Luke Molyneux Explained

Luke Molyneux
Fullname:Luke James Molyneux[1]
Birth Date:29 March 1998[2]
Birth Place:Bishop Auckland, England
Height:[3]
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Doncaster Rovers
Clubnumber:7
Youthyears1:2014–2018
Youthclubs1:Sunderland
Years1:2018–2019
Clubs1:Sunderland
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Gateshead (loan)
Caps2:15
Goals2:2
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Hartlepool United (loan)
Caps3:16
Goals3:2
Years4:2019–2022
Clubs4:Hartlepool United
Caps4:78
Goals4:11
Years5:2022–
Clubs5:Doncaster Rovers
Caps5:86
Goals5:14
Nationalyears1:2016
Club-Update:17:57, 10 August 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] On 28 May 2024, the club announced he had signed a new three-year deal.[28]

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.[29]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland2016–17Premier League0000004040
2017–18Championship1000003040
2018–19League One2000102050
Total30001090130
Gateshead (loan)2018–19National League152210010183
Hartlepool United2018–19National League162000000162
2019–20National League101100000111
2020–21National League252210020293
2021–22League Two4385110635512
Total941382108311118
Doncaster Rovers2022–23League Two403101030443
2023–24League Two4593020825811
2024–25League Two1200000012
Total8614403011210316
Career total198291434029524537

Honours

Hartlepool United

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players as at 19 May 2018 . EFL . 19 May 2018 . 22 March 2022.
  2. News: Luke Molyneux . Hartepool United FC . 8 August 2021.
  3. News: Luke Molyneux . Hartepool United FC . 8 August 2021.
  4. Web site: Sunderland 3–0 Wolves . BBC Sport . 22 January 2020 . 6 May 2018 .
  5. Web site: Molyneux joins Gateshead on loan . Sunderland AFC . safc.com . 22 January 2020 . 7 September 2018 .
  6. Web site: Dunston UTS 0–4 Gateshead RECAP- Heed through to the next with dominant display . Chronicle Live . chroniclelive.co.uk . 22 January 2020 . 20 October 2018 .
  7. Web site: Maidstone United 2–3 Gateshead . BBC Sport . 22 January 2020 . 22 December 2018 .
  8. News: Luke Molyneux -2018/19 . Soccerbase . 8 August 2021.
  9. Web site: Hartlepool United boss reacts after landing Sunderland youngster on loan . BBC Sport . 22 January 2020 . 18 January 2019 .
  10. News: Luke Molyneux -2018/19 . Soccerbase . 8 August 2021.
  11. News: Hartlepool United 3–2 Dover Athletic . BBC Sport . 9 March 2019 . 8 August 2021.
  12. News: Hartlepool United 2–1 FC Halifax Town . BBC Sport . 19 April 2019 . 8 August 2021.
  13. Web site: Luke Molyneux joins Hartlepool United just a week after leaving Sunderland . Chronicle Live . chroniclelive.co.uk . 22 January 2020 . 12 June 2019 .
  14. Web site: Molyneux Out After Surgery On Ankle . Hartlepool United FC . hartlepoolunited.co.uk . 22 January 2020 . 31 August 2019 .
  15. News: Hartlepool United 0–1 Harrogate Town . BBC Sport . 1 January 2020 . 8 August 2021.
  16. News: Hartlepool United 2–0 Aldershot Town . BBC Sport . 8 February 2020 . 8 August 2021.
  17. News: 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 . Dominic Scurr . Hartlepool Mail . 8 October 2020 . 8 August 2021.
  18. News: 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 . Brent Pilnick . BBC Sport . 20 June 2021 . 8 August 2021.
  19. News: Luke Molyneux signs contract extension with Hartlepool . Matty Jones . The Northern Echo . 20 July 2021 . 8 August 2021.
  20. News: Story of the day: Hartlepool United 1–1 Exeter City - Pools drop points at Victoria Park for the first time this season . Dominic Scurr . Hartlepool Mail . 25 September 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  21. News: Hartlepool United 2–2 Charlton Athletic (5–4) . Sky Sports . 25 January 2022 . 10 February 2022.
  22. News: Molyneux wins Papa Johns award . Ben Painter . Hartlepool United FC . 10 February 2022 . 10 February 2022.
  23. News: Hartlepool United's former Sunderland striker wins player of the year award with ex-Norwich City defender named young player of the year . Joe Ramage . Hartlepool Mail . 2 May 2022 . 9 January 2023.
  24. News: Luke Molyneux leaves Pools . www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk . 21 June 2022 . 21 June 2022.
  25. Web site: Luke Molyneux is a Rovers player. www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 21 June 2022. 21 June 2022.
  26. Web site: Winger reveals he held talks with Bristol Rovers and MK Dons before League Two transfer. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 28 June 2022. 28 June 2022.
  27. News: Molyneux says scoring his first Rovers goals has lifted a weight off his shoulders . Doncaster Rovers FC . 12 February 2023 . 12 February 2023.
  28. Web site: 2024-05-28 . Luke Molyneux: Doncaster Rovers forward signs new three-year contract . 2024-05-28 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  29. News: Luke Molyneux . Hartepool United FC . 8 August 2021.
  30. News: Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United . Brent . Pilnick . BBC Sport . 20 June 2021 . 20 June 2021.