Laurence Wyke
Wyke playing for Nashville in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-09-20) 20 September 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Bolton, England
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Youth career
2004–2013 Manchester United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Trinity Tigers 46 (11)
2017–2018 Furman Paladins 39 (16)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Atlanta United 2 29 (3)
2020 Atlanta United 7 (0)
2021–2022 Tampa Bay Rowdies 57 (3)
2023 Nashville SC 0 (0)
2023 → Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan) 2 (0)
2023 → Huntsville City FC (loan) 1 (0)
2024– Phoenix Rising 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 January 2024

Laurence Wyke (born 20 September 1996) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Phoenix Rising FC.

Career

Wyke spent time in the Manchester United academy whilst growing before heading to America to study and play college soccer at Trinity University and Furman University.[1] On 20 February 2019, Wyke joined USL Championship side Atlanta United 2.[2]

Following a successful first team debut against Nashville SC in the first game of the season, Wyke was promoted to Atlanta United FC on 5 March 2020.[3] He appeared in 7 MLS matches in the 2020 season before being released at the end of the year.[4] In March 2021, Wyke joined Tampa Bay Rowdies ahead of the 2021 season.[5] During his debut season with the club, Wyke was primarily utilized in the midfield, but was moved to the defensive line in 2022.[6]

In October 2022, Wyke was fined and given a 12-game suspension following the USL Championship’s investigation into allegations of racially discriminatory behavior following the October 2nd match between Monterey Bay FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.[7] Following an appeal by the Rowdies,[8] Wyke's suspension was overturned by the USL's Independent Disciplinary Council.[9] He was released by Tampa following their 2022 season.[10]

On 22 December 2022, it was announced that Wyke had signed with Major League Soccer side Nashville SC for the upcoming 2023 season.[11] Wyke rejoined the Rowdies on a loan on 3 June 2023.[12][13] Wyke provided one assist in two appearances for Tampa Bay before being recalled by Nashville on 17 June.[14] He left Nashville following the 2023 season.[15]

Wyke signed with USL Championship side Phoenix Rising on 26 January 2024.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 November 2022[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlanta United 2 2019 USL Championship 29 3 — — — — 29 3
Atlanta United 2020 Major League Soccer 7 0 — — — — 7 0
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2021 USL Championship 27 1 — — 4[a] 0 31 1
2022 30 2 2[b] 1 3[a] 0 35 3
Total 57 3 2 1 7 0 66 4
Career total 93 6 2 1 7 0 102 7
  1. ^ a b Appearances in USL Championship playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in U.S. Open Cup

References

  1. ^ "Previewing every Englishman in the 2019 MLS Superdraft". englishplayersabroad.com. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Atlanta United 2 signs Laurence Wyke". Atlanta United FC. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Atlanta United signs Laurence Wyke to first team contract". Atlanta United FC. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Atlanta United announce year-end roster moves". Atlanta United FC. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. ^ "ROWDIES ADD MIDFIELDER LAURENCE WYKE FOR 2021". Tampa Bay Rowdies. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  6. ^ Lewis, Kevin (7 July 2022). "Defender Laurence Wyke boosts Rowdies' defense". ABC Action News. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. ^ "USL Championship Issues 12-Game Suspension to Laurence Wyke". USLChampionship.com. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Rowdies Statement on USL Suspension of Laurence Wyke". RowdiesSoccer.com. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Independent Disciplinary Panel overturns suspension issued to Laurence Wyke". USLChampionship.com. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  10. ^ 🖉USLChampionship com Staff (2 December 2022). "Tampa Bay Rowdies announce initial 2023 roster decisions". USL Championship.
  11. ^ "Nashville SC sign defender Laurence Wyke | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  12. ^ "Nashville Soccer Club Loans Defender Laurence Wyke to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship". NashvilleSC.com. Nashville SC. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Rowdies Add Wyke on Loan". RowdiesSoccer.com. Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Rowdies June 17 Availability Report". Twitter.com. Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  15. ^ SC, Nashville. "Nashville Soccer Club Announces 2024 Roster Decisions". Nashville SC.
  16. ^ Minnick, J. "Phoenix Rising FC Signs Laurence Wyke". PHXRisingFC.com. Phoenix Rising. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  17. ^ Laurence Wyke at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 December 2022.

External links

Phoenix Rising FC – current squad
Categories