Luke Thomas (footballer, born 1999) explained

Luke Thomas
Fullname:Luke Gerald Michael Thomas[1]
Birth Date:19 February 1999[2]
Birth Place:Soudley, England
Height:1.71 m[3]
Position:Midfielder, forward
Currentclub:Bristol Rovers
Clubnumber:11
Youthclubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Youthyears2:–2015
Youthclubs2:Cheltenham Town
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:Cheltenham Town
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2016–2019
Clubs2:Derby County
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2017
Clubs3:Gloucester City (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:Coventry City (loan)
Caps4:43
Goals4:4
Years5:2019–2023
Clubs5:Barnsley
Caps5:86
Goals5:3
Years6:2021
Clubs6:Ipswich Town (loan)
Caps6:5
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–2022
Clubs7:Bristol Rovers (loan)
Caps7:28
Goals7:0
Years8:2023–
Clubs8:Bristol Rovers
Caps8:37
Goals8:5
Nationalyears1:2019–2020
Nationalteam1:England U20
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:13:29, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:21:32, 9 September 2019 (UTC)

Luke Gerald Michael Thomas (born 19 February 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Bristol Rovers

Thomas began his career with Cheltenham Town, before later playing for Derby County and Barnsley. He has also featured on loan for Gloucester City, Coventry City and Ipswich Town.

Club career

Thomas began his career with National League club Cheltenham Town, making his only first team appearance against Chelmsford City in the FA Trophy.[4] He had a trial with Portuguese club Benfica in 2015. He joined Derby County in January 2016 for an undisclosed transfer fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year professional contract.[5] He had a loan spell with National League North club Gloucester City during the 2016–17 season.[6]

Thomas was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award in September 2017 as a result of his performances for Derby County's under-23 team.[7] He signed a new three-year contract with Derby in October 2017.[8] He was first named in a first team matchday squad on 31 October 2017 against Leeds United,[9] and made his league debut on 21 November 2017, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for Tom Lawrence in a 2–0 win over Queens Park Rangers.[10]

Thomas signed a new four-year contract with Derby in August 2018.[11] Later that month, he joined League One Coventry City on a half-season loan until the start of 2019.[12] In January 2019, the loan was extended for the rest of the season.[13]

Barnsley

In June 2019, he joined Barnsley for an undisclosed fee.[14] On his debut he scored the winning goal for Barnsley in a 1–0 win against Fulham.[15]

In January 2021, Thomas joined Ipswich Town on loan for the remainder of the season.[16] On 8 April 2021, Thomas announced on social media that he had cut his loan move with Ipswich short for personal reasons and he returned to Barnsley.[17]

Bristol Rovers (loan)

On 10 July 2021, Thomas joined League Two side Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan deal.[18] On 13 October, he scored his first goal for the club when he opened the scoring in a 2–1 EFL Trophy defeat to Chelsea U21s.[19] On 23 November 2021, Thomas came off the bench in a 1–1 draw against nine-men Salford City, missing a great chance to put Rovers two ahead before the home side eventually equalised.[20] After the match, Thomas' manager Joey Barton criticised Thomas claiming that he "thinks the world owes him a favour" and that "if he doesn't get his finger out, this opportunity at Rovers is going to pass him by".[21] Barton continued with his criticism of Thomas the following day, claiming that the club had tried to terminate his loan in the summer, the same window in which Thomas had been signed after the player had stormed out of training a number of times in frustration.[22] In January 2022, Thomas admitted that he deserved the criticism and had let people down.[23] The season ended with Rovers getting promoted on the final day of the season, moving into the automatic promotion spots on goals scored.[24]

Return to Barnsley

After speculation surrounding Thomas and a permanent return to Bristol Rovers,[25] he found himself in the first team picture under new manager Michael Duff and scored the only goal in the second match of the season as Duff was given his first win in charge over Thomas' former club Cheltenham Town.[26] On 8 October 2022, it was confirmed that Thomas had suffered a broken leg in training that would see the winger out of action for at least four months.[27] Following defeat in the play-off final, he was offered a new contract at the end of the 2022–23 season.[28]

