9th November 2026
After a decade associated with Deal Town, Joe Reeves has called time on his playing career to take up a new role as part of the first team coaching staff.
Reevo has been involved in some of the club's most memorable moments in recent history. He has made 245 appearances for the Hoops and has played his part in Deal's remarkable rise over the past decade.
Now, following an achilles injury, the 31 year old has decided the time is right to hang up his boots and turn his attention to a role he has been passionate about for several years.
'I felt a little niggle in my Achilles during the Bearsted game and it never really recovered,' he explained.
Further examinations revealed damage to both Achilles tendons, leaving him facing a lengthy rehabilitation programme with no guarantee of a successful return.
With a young family, work commitments and an already busy coaching schedule, Reevo discussed his options with manager Kingy and fellow coach Hilly.
'We had an honest chat and all came to the agreement that there was no point making it worse,' he said.
'Realistically, with all the new young boys coming through and the way the club is going, was I going to play a huge amount? Probably not.'
While his playing career may have come to an end, the opportunity to remain involved with the first team was one he was delighted to accept.
Alongside running his own coaching business, Joe has worked extensively with young players and currently coaches Deal Town's Under 14s, a role he continues to combine with his new first team responsibilities.
'I've probably had more of a passion for coaching than playing for the last seven or eight years,' he explained.
'In the back of my head, I always wanted to do something with the club after playing because I've been here for 10 years on and off.
As soon as Kingy offered me a role, I snapped his hand off.'
Working alongside Kingy, Hilly and Kieran has already given Joe a different perspective on the game and he has now more aware of the experience of those around him, praising the work that goes into preparing the team each week.
I don't think people actually realise the amount Kingy does, the hours he spends going through everything, the opposition and how heavily involved he is with the Under-23s.
He's already looking four or five years ahead at what's coming through. I want to learn as much as I can from him, Hilly and Kieran.
Joe originally arrived at Deal on loan from Ramsgate and during his playing time with the Hoops he has seen an extraordinary transformation at The Charles Ground. From playing in front of crowds of just 40 or 50 supporters to celebrating a league title in front of nearly 2,000, Joe has seen attendances grow, the team reach unprecedented heights and the club continue to break records.
But for Joe, the relationships built over the years have been every bit as important as the success on the pitch, with the family atmosphere at Deal playing a significant part in his decision to remain at the club.
There's more to it than just playing football.
There are so many people behind the scenes who do so much because they genuinely love the club. The players are all good mates, people spend time together away from football, and the supporters are such a big part of it.
That strong connection to Deal has been a defining factor throughout Joe's career, not only in his decision to remain loyal to the club over the years, but also in choosing to end his playing days rather than continue elsewhere. Instead, he now begins the next chapter of his football journey at The Charles Ground, this time as part of the coaching staff.
I genuinely don't think I could go and play in another dressing room and have the same enjoyment.
It was either I play for Deal or I don't play.
Reevo is now looking forward to helping shape the next chapter of Deal Town's development, particularly with the growing opportunities for younger players to progress through the club.
His experience working with the youth section gives him a valuable insight into the talent coming through, and he believes the pathway from the younger age groups into the Under-23s and first team will be increasingly important to the club's future.
With the current squad looking to build consistency and climb the Isthmian League South East table, Joe remains confident about what the team can achieve and is passionate about his new position:
We know we're more than capable. We've just got to find that little bit of consistency again, which will come.
I absolutely love the new role and being at Deal. I want to help as much as I can and be around it for as many years as possible.
For a player who has spent so much of his footballing life at The Charles Ground, retirement does not mean farewell. Instead, it offers the opportunity to continue contributing to the club but this time from the dugout.
