Luke Wilkinson

Luke Wilkinson

Wilkinson playing for Dagenham & Redbridge in 2014
Personal information
Full name Luke Alexander Wilkinson[1]
Date of birth (1990-09-29) 29 September 1990[2]
Place of birth Wells, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Stevenage
Number 6
Youth career
2007–2009 Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Portsmouth 0 (0)
2010 → Northampton Town (loan) 0 (0)
2010 → Eastleigh (loan) 6 (1)
2010–2014 Dagenham & Redbridge 65 (6)
2010–2011 → Boreham Wood (loan) 26 (1)
2011–2012 → Boreham Wood (loan) 23 (3)
2012 → Dartford (loan) 14 (4)
2014–2016 Luton Town 62 (7)
2016– Stevenage 33 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:59, 26 November 2016 (UTC).


Luke Alexander Wilkinson (born 29 September 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League Two club Stevenage.

Youth career

Wilkinson was born in Wells, Somerset.[1] He started his career in the youth system of Bristol City and was offered a two-year scholarship in June 2007.[4] He was part of the side that competed in the Premier Academy League.[4]

Club career

Portsmouth

In 2009, 17-year-old Wilkinson was released early from his contract at Bristol City and was offered a trial by Premier League club Portsmouth.[5] He played in a reserve game against Fulham, in which first-team manager Paul Hart described as the most impressive debut he had seen from any young player.[5] The reserves remained unbeaten with Wilkinson in defence until the end of the season.[5] His outstanding form for the reserves earned him a professional contract in July 2009.[5]

In January 2010, he joined League Two club Northampton Town on a one-month loan, however, he failed to make an appearance for the club.[6]

In February 2010, he joined Conference South club Eastleigh on an initial one-month loan, which was later extended until the end of the season.[7]

Dagenham & Redbridge

In the summer of 2010, Wilkinson was released by Portsmouth and joined newly promoted League One club Dagenham & Redbridge on a three-year contract.[8] In November 2010, he joined Conference South club Boreham Wood on an initial one-month loan, making his debut in a 3–2 defeat to Dover Athletic.[9] The loan was then extended until the end of the season, with Wilkinson making 28 appearances, scoring once in the final league game of the season, a 3–0 win over Lewes.[10] He rejoined Boreham Wood in August 2011 on a five-month loan.[11] He was a mainstay in the team, making 25 appearances, the last of which in a 2–1 defeat to Woking on 28 January 2012, before returning to the Daggers at the end of January.[12] In February 2012, he joined fellow Conference South club Dartford on loan.[13] In March 2012, his loan was extended until the end of the season after scoring two headers in consecutive wins over Havant & Waterlooville and Sutton United.[14] He claimed his first piece of silverware as Dartford were promoted to the Conference Premier via their play-off win over Welling United on 13 May 2012.[15]

Wilkinson started the 2012–13 season as a first team player at Dagenham and made his professional debut in September 2012, in a 2–2 draw with AFC Wimbledon.[16] He cemented his place in the first team by scoring four goals, which prompted Daggers manager John Still to offer him a new contract until 2015.[17] He went on to make 46 appearances in all competitions and won the club's Player of the Year award.[18] This led to reported interest from Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Norwich City.[18] However, no move materialised and Wilkinson admitted that he needed another few years to develop as a player before making the step up.[19]

Wilkinson's start to the 2013–14 season was delayed by a groin injury picked up in pre-season, before making his return at the end of August in a 3–0 defeat to Mansfield Town.[20] He went on to make 25 appearances but a combination of further injuries, the form of Scott Doe and Brian Saah, and the late emergence of Ian Gayle resigned Wilkinson to the bench for the majority of the season.[20] In May 2014, he was placed on the transfer list at his own request and his name was circulated to other clubs highlighting his availability.[20] In June 2014, he stated he was happy to fight for his place if a move away from the club didn't materialise.[21]

Luton Town

On 7 July 2014, Wilkinson signed for League Two club Luton Town on a one-year contract, managed by his former Dagenham manager John Still, for an undisclosed fee.[22] He made his debut for Luton in a 1–0 away win over Carlisle United on 9 August 2014, their first Football League game in five years.[23] Wilkinson scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home win over Oxford United on 27 September 2014.[24] He converted Andy Drury's free-kick with a header in a 2–1 away win over Stevenage on 4 October 2014 to score in successive games.[25] These games were part of a seven-game winning streak in the league which saw Luton advance from 18th[26] to the top of the League Two table.[27][24][25][28][29][30][31] During this period, Wilkinson was named Sky Bet League 2 Player of the Month for September when he was part of the Luton defence that did not concede a goal during the month of September.[32] Later in the season, Wilkinson received a red card on two occasions, the first of which was given in injury time during a 1–0 away defeat to Burton Albion, ending Luton's 11 game unbeaten run in League Two.[33] The second red card was given in a 1–0 home win over Carlisle United.[34] Wilkinson's red card, coupled with a four match suspension for fellow Luton defender Steve McNulty for a studs-up challenge in the previous game, a 2–2 draw against York City caused disruption to Luton's team selection in defence with their replacements failing to impress.[35][36] Wilkinson ended the 2014–15 season with 42 league appearances, scoring four goals, triggering a one-year contract extension to keep him at Luton until the summer of 2016.[37]

Wilkinson was in fine goal scoring form at the beginning of the 2015–16 season, scoring in a 2–2 draw against Oxford United on 15 August 2015 and 3–1 away wins over Cambridge United and Morecambe on 5 September and 29 September respectively.[38][39][40] However, an injury at the end of 2015 meant he last played for Luton in a 4–3 home defeat to Northampton Town on 12 December 2015.[41] This later turned out to be his final match for the club.

