Luke Gambin Explained

Luke Gambin
Fullname:Luke David Gambin[1]
Birth Date:16 March 1993
Birth Place:Sutton, London, England
Height:1.68m (05.51feet)[2]
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Hayes & Yeading United
Youthclubs1:AFC Wimbledon
Youthyears2:2009–2011
Youthclubs2:Barnet
Years1:2011–2017
Clubs1:Barnet
Caps1:124
Goals1:15
Years2:2011–2012
Clubs2:Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2012
Clubs3:Hendon (loan)
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2017–2019
Clubs4:Luton Town
Caps4:29
Goals4:2
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Crawley Town (loan)
Caps5:26
Goals5:3
Years6:2019–2021
Clubs6:Colchester United
Caps6:39
Goals6:1
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Newport County (loan)
Caps7:11
Goals7:1
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Ħamrun Spartans
Caps8:25
Goals8:2
Years9:2022–2023
Clubs9:Sutton United
Caps9:5
Goals9:0
Years10:2023–
Clubs10:Hayes & Yeading United
Caps10:22
Goals10:1
Nationalyears1:2016–
Nationalteam1:Malta
Nationalcaps1:36
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:14:34, 11 May 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:21:24, 12 August 2024 (UTC)

Luke David Gambin (born 16 March 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Hayes & Yeading United. Born in England, he represents the Malta national team.

Career

Barnet

Born in Sutton, London, Gambin began his career in the youth system at AFC Wimbledon before moving to Barnet as an apprentice in 2009.[2] He made his first-team debut in a 4–0 win at home to former club AFC Wimbledon on 28 April 2012, coming on as a late substitute for Scott McGleish, before signing his first professional contract in the summer of 2012.[3] Gambin made his first appearance of 2012–13 after being introduced as a 66th-minute substitute in a 3–0 defeat away to Bradford City on 15 September 2012. He found first-team opportunities limited, joining Isthmian League Premier Division club Hendon on loan in November 2012, and debuted as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to Aldershot Town in the FA Cup first round.[4] He completed the loan spell with three appearances. Gambin broke into the Barnet first-team towards the end of the season and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 win at home to Morecambe on 9 March 2013. He finished the season with two goals from 10 appearances, but was unable to help Barnet prevent relegation to the Conference Premier.[5]

Gambin signed a new long-term contract with Barnet a little more than a week before the start of 2013–14.[6] He scored Barnet's first goal in a 3–0 win at home to Chester on the opening day of the season and finished 2013–14 with one goal from 25 appearances. Gambin scored four goals in 26 league appearances for Barnet in 2014–15 as the club won the Conference Premier title and therefore promotion to League Two. After the end of the season, Barnet took up the option to extend Gambin's contract.[7] In Barnet's first season back in the Football League, Gambin scored four goals in 49 appearances, as they finished 15th in League Two.[8]

He made his first appearance of 2016–17 in the starting lineup away to Cambridge United on the opening day of the season, which finished as a 1–1 draw.[9] Barnet accepted a bid in excess of £100,000 from Leyton Orient for Gambin in August 2016, but he rejected the opportunity and instead stayed with the club.[10] His first goal of the season came on 8 October 2016 against Doncaster Rovers, when he scored a late equaliser in the 86th minute to make the score 2–2, although Barnet went on to lose 3–2.[11] After four goals from 21 appearances, Gambin was transfer listed after he rejected an offer of a new contract for the fourth time.[12]

Luton Town

Gambin signed for League Two club Luton Town on 16 January 2017 on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, with the option of a further year.[13] He made his debut five days later, starting in Luton's 1–1 draw away to Wycombe Wanderers.[14] Gambin scored his first goal for Luton with the second goal in a 3–0 victory at home to Hartlepool United on 14 February.[15] He was an unused substitute in both legs of their 6–5 aggregate play-off semi-final defeat to Blackpool,[16] [17] and finished 2016–17 with 17 appearances and one goal.

