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#REDIRECT [[F2Freestylers]]
{{Short description|English freestyle footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Redirect category shell|
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{R from merge}}
{{Infobox person <!-- SEE TALK PAGE FOR DISCUSSION -->
{{R from person}}
| name = Billy Wingrove
| image = Турнір чемпіонів зірок Ліги чемпіонів УЄФА, Києв, 2018, 11.jpg
| caption = Wingrove at an event prior to the [[2018 UEFA Champions League Final]]
| birth_name = William Jonathan Wingrove
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|12|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[London]], England
| height =
| occupation = {{hlist|Freestyle footballer|[[YouTube]]r}}
| years_active = 2003–present
| known_for = [[F2Freestylers]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Katie Wingrove|2010}}
| children = 3
| module = {{Infobox football biography |embed = yes
| position = [[Midfielder]], [[Forward (association football)|forward]]
| youthyears1= 2002–2004
| youthclubs1= [[Enfield Town F.C.|Enfield Town]]
| years1 =2004–2009 | years2 = 2009–2010 | years3= 2010–2014 | years4 = 2014–2015
| clubs1 =[[Ware F.C.|Ware]] | clubs2 = Cheshunt Corinthians | clubs3 = [[Hoddesdon Town F.C.|Hoddesdon Town]] | clubs4 = [[F.C. Broxbourne Borough|Broxbourne Borough]]
}}
}}
}}

'''William Jonathan Wingrove''' (born 17 December 1982) is an English [[freestyle football]]er and former semi-professional [[Associate football|footballer]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Support & Advice|work= [[Sport England]]|url= http://www.sportengland.org/support__advice/children_and_young_people/community_and_club_activities/sporting_champions/billy_wingrove.aspx|accessdate= 22 February 2011|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110725130849/http://www.sportengland.org/support__advice/children_and_young_people/community_and_club_activities/sporting_champions/billy_wingrove.aspx|archivedate= 25 July 2011|df= dmy-all}}</ref> He is best known as one half of the [[YouTube]] channel, [[F2Freestylers]], along with fellow freestyler and friend Jeremy Lynch. As of February 2022, the channel has 13 million subscribers on YouTube.<ref name="1 million on YouTube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ZX1AFe4Ag |title=F2Freestylers reach a MILLION Subscribers !!! |date=24 March 2015 |publisher=F2 Freestylers / [[YouTube]] |accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= From teenage rejects to YouTube stars|work= [[The Times]]|date=|url= http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/matt-dickinson-from-teenage-rejects-to-youtube-stars-vk8927t2w|accessdate=3 June 2016|location=|first=|last=}}</ref>

==Biography==
Wingrove's father, Alan Wingrove, played in the youth set-ups of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Reserves and Academy|Tottenham Hotspur]] and [[Arsenal F.C. Academy|Arsenal]]. His cousin, [[Greg Lincoln]], was a first team squad member for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], but never made his debut for the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.sportengland.org/support__advice/children_and_young_people/sporting_champions/billy_wingrove.aspx |title=Billy Wingrove Biography |publisher=Sport England |accessdate=5 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508084911/http://archive.sportengland.org/support__advice/children_and_young_people/sporting_champions/billy_wingrove.aspx |archivedate=8 May 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Wingrove played youth football for [[Enfield Town F.C.|Enfield Town]], and then semi-professionally for [[Ware F.C.|Ware]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/spurs-juggler-happy-to-be-a-control-freak-7252716.html |title=Spurs juggler happy to be a control freak |date=14 April 2012 |publisher=[[Evening Standard]] |accessdate=20 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Living for kicks|work= [[The Independent]]|date=4 July 2004|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/living-for-kicks-551967.html|accessdate=22 February 2011|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Cup progress putting Ware on the map|work= [[The Guardian|Guardian]]|date=9 November 2007|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/09/facup|accessdate=22 February 2011|location=London|first=Paolo|last=Bandini}}</ref> Wingrove decided to pursue freestyle football as he was making more money for an hour's worth of tricks, than he would had he kept on with semi-professional football (although he would occasionally play for other clubs, including [[Hoddesdon Town F.C.|Hoddesdon Town]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/matt-dickinson-from-teenage-rejects-to-youtube-stars-vk8927t2w|title=From teenage rejects to YouTube stars|work=The Times|first=Matt|last=Dickinson|authorlink=Matt Dickinson (journalist)|date=3 June 2016|accessdate=20 August 2019}}</ref> After developing his footballing skills for a number of years, Wingrove became part of a network of young football freestylers in the London area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.sportengland.org/support__advice/children_and_young_people/sporting_champions/billy_wingrove.aspx |title=Billy Wingrove Biography |publisher=Sport England |access-date=5 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508084911/http://archive.sportengland.org/support__advice/children_and_young_people/sporting_champions/billy_wingrove.aspx |archive-date=8 May 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="conchie">{{cite news |last1=Conchie |first1=Peter |title=Living for kicks |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/living-for-kicks-551967.html |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=independent.co.uk |publisher=The Independent |date=4 July 2004}}</ref> In 2003, Wingrove entered the Nike freestyle competition in London Earl's Court, and out of 6,000 contestants, he reached the semi-finals, losing out to [[Woo Hee-young]]. Wingrove has since featured in various promotions for brands such as [[Coca-Cola]], [[Telefónica O2|O2]], [[Barclaycard]], [[Disney]] and [[Sky Sports]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-16513162-details/Spurs+juggler+happy+to+be+a+control+freak/article.do |title=Spurs juggler happy to be a control freak |access-date=20 July 2008 |work=[[Evening Standard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208081805/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-16513162-details/Spurs+juggler+happy+to+be+a+control+freak/article.do |archive-date=8 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/who-billy-wingrove-soccer-aid-16414611 |title=Who is Billy Wingrove on Soccer Aid 2019? |access-date=20 January 2019 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |archive-date=16 June 2019}}</ref>

