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Willem Puddy was born in Salisbury, the son of an English father and Dutch mother. He spent seven years as an Academy player with Bristol City before being released by the Ashton Gate club.

A keen golfer as well as footballer, Will took up a golf scholarship at Hartpury College but then reverted to keeping goal and played for the youth teams at Bath City and Exeter City before joining Cheltenham Town in January 2005.

He quickly established himself as the first choice youth team goalkeeper and made appearances for the reserve team as well as sitting on the bench for the first team in a handful of matches.

Although a Scholarship player with Cheltenham Town, Will's registration as a full-time college student enabled him to play for the England Schoolboys team. He made his debut against Australia in January 2006 and headed off for a training camp in Spain shortly afterwards.

Will gained experience on loan with Southern League clubs Mangotsfield United and Yate Town during season 2006-07 made a few appearances on the first team bench.

He signed a three year contract with the Robins in summer 2007 and spent a short loan period with Blue Square Premiership side Stafford Rangers early in 2007-08, although injury eventually curtailed the young keeper's season.

He signed a three year contract with the Robins in summer 2007 and gained further experience on loan at Stafford Rangers and Tamworth before becoming the regular understudy to Scott Brown in the Cheltenham squad, making his Football League debut in the final match of the 2008-09 campaign away to Southend United.