Luke Rooney (footballer)

Luke Rooney

Rooney playing for Lewes in 2009
Personal information
Full nameLuke William Rooney[1]
Date of birth28 December 1990[1]
Place of birthBermondsey, England
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Playing positionWinger
Club information
Current team
Ebbsfleet United
Youth career
2007–2009Gillingham
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2009–2012Gillingham53(6)
2009→ Lewes (loan)6(0)
2010→ Eastbourne Borough (loan)8(2)
2010→ Eastbourne Borough (loan)4(1)
2012–2013Swindon Town31(2)
2012→ Burton Albion (loan)3(0)
2012→ Rotherham United (loan)3(0)
2013→ Crawley Town (loan)4(0)
2014Maidstone United6(0)
2014–2015Luton Town17(3)
2015–Ebbsfleet United1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:30, 29 December 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Luke William Rooney (born 28 December 1990) is an English footballer who plays for Luton Town. He primarily plays as a midfielder.

Career

Born in Bermondsey, London,[1] Rooney joined Gillingham as an apprentice professional in 2007. He forced his way into the first team squad in early December 2008 and was an unused substitute in the FA Cup second round replay at Stockport County. In early 2009 he was loaned out to Lewes of the Conference National, where he made six appearances.[2] He turned full-time professional with Gillingham at the start of the 2009–10 season and made his first team debut against Plymouth Argyle in the first round of the Football League Cup.[3] His first Football League appearance was in the 3–0 home win over Exeter City on 5 September 2009, in which he scored his first ever goal for the Gillingham senior team.

On 15 March 2010, Rooney joined Conference National side Eastbourne Borough on loan until the end of that season,[4] and made a scoring debut in the 1–1 draw with Grays Athletic.

He made his senior debut as a second-half substitute in the 2–1 Football League Cup defeat of Plymouth Argyle and marked his League bow with a goal in the 3–0 win over Exeter City. Soon after he doubled his tally for the campaign with a curling strike from the right edge of the box against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.

He continued his development throughout the season, making a further 23 league appearances, either side of another loan stint at Eastbourne.[5] The highlight of his campaign was a 25-yard drive which snatched a late point for Gillingham in the 1–1 draw with Torquay United at Plainmoor.

The midfielder made a goalscoring start to the 2011–12 campaign, netting Gillingham's second in the 3–0 defeat of Plymouth Argyle at Priestfield before scoring from the spot to clinch a point in the 1–1 draw with Accrington Stanley. His third goal of the campaign came in the 5–2 win at Torquay United in October. In total, Rooney made 20 appearances for Gillingham, scoring three times.

Swindon Town

On 6 January 2012, Swindon Town made a 'six-figure sum' offer for Rooney, which was eventually turned down by the Kent-based club.[6] On 16 January 2012 a new undisclosed offer was made and accepted by Gillingham.[7] On 17 January he signed a two and a half-year deal with Swindon.[8] Rooney made his Swindon debut on 21 January 2012 in a league match at home to Macclesfield Town as a substitute, coming on in the 52nd minute. He made an instant impact providing the cross for Paul Benson to head home the only goal of the game. Rooney scored his first goal for the club in the 3–0 win against promotion rivals Crawley Town.

Rooney joined League One side Crawley Town on loan until January 2014 on 6 August 2013.[9]

Maidstone United

On 7 February 2014, Rooney joined Maidstone United on non-contract terms.[10]

Luton Town

On 21 March 2014, Rooney joined Luton Town on a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season.[11] He played in six games as Luton won promotion to the Football League.[12] In July 2014, Rooney signed a six-month contract extension with Luton.[13]

Honours

Swindon Town
Luton Town

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Games played by Luke Rooney in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "Games played by Luke Rooney in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "Eastbourne sign Gillingham midfielder Luke Rooney". BBC Sport. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  5. ↑ "Eastbourne Borough seal Luke Rooney loan deal". BBC Sport. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  6. ↑ BBC Sport (6 January 2012). "Swindon Town make bid for Gillingham's Luke Rooney". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  7. ↑ BBC Sport (16 January 2012). "Swindon Town's Luke Rooney bid accepted by Gillingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Swindon Town sign Luke Rooney from Gillingham". BBC Sport. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Luke Rooney: Swindon winger signs for Crawley Town on loan". BBC Sport. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  10. ↑ http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2014/02/rooney-signs-for-maidstone-united
  11. ↑ "Luton sign Rooney". Luton Town F.C. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Luton Town win Conference Premier and Football League spot". BBC Sport. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Luke Rooney: Luton Town keep midfielder on short-term contract". BBC Sport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.

External links