Luke James (footballer)

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Luke James
Personal information
Full nameLuke Myers James[1]
Date of birth (1994-11-04) 4 November 1994
Place of birthAmble, Northumberland, England[2]
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionMidfielder, Striker
Club information
Current clubHartlepool United
Number33
Youth career
2006–2011Hartlepool United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011–Hartlepool United71(15)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:59, 28 January 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Luke Myers James (born 4 November 1994) is an English footballer who plays for Hartlepool United as an attacking midfielder or a striker. He currently holds the record of being the youngest player to ever score a league goal for Hartlepool United, at the age of 17 years and 64 days.

Career

Hartlepool United

Luke James was born in the small town of Amble, Northumberland and grew up supporting local Premier League club Sunderland.[3] He joined the Academy of Hartlepool United at the age of 11, progressing through their youth system until he was offered a professional contract at the age of 16.[4] He made his league debut for Hartlepool United on 17 December 2011 as a 46th minute substitute for James Brown in a 1–0 defeat by Colchester United.[5] He made his first league starting appearance in a 1–0 win over Oldham Athletic on 26 December 2011, in which he was voted Man of the Match for his performance.[6] He scored his first goal, a 25-yard volley, in a 2–0 win over Rochdale on 7 January 2012.[7] The goal was particularly memorable as it made him the youngest player ever to score for Hartlepool United at the age of 17 years and 64 days, 48 days younger than the previous record holder Steven Istead.[8] James managed to achieve all this on the pitch whilst also studying for a BTEC qualification in Sport at East Durham College and was subsequently awarded with the honour of being named Apprentice of the Month for December 2011 by the League Football Education committee.[9]

James continued his impressive form when he scored a brace in a 4–0 over Carlisle United on 28 January 2012, which would prove to be Hartlepool United's biggest winning margin of the season.[10] As a result of his performance he was named in the Football League Team of the Week. By now the 17-year–old had caught the attention of a number of larger clubs and in his next match, a 0–0 draw against Bournemouth on 11 February 2012, he was watched by 21 scouts.[11] Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers and Scottish Premier League side Celtic in particular were all thought to be keen on signing the young midfielder.[12] However, it was later reported on 7 June 2012 that Newcastle United would not be pursuing their interest in the immediate future but would instead be keeping close tabs on James' progress.[13] At the end of his debut season, James had made 19 league appearances and had two of his three goals nominated for Hartlepool United's Goal of the Season Award, with fans ultimately voting for his first Football League goal against Rochdale as the winner.[14] James maintained his impressive form into the 2012–13 season, making 25 league appearances and scoring 3 league goals, which culminated in him winning the League One Apprentice of the Year Award on 24 March 2013.[15] He dedicated the award to the fans for their continued support despite the fact that the club was facing a relegation battle.[16] Despite his own success, however, he was unable to prevent the club from being relegated from Football League One at the end of the season.[17] At the end of the season, James found himself nominated, for a second consecutive year, for the Hartlepool United Goal of the Season Award for his goal in a 1–1 draw with Brentford on 20 April 2013, however, he ultimately lost out on the fan vote to team–mate James Poole.[18] In the close season, James was once again the subject of transfer speculation with Football League Championship sides Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town, as well as League One clubs Brentford and Shrewsbury Town all thought to have been considering a bid for the 18-year–old midfielder, however a formal offer was never made for him.[19]

James took his good form into the new season, scoring for Hartlepool United in a 5–0 thrashing of Bradford City in the First Round of the 2013–14 Football League Trophy on 3 September 2013.[20] On 21 September 2013 he scored both goals in a 2–2 draw with Bristol Rovers.[21] On 28 September 2013, he made it three goals in two games by scoring in a 3–1 defeat by Oxford United.[22] James scored his 10th league goal for Hartlepool United in a 3–0 away win over Exeter City on 12 October 2013.[23] The following match he secured a league win for Hartlepool United after scoring from long–range in a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle on 19 October 2013.[24] James continued his prolific form in a 3–1 win over AFC Wimbledon on 22 October 2013, scoring his sixth league goal in as many matches and securing a fourth consecutive league victory for Hartlepool United.[25] Hartlepool United's run of four wins in five matches (with eleven goals scored and only 3 conceded) did not go unnoticed and in October 2013, with Colin Cooper being named League Two Manager of the Month and James being named League Two Player of the Month by Football League Sponsors Sky Bet.[26]

Honours

Individual

Career statistics

As of 28 January 2014.
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2011–12[27]Hartlepool UnitedLeague One193000000193
2012–13[28] Hartlepool UnitedLeague One253001000263
2013–14[29]Hartlepool UnitedLeague Two2793210313412
Career total 71153220317918
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances (including substitutions) and goals in the Football League Trophy.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 36. Retrieved 25 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8. 
  3. ↑ "Amble teenager Luke James". Northumberland Gazette. Retrieved 28 August 2013. 
  4. ↑ "James is LFE Apprentice of the Year for League One". The Football League. Retrieved 28 August 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Barron boosted by teen duo". skysports.com. Retrieved 28 August 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Apprentice of the Month – December 2011". League Football Education. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  7. ↑ "Hartlepool United 2–0 Rochdale". BBC Football. Retrieved 7 January 2012. 
  8. ↑ "Young Luke's wonder-goal rewrites the record books". Northumberland Gazette. Retrieved 10 January 2012. 
  9. ↑ "Apprentice of the Month – December 2011". League Football Education. Retrieved 25 January 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Hartlepool United 4–0 Carlisle United". BBC Football. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Pools hope James is getting back to his best". Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 February 2012. 
  12. ↑ "Trio leading race for James". skysports.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Newcastle United cool interest in Hartlepool United hotshot from Amble". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 7 June 2012. 
  14. ↑ "James Presented With Goal Of Season Award". noodls.com. Retrieved 28 May 2012. 
  15. ↑ "James Named Apprentice of the Year". Hartlepool United. Retrieved 28 March 2013. 
  16. ↑ "James dedicates award to fans". skysports.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Hartlepool United’s relegation from League One confirmed". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 28 May 2013. 
  18. ↑ "Poole Claims Goal of Season Prize". Hartlepool United. Retrieved 15 June 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Transfer speculation: Several clubs chasing Hartlepool's Luke James". skysports.com. Retrieved 25 May 2013. 
  20. ↑ "Hartlepool United 5–0 Bradford City". BBC Football. Retrieved 25 May 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 2–2 Hartlepool United". BBC Football. Retrieved 21 September 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Hartlepool United 1–3 Oxford United". BBC Football. Retrieved 28 September 2013. 
  23. ↑ "Exeter City 0–3 Hartlepool United". BBC Football. Retrieved 12 October 2013. 
  24. ↑ "Hartlepool United 1–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Football. Retrieved 19 October 2013. 
  25. ↑ "Hartlepool United 3–1 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Football. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  26. ↑ "Sky Bet League Two: Hartlepool's Colin Cooper and Luke James win manager and player awards". skysports.com. Retrieved 8 November 2013. 
  27. ↑ "Games played by Luke James in 2011/2012". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 29 August 2013. 
  28. ↑ "Games played by Luke James in 2012/2013". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 29 August 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Games played by Luke James in 2013/2014". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 29 August 2013. 
Hartlepool United F.C. – current squad
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