Now the Napier Boys' High School student has descended to the Lotto Central League, the premier winter level of competition, in his debut season not just for the Rovers but also the league. "It's a little weird going into a men's team before playing alongside men because I've only played for school and youth club teams before," says the Year 13 student.
The former Hastings Old Boys midfielder, with former Blues coach Grant Hastings at the helm, moved from Hastings Boys' High School this year to further his career.
"Hastings Boys is a fantastic school and Grant a fantastic coach but Rovers take football to the next level," he says, championing NBHS as "the place to be" to accomplish his goals.
Willox has made incremental gains already since his transition from the predominantly schoolboy Hastings Old Boys side in the Bay-based Computercare Pacific Premiership for men.
He has measured up in stature and weight against men and boys who will push you off the ball but it's the game between the ears alongside men that has broadened his horizons.
"It's tougher mentally because everyone has to have it regularly from any age."
With Stephen Hoyle out with a ruptured tendon in his ankle the door opens for Willox to put his hand up for game time from coach Bill Robertson and his assistant, Chris Greatholder.
Harry Morton returned from his American university on Thursday night and hasn't trained but he will be on the bench.
Robertson is toying with the idea of starting Willox, who the Blues employed briefly as a defender but the coaches see him as an out-and-out coal shoveller in the engine room.
Willox attests to that but shows maturity beyond his years in accepting he has bolstered his portfolio defensively although in the midfield he's happy to adapt to whatever the team blueprint demands.
He arrived in the Bay with Scottish parents, nurse Joan Willox and TV technician Richard, settling in Havelock North with his three brothers, Kenny, 14, and 12-year-old twins Chris and Dave who also play the beautiful game.
The then 10-year-old from Glasgow thrived in the national sport of his birth country and, not surprisingly, found himself in the former Bay United academy that former Scottish Jonathon Gould established.
"The academy was a fantastic set up and I learned a lot. I've been a Hawke's Bay United player all my life so it was great to play with the first team," he says, juxtaposing the structure to what he was accustomed to watching football in Scotland.
His father didn't play the game but is an avid follower and gives his son all the support he needs to chase his dreams.
"I'd love to play in Europe, anywhere actually," says the teenager.
He is resolute in his pursuit and the word sacrifice comes to mind when asked what will it take to realise that dream.
Just as he plays a game of patience everytime he turns out to training in the hope of making the starting XI for the Blues and Bay United, he intends to to graft his trade diligently to run on to a European stage.
Robertson says last Saturday's away 3-1 loss to Stop Out was a wake-up call in the league for his defending champions.
"It's the strongest league I've seen in my time so it may be tough to emulate last season."
With Lower Hutt coming off a scoreless draw against second-placed Western Suburbs he expects a huge defensive effort from the visitors.
Last year's Chatham Cup finalists, the Rovers know little about Massey except that they are in the Lotto Federation League below.
Goalkeeper Ruben Parker Hanks is out for five weeks in a moon boot.
For the Lotto Central League football match today, kicking off at 2pm at Bluewater Stadium, Park Island:
NAPIER CITY ROVERS: 1. Kyle Baxter (GK), 3. Harry Morton, 4. Rob Pearson, 5. Finlay Milne, 8. Ryan Tinsley, 9. Angus Kilkolly, 10. Saul Halpin, 11. Tom Biss, 14. Josh Stevenson, 15. Jim Hoyle, 16. Danny Wilson (c), 17. Fergus Neil, 18. Ross Willox, 19. Bill Robertson, 21. Scott Dunn (RGK).
Player/coach: Bill Robertson.
Ast coach: Chris Greatholder.
LOWER HUTT CITY: Reed Collingwood (GK), 3 Callum Martin, 4 Ben Ratahi, 5 Tobias Kratt, 6 Kade Schrijvers, 7 Omar Guardiola, 8 Alex McDonald Jnr, 10 Aaron McDonald, 11 Mark Webber, 12 Sam Dewar, 13 Jarrod Stant, 14 James Marsh, 15 Jared Mitchell, 16 Scott Henderson, 17 Nathanael Hailemariam, 18 Jeremy Field, 19 Ash Crawford, 20 Taylor Schrijvers, 77 Cam Vickers, Marcel Kampman (RGK).
Coach: Ryan Sandford.
