Luke Molyneux
Personal information
Full name Luke James Molyneux[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-29) 29 March 1998 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Bishop Auckland, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Doncaster Rovers
Number 7
Youth career
2014–2018 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Sunderland 3 (0)
2018–2019 → Gateshead (loan) 15 (2)
2019 → Hartlepool United (loan) 16 (2)
2019–2022 Hartlepool United 78 (11)
2022– Doncaster Rovers 65 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:05, 1 January 2024 (UTC)

Luke Molyneux (born 29 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.

Career

Sunderland

Molyneux came through the ranks with Sunderland and played his first professional games for the under-23 squad in the 2016–17 EFL Trophy. He later went on to make his first-team debut in a 3–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 6 May 2018.[4]

Loan to Gateshead

After a handful of substitute appearances early in the 2018–19 season, Molyneux went on a half-season loan to National League side Gateshead.[5] Molyneux scored his first career goal in a 4–0 victory over Dunston UTS on 20 October 2018 in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.[6] He later went on to score his first league goals against Maidstone United on 22 December 2018, netting two goals in a 3–2 win.[7] Molyneux made 18 appearances for Gateshead during his loan spell, scoring three goals.[8]

Loan to Hartlepool United

Following his return to Sunderland, Molyneux went on a further loan to another local National League side Hartlepool United on 18 January 2019.[9] Molyneux made 16 appearances for Hartlepool during his loan spell, scoring the winning goals in victories over Dover Athletic and FC Halifax Town.[10][11][12]

Hartlepool United

Following his release by Sunderland, Molyneux signed permanently for Hartlepool permanently on 12 June 2019.[13] Unfortunately for Molyneux, his first full season with the club was cut short after suffering an ankle injury during a pre-season friendly at York City.[14] On 1 January 2020, Molyneux made his return from injury as a late substitute in a 1–0 defeat against Harrogate Town.[15] On 8 February 2020, Molyneux made his first start of 2019–20 season as he scored and assisted in Hartlepool's 2–0 victory over Aldershot Town.[16]

In October 2020, Molyneux contracted COVID-19, forcing him to miss the opening fixtures of the 2020–21 season.[17] In the 2021 National League play-off final, Molyneux was a late substitute in extra time against Torquay United. In the resulting penalty shoot-out, he scored Hartlepool's fifth penalty as Hartlepool were promoted back to League Two.[18]

On 20 July 2021, Molyneux signed a contract extension with Hartlepool.[19] On 25 September 2021, Molyneux scored his first Football League goal in a 1–1 draw with Exeter City.[20] On 25 January 2022, Molyneux scored the equaliser against Charlton Athletic three minutes after coming off the bench as Hartlepool progressed to the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy.[21] He also scored in the resulting penalty shoot-out. This performance earned him player of the round for the quarter-finals.[22]

Molyneux picked up three awards at Hartlepool's 2021–22 Awards ceremony. He won the Players' and Fans' Player of the Year Award, along with the Goal of the Season Award for his long range strike in a 2–1 win against Harrogate Town.[23] On 21 June 2022, it was announced that Molyneux had turned down the offer of a new contract and would be leaving the club. He left for Doncaster Rovers. [24]

Doncaster Rovers

On 21 June 2022, the same day as his impending departure from Hartlepool was announced, Molyneux agreed to join recently relegated League Two club Doncaster Rovers on a two-year deal.[25] Molyneux later revealed that he had been in talks with League One sides Milton Keynes Dons and Bristol Rovers in the weeks prior to him joining Doncaster.[26] In February 2023, Molyneux scored a brace in a 2–0 victory at Swindon Town, his first goals for the club.[27]

Style of play

Molyneux has been described as a versatile performer who is comfortable on either flank or even in a more central position, and is known for his direct style, pace and trickery.[28]

Career statistics

As of matches played 1 January 2024.[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sunderland 2016–17[30] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 4 0
2017–18[31] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 4 0
2018–19[32] League One 2 0 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 5 0
Total 3 0 0 0 1 0 9 0 13 0
Gateshead (loan) 2018–19[29] National League 15 2 2 1 0 0 1[b] 0 18 3
Hartlepool United 2018–19[29] National League 16 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 2
2019–20[29] National League 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
2020–21[29] National League 25 2 2 1 0 0 2[c] 0 29 3
2021–22[33] League Two 43 8 5 1 1 0 6[a] 3 55 12
Total 94 13 8 2 1 0 8 3 111 18
Doncaster Rovers 2022–23[34] League Two 40 3 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 44 3
2023–24[35] League Two 27 2 3 0 2 0 5 1 37 3
Total 67 5 4 0 3 0 8 1 81 6
Career total 179 20 14 3 4 0 26 4 223 27
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in National League play-offs

Honours

Hartlepool United

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players as at 19 May 2018" (PDF). EFL. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Luke Molyneux". Hartepool United FC. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Luke Molyneux". Hartepool United FC. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Sunderland 3–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Molyneux joins Gateshead on loan". safc.com. Sunderland AFC. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Dunston UTS 0–4 Gateshead RECAP- Heed through to the next with dominant display". chroniclelive.co.uk. Chronicle Live. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Maidstone United 2–3 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Luke Molyneux -2018/19". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Hartlepool United boss reacts after landing Sunderland youngster on loan". BBC Sport. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Luke Molyneux -2018/19". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Hartlepool United 3–2 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Hartlepool United 2–1 FC Halifax Town". BBC Sport. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Luke Molyneux joins Hartlepool United just a week after leaving Sunderland". chroniclelive.co.uk. Chronicle Live. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Molyneux Out After Surgery On Ankle". hartlepoolunited.co.uk. Hartlepool United FC. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Hartlepool United 0–1 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Hartlepool United 2–0 Aldershot Town". BBC Sport. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  17. ^ Dominic Scurr (8 October 2020). "Former Sunderland winger Luke Molyneux's coronavirus case shows the potentially devastating impact the virus could have at Hartlepool United or other National League clubs". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  18. ^ Brent Pilnick (20 June 2021). "Hartlepool United returned to the English Football League as they beat Torquay United 5–4 on penalties, despite Gulls goalkeeper Lucas Covolan scoring a stoppage-time equaliser". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  19. ^ Matty Jones (20 July 2021). "Luke Molyneux signs contract extension with Hartlepool". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  20. ^ Dominic Scurr (25 September 2021). "Story of the day: Hartlepool United 1–1 Exeter City - Pools drop points at Victoria Park for the first time this season". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Hartlepool United 2–2 Charlton Athletic (5–4)". Sky Sports. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  22. ^ Ben Painter (10 February 2022). "Molyneux wins Papa Johns award". Hartlepool United FC. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Joe Ramage (2 May 2022). "Hartlepool United's former Sunderland striker wins player of the year award with ex-Norwich City defender named young player of the year". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Luke Molyneux leaves Pools". www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Luke Molyneux is a Rovers player". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  26. ^ Frost, Sam (28 June 2022). "Winger reveals he held talks with Bristol Rovers and MK Dons before League Two transfer". Bristol Post. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Molyneux says scoring his first Rovers goals has lifted a weight off his shoulders". Doncaster Rovers FC. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Luke Molyneux". Hartepool United FC. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d e Luke Molyneux at Soccerway
  30. ^ "Games played by Luke Molyneux in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Games played by Luke Molyneux in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Games played by Luke Molyneux in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Games played by Luke Molyneux in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Games played by Luke Molyneux in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  35. ^ "Games played by Luke Molyneux in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  36. ^ Pilnick, Brent (20 June 2021). "Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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