He joined League Two club Crawley Town on 31 August 2018 on loan until the end of 2018–19.[18] Gambin was released by Luton when his contract expired at the end of the 2018–19 season.[19]

Colchester United

Gambin signed for League Two club Colchester United on 26 June 2019 on a two-year contract, effective from 1 July.[20] He made his club debut as a substitute for Jevani Brown in Colchester's 1–1 home draw with Port Vale on 3 August.[21] He scored his first goal for the club on 29 October 2019 in Colchester's 3–1 EFL Cup victory against his former club Crawley Town.[22]

He joined Colchester's divisional rivals Newport County on 20 January 2021 on loan until the end of the season.[23] His debut came three days later in a 3–2 away defeat to Oldham Athletic, in which he scored Newport's second goal.[24]

Ħamrun Spartans

Gambin signed for Ħamrun Spartans in July 2021.[25]

Sutton United

On 16 July 2022, Gambin returned to England to join League Two club Sutton United having already featured in friendlies across pre-season.[26] He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.[27]

Hayes & Yeading

On 25 November 2023, Gambin signed for Southern League South Premier club Hayes & Yeading United. He made his debut the against Swindon Supermarine in which he scored.[28]

International career

Gambin is of Maltese descent and joined the Malta squad for training in June 2015.[29] His application for Maltese citizenship was successful and he was called up to the national team in May 2016.[30] He debuted later that week, starting in a 6–0 friendly defeat to the Czech Republic.[31] Gambin scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw with Slovakia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match on 27 March 2021.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnet2011–12League Two1000000010
2012–13League Two1020000102
2013–14Conference Premier2410010251
2014–15[32] Conference Premier2642020304
2015–16League Two444202010494
2016–17League Two194101000214
Total1241550304013615
Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)2011–12[33] Southern League Premier Division401151
Hendon (loan)2012–13[34] Isthmian League Premier Division201030
Luton Town2016–17League Two16110171
2017–18League Two131201041202
2018–19League One00100010
Total292202051383
Crawley Town (loan)2018–19League Two2632000283
Colchester United2019–20League Two281105130372
2020–21League Two110000020130
Total391105150502
Newport County (loan)2020–21League Two111111
Ħamrun Spartans2021–22Maltese Premier League25230282
Sutton United2022–23League Two50101030100
Career total2652415011118230926

International

[35] [36]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malta
201660
201770
201840
201950
202060
202141
202240
Total361

As of match played 30 March 2021. Malta score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gambin goal.[35]

List of international goals scored by Luke Gambin
scope=colNo.scope=colDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetitionscope=col class=unsortable
127 March 2021Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia271–02–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification[37]

Honours

Barnet

2014–15[38]