Stevenage

On 22 January 2016, Luton sold Wilkinson to fellow League Two club Stevenage on a contract until the end of the season to make way for his replacement Alan Sheehan, arriving at Luton on loan from Bradford City on the same day.[42][43] Wilkinson said he was shocked by the decision but was looking forward to helping Stevenage climb the table.[44] He made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against Barnet a day later.[45] Wilkinson scored his first two goals for Stevenage in a 3–2 defeat to League Two leaders Northampton on 19 March 2016.[46]

After playing in 19 games for Stevenage, Wilkinson signed a new undisclosed length contract with the club on 16 May 2016.[47][48]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 November 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Eastleigh (loan) 2009–10[49] Conference South 61———61
Dagenham & Redbridge 2010–11[50] League One 0000000000
2012–13[51] League Two 43610002[lower-alpha 1]0466
2013–14[52] League Two 22010002[lower-alpha 1]0250
Total 656200040716
Boreham Wood (loan) 2010–11[10] Conference South 261——2[lower-alpha 2]0281
2011–12[12] Conference South 23310—1[lower-alpha 2]0253
Total 49410—30534
Dartford (loan) 2011–12[53] Conference South 144——4[lower-alpha 3]0184
Luton Town 2014–15[54] League Two 42440101[lower-alpha 1]0484
2015–16[55] League Two 203202000243
Total 627603010727
Stevenage 2015–16[55] League Two 192———192
2016–17[56] League Two 14010202[lower-alpha 4]0190
Total 332102020382
Career total 229241005014025824
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ↑ One appearance in Kent Senior Cup, three in Conference South play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Club

Dartford

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Luke Wilkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Brown, Tony; Joyce, Michael; Longbottom, David, eds. (2013). English National Football Archive Yearbook 2013. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 978-1-905891-62-7.
  3. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson". ESPN FC. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Eight Youngsters Handed Deals". Vital Football. Vital Network Ltd. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Wilkinson goes south". Somerset Live. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Northampton sign Luke Wilkinson and Stephen O'Flynn". BBC Sport. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Gee, Wendy (26 February 2010). "Sacrificial lambs – Tessem and Day depart. Goodhind to return?". Daily Echo. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Dagenham & Redbridge sign Luke Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Freak Leaves It Bleak for Wood". Boreham Wood F.C. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Detailed Results – Boreham Wood Football Club Season 2010/11" (PDF). Boreham Wood F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson Player Profile". Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Detailed Results – Boreham Wood Football Club Season 2011/12" (PDF). Boreham Wood F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "Darts Borrow Daggers Defender". Pitch Hero. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Dartford extend the loan of defender Luke Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  15. 1 2 Hoad, Alex (13 May 2012). "Dartford 1 Welling United 0". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "AFC Wimbledon 2–2 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  17. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson Signs Contract Extension". Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  18. 1 2 3 "Villa, Norwich eyeing Dagenham & Redbridge defender Luke Wilkinson". Tribal Football. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  19. ↑ Munford, Colin (13 June 2013). "Wilkinson needs more experience but is aware of transfer rumours". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 Munford, Colin (28 May 2014). "Daggers defender transfer listed – at his own request". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  21. ↑ Munford, Colin (6 June 2014). "Daggers defender happy to stay if move away fails". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  22. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson: Luton Town sign defender from Dagenham". BBC Sport. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  23. ↑ "Carlisle United 0–1 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Luton Town 2–0 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  25. 1 2 "Stevenage 1–2 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  26. ↑ "York City 0–0 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "Cambridge United 0–1 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  28. ↑ "Luton Town 2–0 Southend United". BBC Sport. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  29. ↑ "Hartlepool United 1–2 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  30. ↑ "Luton Town 3–1 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  31. ↑ "Luton Town 1–0 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Luke Wilkinson named Sky Bet League 2 Player of the Month". The Football League. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  33. ↑ "Burton Albion 1–0 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  34. ↑ "Luton Town 1–0 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  35. ↑ "Luton Town 2–2 York City". BBC Sport. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  36. ↑ Cunliffe, James (25 February 2015). "Luton Town: Luke Wilkinson poised to return to Hatters defence after stand-ins miss chance to impress". Luton On Sunday. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  37. ↑ Cunliffe, James (5 May 2015). "Luton Town: Twelve out of contract Hatters set to learn their fates". Luton On Sunday. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  38. ↑ "Luton Town 2–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  39. ↑ "Cambridge United 1–3 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  40. ↑ "Morecambe 1–3 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  41. ↑ "Luton Town 3–4 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  42. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson: Stevenage sign Luton Town defender". BBC Sport. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  43. ↑ "Alan Sheehan: Luton Town sign Bradford City defender". BBC Sport. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  44. ↑ Scott, Alan (24 January 2016). "Stevenage Luke Wilkinson interview: Luton Town exit shock amid allegations of 'Dagenham clique'". Hertfordshire Mercury. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  45. ↑ "Stevenage 0–0 Barnet". BBC Sport. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  46. ↑ "Stevenage 2–3 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  47. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson: Defender signs new deal of undisclosed length at Stevenage". BBC Sport. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  48. ↑ Toyn, Dave (16 May 2016). "Luke Wilkinson signs new contract with Stevenage FC". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "Luke Wilkinson Profile". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  53. ↑ "L. Wilkinson". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
    "Dartford 3–1 Charlton Athletic XI". Kent Sports News. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  55. 1 2 "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Luke Wilkinson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

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