Luke McNicholas (born 1 January 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Rochdale, on loan from EFL League One club Wrexham.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke McNicholas | ||
| Date of birth | 1 January 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Belcarra, County Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Rochdale (on loan from Wrexham) | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Manulla | |||
| Sligo Rovers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2024 | Sligo Rovers | 38 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Finn Harps (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Cliftonville (loan) | 24 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Wrexham (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | Wrexham | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Rochdale (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:44, 23 January 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editMcNicholas began his career at Mayo soccer team Manulla
McNicholas began his professional career at Sligo Rovers, but was loaned out to fellow League of Ireland Premier Division side Finn Harps where he didn't make a single appearance, however, upon return he got his chance due to injury to Sligo Rovers keeper Edward McGinty.[1]
On 17 August 2021, he was loaned out to NIFL Premiership club Cliftonville.[2] During his time there, Cliftonville won the Northern Ireland Football League Cup and came runners up in the NIFL Premiership.[3]
On 11 August 2023, after establishing himself as Sligo Rovers' number 1, McNicholas would join newly promoted EFL League Two side Wrexham on a short-term loan, with the option for Wrexham to buy in January 2024.[4] He made his debut for the club on 10 October 2023, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–3 away win at Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy.[5] On 23 January 2024, Wrexham announced that they had signed McNicholas on a permanent deal, joining on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[6]
On 15 July 2024, McNicholas joined Rochdale on a season-long loan.[7]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played on 5 December 2023[8]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sligo Rovers | 2019 | LOI Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[c] | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | LOI Premier Division | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| Finn Harps (loan) | 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Cliftonville (loan) | 2021–22 | NIFL Premiership | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | |
| Wrexham (loan) | 2023–24 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Wrexham | 2023–24 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 65 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 82 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes FAI Cup, Irish Cup & FA Cup
- ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup, Northern Ireland Football League Cup & EFL Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
Honours
editCliftonville
Wrexham
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24[9]
References
edit- ^ "Who is Luke McNicholas? Cliftonville's new signing from Sligo Rovers?". Belfast Live. 18 August 2021.
- ^ "In good Nich". Cliftonville FC. 17 August 2021.
- ^ "L. McNicholas". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "SIGNED Wrexham sign goalkeeper Luke McNicholas on short-term contract". Wrexham AFC. 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Wrexham beat Crewe to reach knockout stages in the EFL Trophy". The Leader. 10 October 2023.
- ^ "SIGNED | Luke McNicholas joins on permanent transfer from Sligo Rovers". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Goalkeeper Joins On Loan". Rochdale AFC. 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Republic of Ireland - L. McNicholas - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
- ^ "wrexhamafc.co.uk story".