Luton Town

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Colchester United . English Football League . 21 . 20 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Luke Gambin . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 23 March 2018.
  3. News: Luke Gambin agrees pro deal with Barnet . Barnet & Potters Bar Times . 23 May 2012 . 31 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Aldershot Town 2–1 Hendon . Hendon F.C. . 3 November 2012 . 31 March 2021.
  5. News: Barnet and Aldershot slide into Conference after AFC Wimbledon win . Tom . Davies . The Guardian . London . 28 April 2013 . 18 January 2017.
  6. News: Barnet youngsters Elliot Johnson and Luke Gambin have signed new long-term contracts with the club . Adam . Newson . Barnet & Potters Bar Times . 2 August 2013 . 31 March 2021.
  7. News: Cook and Saville released as Barnet announce retained list . Tom . Bodell . Barnet & Potters Bar Times . 9 May 2015 . 31 March 2021.
  8. Web site: League Two: 2015/16: Latest table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 31 March 2021.
  9. News: Cambridge United 1–1 Barnet . BBC Sport . 6 August 2016 . 18 January 2017.
  10. News: Barnet winger Luke Gambin rejects move to Leyton Orient . Sky Sports . 29 August 2016 . 31 March 2021.
  11. News: Doncaster Rovers 3–2 Barnet . BBC Sport . 8 October 2016 . 18 January 2017.
  12. News: Barnet midfielder Luke Gambin transfer listed after turning down new deal at The Hive . Ron . Walker . Barnet & Potters Bar Times . 12 January 2017 . 31 March 2021.
  13. News: Hatters snap up Maltese international Gambin from Barnet . Luton Today . JPIMedia Publishing . 16 January 2017 . 31 March 2021.
  14. News: Mullins dismissed as Luton are held by Wycombe . Luton Today . JPIMedia Publishing . 21 January 2017 . 31 March 2021.
  15. News: Luton Town 3–0 Hartlepool United . BBC Sport . 14 February 2017 . 14 February 2017.
  16. News: Blackpool 3–2 Luton Town . Nathan . Middleton . BBC Sport . 14 May 2017 . 11 June 2017.
  17. News: Luton Town 3–3 Blackpool (agg: 5–6) . Brendon . Mitchell . BBC Sport . 18 May 2017 . 11 June 2017.
  18. News: Bondz N'Gala, Joe Maguire and Luke Gambin: Crawley Town bring in trio on deadline day . BBC Sport . 31 August 2018 . 31 August 2018.
  19. News: McCormack leaves Kenilworth Road as Luton release five . Mike . Simmonds . Luton Today . JPIMedia Publishing . 17 May 2019 . 31 March 2021.
  20. Web site: U's flash: Winger Luke signs up . Matt . Hudson . Colchester United F.C. . 26 June 2019 . 26 June 2019.
  21. News: Colchester United play out opening-day draw with Port Vale . Jonathan . Waldron . Daily Gazette . Colchester . 3 August 2019 . 31 March 2021.
  22. News: Crawley 1–3 Colchester: League Two side reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals . BBC Sport . 29 October 2019 . 31 March 2021.
  23. News: Luke Gambin: Colchester United winger joins Newport County on loan . BBC Sport . 20 January 2021 . 31 March 2021.
  24. News: Newport lose to Oldham after Joss Labadie red card . Chris . Kirwan . South Wales Argus . Newport . 23 January 2021 . 31 March 2021.
  25. https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/hamrun-spartans-sign-malta-attacking-midfielder-luke-gambin.887188 Ħamrun Spartans sign Malta attacking midfielder Luke Gambin
  26. Web site: Three additions to squad before Charlton game. www.suttonunited.net. 16 July 2022. 17 July 2022.
  27. Web site: Squad Update. www.suttonunited.net. 10 May 2023. 11 May 2023.
  28. 1728426489354330480. Wearing 10. Luke Gambin. An experienced winger featured for Sutton United in Football League last term. Over 30 appearances for Malta previous clubs include Colchester Utd, Newport County, Luton T, Crawley T, Barnet, Hendon & Met Police and AFC Wimbledon u18s. HYUFC_Official. Hayes & Yeading . 25 November 2023. 25 November 2023.
  29. News: Barnet winger Gambin starts five-day trial . Kevin . Azzopardi . Times of Malta . 1 June 2015 . 31 March 2021.
  30. Web site: Luke Gambin selected to play for Malta! . Barnet F.C. . 23 May 2016 . 11 June 2017.
  31. News: Malta succumbs to heavy 0–6 defeat against Czech Republic . Henry . Brincat . The Malta Independent . 27 May 2016 . 31 March 2021.
  32. Web site: L. Gambin: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 31 March 2021.
  33. Web site: The team: Luke Gambin: 2011/12 season . Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122724/http://www.hemelfc.com/teams/3808/player/luke-gambin-629211/6464 . 15 December 2018.
  34. Web site: Former staff – Luke Gambin . Hendon F.C. . 31 March 2021.

  35. Web site: Slovakia vs. Malta 2–2: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 31 March 2021.
    Web site: Croatia vs. Malta 3–0: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 31 March 2021.
  36. Web site: Luke Gambin - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive.
  37. Web site: Slovakia vs. Malta 2–2: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 31 March 2021.
  38. Book: John . Anderson . Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016 . 2015 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-2416-3 . 632–633.
  39. Book: John . Anderson . Football Yearbook 2018–2019 . 2018 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-6106-9 . 214–215.