Luke Guttridge

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Luke Guttridge
Personal information
Full name Luke Horace Guttridge
Date of birth March 27, 1982 (1982-03-27) (age 26)
Place of birth    Barnstaple, Devon, England
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Colchester United
Number 17
Youth clubs
 ?–2000 Torquay United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1999–2000
2000–2005
2005–2007
2006–2007
2007
2007–
Torquay United
Cambridge United
Southend United
Leyton Orient (loan)
Leyton Orient
Colchester United
001 0(0)
136 (17)
063 0(5)
007 0(1)
010 0(0)
014 0(0)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 03:57, 21 May 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Luke Horace Guttridge (born 27 March 1982 in Barnstaple, England) is an English footballer, currently playing for Colchester United.

Guttridge was born in Barnstaple in North Devon. A midfielder, he began his career as a trainee with Torquay United after playing junior football for Paignton Pilgrims. He made his league debut whilst still a trainee as a late substitute, replacing Alex Watson in the 4-0 win against Mansfield Town on April 10, 2000.

In May 2000, against the advice for a longer contract offer given by youth coaches Paul Compton and Richard Hancox, Guttridge was only offered a three-month professional contract by Torquay manager Wes Saunders, even though Cambridge United had offered him a one-year deal and the chance to play second division football.

Unsurprisingly, Guttridge left for Cambridge, managed by Roy McFarland, on a free transfer. He had to wait until the following spring for his Cambridge league debut, after playing twice in the LDV Trophy, but when it came he scored within two minutes in a vital 2-0 home win against Oldham Athletic. In August 2001, McFarland, by now manager of Torquay, made a bid to bring Guttridge back to Plainmoor, but this was rejected and he remained at the Abbey Stadium. He became one of Cambridge's main performers to the extent that he was appointed captain of the side[1] and a move to Premier League club Charlton Athletic was in the pipeline, although in the end nothing materialized[2].

Guttridge joined Southend United in March 2005 [3] and, after a slow start, firmly established himself as a mainstay in the side. A chance move to the centre of midfield from his usual wide berth (following a meeting with boss Steve Tilson) proved to be a turning point and Guttridge was a major factor in the Blues 2005/06 League One title winning side alongside Kevin Maher. A tough-tackling, all action player, Guttridge also weighed in with some spectacular goals.

However, he lost his place in the Southend first team after their promotion and on November 23, 2006 was allowed to join Leyton Orient on loan [4]. He returned in January 2007. On 30th January 2007, he left Southend to sign a permanent contract at Leyton Orient initially until the end of the 2006-07 season[5]. After rejecting a contract offer from Leyton Orient, he left the club in May 2007.[6]

Two months later Guttridge signed for Coca-Cola Championship side Colchester United.[7]

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