==Solo career==
Wingrove became the first freestyler to be signed up as a professional "Football Freestyler" by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-16513162-details/Spurs+juggler+happy+to+be+a+control+freak/article.do |title=Spurs juggler happy to be a control freak |accessdate=20 July 2008 |work=[[Evening Standard]] |publisher= |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208081805/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-16513162-details/Spurs+juggler+happy+to+be+a+control+freak/article.do |archive-date=8 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wingrove displayed and taught his freestyle tricks and skills for Tottenham's coaching in the community schemes, corporate sponsors and on the pitch for half time and pre-match entertainment for Premier League games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/who-billy-wingrove-soccer-aid-16414611 |title=Who is Billy Wingrove on Soccer Aid 2019? |access-date=20 January 2019 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |archive-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> He has also appeared as half time entertainment for England international matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/who-billy-wingrove-soccer-aid-16414611 |title=Who is Billy Wingrove on Soccer Aid 2019? |access-date=20 January 2019 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |archive-date=16 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/ace-billy-stays-ball-5046064 |title=Ace Billy stays on the ball |access-date=20 January 2022 |work=[[Examiner Live]] |archive-date=16 June 2019}}</ref>

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==F2Freestylers==
After performing at ceremony, Wingrove and close friend Jeremy Lynch decided to begin performing together as a double act known as the F2Freestylers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thef2.com/thef2.html |title=The F2 |publisher=The F2 |accessdate=28 March 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816000823/http://thef2.com/thef2.html |archivedate=16 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APtRQxJ4i0U |title=Football Freestyle Double Act The F2 {{!}} FIFA Ballon D'or Performance |date=31 January 2012 |publisher=F2Freestylers / [[YouTube]] |accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref> They have given performances at various venues including [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]'s [[Old Trafford]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]'s [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] and [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]'s [[Carrow Road]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYAEIhX5aU |title=The F2 at Old Trafford |date=13 August 2013 |publisher=F2Freestylers / [[YouTube]] |accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/the-f2-freestylers-anglian-home-improvements-norwich-city-2269617.aspx |title=Anglian Home Improvements bring celebrated football freestylers back to Carrow Road |date=13 February 2014 |publisher=[[Norwich Cit y F.C.|Norwich City Football Club]] |accessdate=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402203639/http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/the-f2-freestylers-anglian-home-improvements-norwich-city-2269617.aspx |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/spurs-juggler-happy-to-be-a-control-freak-7252716.html |title=Spurs juggler happy to be a control freak |date=14 April 2012 |publisher=[[Evening Standard]] |accessdate=20 January 2022}}</ref>

Wingrove and Lynch also run a [[YouTube]] channel as the F2Freestylers, which currently boasts over 10 million subscribers. They give tutorials of various football skills and have collaborated with various footballers including [[Lionel Messi]], [[Neymar]], [[Mesut Özil]], [[Eden Hazard]], [[Ángel Di María]], [[Steven Gerrard]], [[Luis Suárez]], [[Gerard Piqué]], [[Riyad Mahrez]], [[Demarai Gray]], [[Frank Lampard]], [[Diego Costa]] and [[Raheem Sterling]].<ref name="1 million on YouTube" />

In 2016, the F2Freestylers debuted on television in the United States, with their series ''It's Called Football'' on [[NBCSN]]. Produced by [[Whistle Sports]], the first two episodes premiered on 26 December 2016 and featured [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsports.com/video/its-called-football-premieres-monday-december-26-3430pm-et-nbcsn|title=It's Called Football premieres Dec. 26 on NBCSN}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wingrove is married to wife Katie, with whom he has three children<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Billywingrove/status/253054703762546688 |title=@Billywingrove on Twitter: "My Daughter Amelie's 3rd birthday today. Happy smiles all around" |date=2 October 2012 |website=[[Twitter]] |accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Roman">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Billywingrove/status/572843911561019392 |title=@Billywingrove on Twitter: "Roman is born! Well done to my beautiful @klwingrove for being so strong and giving me the greatest gift in the world" |date=24 March 2015 |website=[[Twitter]] |accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}he is a genius

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.billywingrove.com}}
*[http://www.thef2.com/ F2Freestylers - Official website]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wingrove, Billy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wingrove, Billy}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Sidemen Charity Match]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English footballers]]
[[Category:Enfield Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Ware F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hoddesdon Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Broxbourne Borough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Greater London]]
[[Category:Freestyle footballers]]
[[Category:Internet celebrities]]
[[Category:English YouTubers]]
[[Category:Association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Association football forwards]]

Latest revision as of 23:15, 14 January 2024

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