Michael Poke

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Michael Poke
Personal information
Full nameMichael Harold Poke
Date of birth (1985-11-21) 21 November 1985
Place of birthStaines, England[1]
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current clubTorquay United
Number1
Youth career
2004–2010Southampton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2010Southampton4(0)
2005→ Oldham Athletic (loan)0(0)
2005→ Northampton Town (loan)0(0)
2006–2007→ Woking (loan)3(0)
2008→ Torquay United (loan)4(0)
2008–2009→ Torquay United (loan)13(0)
2009–2010→ Torquay United (loan)29(0)
2010–2012Brighton & Hove Albion0(0)
2012→ Bristol Rovers (loan)11(0)
2012–Torquay United43(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:01, 3 April 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Michael Harold Poke (born 21 November 1985) is an English Goalkeeper who plays for Torquay United.

Football career

Born in Staines, Poke attended Longford Community School in Tachbrook Road, Feltham before joining Southampton as a trainee. He had a trial with Northampton Town in August 2004, playing in a scoreless reserve game against Gillingham on 17 August.[2] He remained with Southampton, and with Antti Niemi injured, was named as a substitute for the League Cup tie against Watford in November 2004.[3]

He joined Oldham Athletic on loan in August 2005,[4] but failed to make his debut and suffered a fractured finger.[5]

In October 2005 he joined Northampton Town on loan,[6] making his debut in the 5–2 Football League Trophy win at home to Notts County on 18 October. His loan was extended for a second month,[7] but his only other game for the Cobblers also came in the Football League Trophy, playing in the 3–2 defeat away to Colchester United on 23 November.[8]

On 23 November 2006, he moved on loan to Woking (under manager Glenn Cockerill, a former Southampton player) until Christmas.[9]

In the summer of 2007 Poke was the only fit goalkeeper that Southampton could take on their tour of Norway,[10] making his full debut for the club in the 12–0 demolition of part timers Svarstad.

On 9 January 2008 Poke went on loan to Conference National side Torquay United,[11] taking over as first choice from Martin Rice who had recently taken over the role himself from Simon Rayner. Poke was recalled by Southampton in February 2008 due to an ongoing injury crisis. He had played four Conference games for Torquay, against Salisbury City, Histon, Kidderminster Harriers and Weymouth, without conceding a single goal. He made his Southampton debut on 4 March 2008 at Wolverhampton Wanderers as a half-time substitute for the injured Kelvin Davis. Poke himself was injured later that month to give Southampton three injured goalkeepers.[12]

On 22 July 2008, Poke rejoined Torquay on a season-long loan.[13] However, he was injured early in the season, resulting in Torquay having to loan Scott Bevan from Shrewsbury Town as cover.[14]

On 1 September 2009, Poke was again loaned out to Torquay Utd for a third spell at the newly promoted League Two side.[15] On 23 December, Poke extended his loan deal with the Gulls till the end of the season.[16] On 15 May 2010, Poke was named in a list of 13 players to be released from Southampton before the start of the 2010–11 season.[17][18]

In June 2010, Poke joined League One side Brighton & Hove Albion on a one-year contract.[19]

On 1 January 2012 it was announced that Poke would join Bristol Rovers on loan for an initial one month period,[20] which was then extended to the rest of the season.

Poke, along with fellow goalkeeper David González, was released by Brighton at the end of April 2012 following the expiration of his contract. On the 27th June 2012 Michael Poke rejoined Torquay United on a 2-year contract on a free transfer. Martin Ling signed the keeper on recommendation from goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey. Ling stated "I tried to sign him last summer and it never came off because Brighton didn't want Michael to leave, but he is an ideal replacement for Bobby Olejnik and will work well in the goalkeeping unit with Kenny and Martin Rice." [21]

References

  1. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8. 
  2. ↑ "Cobblers look at trio". BBC Sport. 18 April 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2008. 
  3. ↑ "Niemi injury blow for Southampton". BBC Sport. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2008. 
  4. ↑ "Saints' Poke in Oldham loan move". BBC Sport. 21 August 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Keeper Poke suffers finger injury". BBC Sport. 5 September 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  6. ↑ "Cobblers net Saints' Poke on loan". BBC Sport. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  7. ↑ "Mendes and Poke stay at Cobblers". BBC Sport. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2008. 
  8. ↑ "Colchester 3–2 Northampton (aet)". BBC Sport. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  9. ↑ "Woking bag Saints goalkeeper Poke". BBC Sport. 24 November 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  10. ↑ "Southampton pair miss Norway trip". BBC Sport. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  11. ↑ "Torquay sign Southampton keeper". BBC Sport. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  12. ↑ "Southampton capture keeper Wright". BBC Sport. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008. 
  13. ↑ "Torquay sign Saints keeper Poke". BBC Sport. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Bevan agrees Torquay loan switch". BBC Sport. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  15. ↑ "Torquay loan keeper Poke". Sky Sports. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009. 
  16. ↑ "Duo stay with Gulls". Sky Sports. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009. 
  17. ↑ "Released And Retained List". Southampton F.C. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
  18. ↑ "Southampton reveal retain and released lists of players". Daily Echo. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
  19. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion sign goalkeeper Michael Poke". BBC Sport. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  20. ↑ "Rovers Make Two Loan Signings". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012. 
  21. ↑ "Albion release keepers". The Argus. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2012-05-05. 

External links

Torquay United F.C. – current squad
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