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cardiff City | 2019–20[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Town United (loan) | 2019–20[19] | Cymru Premier | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Crystal Palace | 2020–21[20] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–22[21] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Bristol Rovers (loan) | 2021–22[21] | League Two | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 12 | 3 |
| Gloucester City | 2022–23[19] | National League North | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Career total | 29 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 5 | ||