Luke Offord Explained

Luke Offord
Fullname:Luke William Offord[1]
Birth Date:1999 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Chichester, England
Height:1.83m (06feet)
Currentclub:Milton Keynes Dons
Clubnumber:17
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:–2017
Youthclubs1:Crewe Alexandra
Years1:2017–2024
Caps1:152
Goals1:2
Years2:2019
Clubs2:Witton Albion (loan)
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2020
Clubs3:Nantwich Town (loan)
Caps3:7
Goals3:0
Years4:2024–
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Club-Update:12:33, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Luke William Offord (born 19 November 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.

Career

Crewe Alexandra

Offord graduated from Crewe's academy in summer 2018.[2] He was given a two-year contract (with an optional two-year extension) in May 2019 having spent time on loan at Witton Albion.[3]

In December 2019, Offord went on a month's loan to Nantwich Town.[4] Soon after his return to Crewe, he made his first team debut, and first Crewe start, playing at centre-half in a 2–0 win over Leyton Orient on 28 January 2020,[5] [6] and then helping the team to win four of their next six games.[7]

He scored his first league goal for Crewe on 10 October 2020, opening the scoring in a 3-0 win against Wigan Athletic at Gresty Road.[8] On 13 November 2020, he signed a new three-year contract with Crewe through to the summer of 2023.[9] After featuring regularly in Crewe's defence, he suffered a serious (grade 3) hamstring injury in a match against Bristol Rovers on 19 January 2021,[10] requiring a prolonged recovery.[11] He returned to first team action in April 2021, but then suffered another hamstring injury requiring a further prolonged lay-off.[12]

In February 2022, Crewe's then manager David Artell said Offord could be a future captain of the club after consistent performances in the Crewe backline,[13] and in July 2022, Artell's successor Alex Morris appointed Offord as captain for the 2022–23 season.[14] At the end of the season, Crewe triggered an extension of his contract.[15]

On 9 August 2023, Offord scored Crewe's goal in a 1–1 draw in their EFL League Cup first round tie against Championship side Sunderland at the Stadium of Light; Crewe won the tie 5–3 on penalties.[16] However, Offord's season was cut short after he suffered an ankle ligament injury against Harrogate Town at Gresty Road on 17 February 2024. With surgery scheduled for 1 March 2024, Offord was ruled out for the rest of the season[17] [18] and Mickey Demetriou replaced him as club captain for the season's final games.[19]

Milton Keynes Dons

In May 2024, Offord was offered a new contract by Crewe,[20] but opted to join Milton Keynes Dons upon the expiry of his current contract.[21] He made his debut for the club on 10 August 2024 in a 1–2 home defeat to Bradford City.[22]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Witton Albion (loan)2018–19[23] NPL Premier Division8080
Nantwich Town (loan)2019–20[24] NPL Premier Division7070
Crewe Alexandra2019–20[25] League Two9000000090
2020–21[26] League One281200000301
2021–22[27] League One440101020480
2022–23[28] League Two400201020450
2023–24[29] League Two311302120382
Total15228041601703
Milton Keynes Dons2024–25[30] League Two1000000010
Career total16828041601863

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Crewe Alexandra . English Football League . 25 . 20 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Luke Offord . CreweAlex.net . 30 January 2020.
  3. News: Contracts: Sass-Davies, Offord & Lundstram Pen New Deals . 30 January 2020.
  4. Web site: Luke Offord joins Nantwich Town . CreweAlex.net . 30 January 2020.
  5. News: Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Leyton Orient . 30 January 2020 . BBC Sport . 28 January 2020.
  6. Web site: Boss Praise For Debutant Offord . CreweAlex.net . 30 January 2020.
  7. News: Morse . Peter . Crewe Alex: 'I've surprised myself a bit' - Luke Offord . 2 March 2020 . Cheshire Live . 2 March 2020.
  8. News: Crewe Alexandra 3-0 Wigan Athletic . 10 October 2020 . BBC Sport . 10 October 2020.
  9. News: Luke Offord Agrees Fresh Terms . 15 November 2020 . CreweAlex.net . 13 November 2020.
  10. News: Offord Hamstring Injury Not As Bad As First Feared . 10 February 2021 . CreweAlex.net . 22 January 2021.
  11. News: Not Such Good News On Offord Though . 18 February 2021 . CreweAlex.net . 17 February 2021.
  12. News: Crewe Alex: Offord out for rest of term as Artell puts Finney comeback on hold for now . 23 April 2021 . Crewe Nub News . 23 April 2021.
  13. News: Offord Has All The Credentials To Become A Captain . 1 August 2022 . CreweAlex.net . 24 February 2022.
  14. News: Baggaley . Michael . Challenge set for new Crewe Alex captain Luke Offord . 1 August 2022 . Cheshire Live . 12 July 2022.
  15. News: Crewe Alexandra Retained List 2023 . 16 May 2023 . CreweAlex.com . 15 May 2023.
  16. News: Sunderland 1-1 Crewe Alexandra . 9 August 2023 . BBC Sport . 8 August 2023.
  17. News: Luke Offord: Crewe Alexandra captain likely to miss the rest of the season . 22 February 2024 . BBC Sport . 22 February 2024.
  18. News: Injury Update: Offord, Williams, Long & Finney . 1 March 2024 . CreweAlex.net . 29 February 2024.
  19. News: Demetriou will captain Railwaymen . 23 February 2024 . CreweAlex.net . 22 February 2024.
  20. News: Crewe release five players but offer five more new deals . 21 May 2024 . BBC Sport . 21 May 2024.
  21. News: DonDeal: Offord becomes MK Dons' second summer signing . 29 May 2024 . MK Dons . 29 May 2024.
  22. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Bradford City . . 10 August 2024 . 10 August 2024 .
  23. Web site: Witton Albion – Appearances – Luke Offord – 2018-2019. www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  24. Web site: Nantwich Town – Appearances – Luke Offord – 2019-2020. www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  25. Web site: Games played by Luke Offord in 2019/2020 . Soccerbase . 10 February 2020.
  26. Web site: Games played by Luke Offord in 2020/2021 . Soccerbase . 13 September 2020.
  27. Web site: Games played by Luke Offord in 2021/2022 . Soccerbase . 8 August 2021.
  28. Web site: Games played by Luke Offord in 2022/2023 . Soccerbase . 1 August 2022.
  29. Web site: Games played by Luke Offord in 2023/2024 . Soccerbase . 6 August 2023.
  30. Web site: Games played by Luke Offord in 2024/2025 . Soccerbase . 3 August 2024.