Bristol Rovers

On 24 June 2023, Thomas' return to Bristol Rovers was confirmed, signing a three-year deal.[29] He scored his first league goal for the club on his second debut, an opening day draw with Portsmouth.[30] On 30 September 2023, Thomas suffered a tight hamstring during half-time of a 2–0 defeat to Peterborough United, failing to tell the club's medical staff until the end of the half-time break, with the opposition going on to score early in to the second period. Following the match, manager Joey Barton launched an angry tirade toward the player, blaming him for the second goal and criticising his character, demanding that the player should be fined by the club and threatening his future at the club.[31] It was later revealed that he would miss a number of weeks with a hamstring injury.[32] Following the appointment of new manager Matt Taylor in December 2023, Thomas saw himself switched to a more unfamiliar right wing-back position. He impressed from this new role, considered as one of his side's best players over the busy Christmas period, notably scoring a last-minute winner against leaders Portsmouth on Boxing Day.[33] [34]

International career

Thomas made his youth international debut on 6 September 2019 with England U20, coming on as an 80th minute substitute for Luke Bolton in a 0–0 draw against Netherlands U20 at New Meadow.[35]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cheltenham Town2015–16National League00002020
Derby County2015–16Championship0000000000
2016–17Championship00000000
2017–18Championship2000000020
2018–19Championship 0000000000
Total2000000020
Gloucester City (loan)2016–17National League North1510000151
Coventry City (loan)2018–19League One434110000445
Barnsley2019–20Championship3912110422
2020–21Championship1901020220
2021–22Championship0000000000
2022–23League One272002020312
Total843315020944
Ipswich Town (loan)2020–21League One5000000050
Bristol Rovers (loan)2021–22League Two280201011321
Bristol Rovers2023–24League One375411041467
Total655612052788
Career total21513103709224118

Honours

Bristol Rovers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/10/2017 and 31/10/2017 . The Football Association . PDF . 4 . 17 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Luke Thomas . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 12 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Luke Thomas. Derby County F.C.. 17 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021517/https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/luke-thomas. 13 February 2018. dead.
  4. News: Palmer. Jon. Cheltenham Town to net five figure sum as Luke Thomas makes debut. 26 January 2018. Gloucestershire Live. 21 November 2017.
  5. News: Derby County: Rams sign Cheltenham teenager Thomas. 26 January 2018. BBC Sport. 20 January 2016.
  6. Web site: Who is Derby County forward Luke Thomas?. Derby Telegraph. 17 December 2017.
  7. News: Watson. Chris. Derby County youngster nominated for Premier League Two award. 26 January 2018. Derby Telegraph. 6 October 2017.
  8. News: Wakefield. Mark. Derby County forward signs new three-year contract. 26 January 2018. Derby Telegraph. 13 October 2017.
  9. Web site: Leeds United 1–2 Derby County. BBC Sport. 17 December 2017.
  10. Web site: Derby County 2–0 Queens Park Rangers. BBC Sport. 17 December 2017.
  11. News: Watson . Chris . Derby County starlet signs new contract with Rams . 17 February 2019 . Derbyshire Live . 6 August 2018.
  12. News: Derby County: Coventry City sign winger Luke Thomas on half-season loan. BBC Sport. 16 August 2017.
  13. News: Luke Thomas: Derby County winger to stay at Coventry City for rest of season . 17 February 2019 . BBC Sport . 3 January 2019.
  14. Web site: Thomas Makes Barnsley Switch. . 13 June 2019.
  15. Web site: Barnsley 1–0 Fulham . 3 August 2019 . BBC. 15 August 2019.
  16. Web site: Barnsley FC winger Luke Thomas seals loan move to Ipswich Town. . Leon . Wobschall. 19 January 2021 . 19 January 2021.
  17. Web site: Luke Absent for Personal Reasons.
  18. Web site: Luke Thomas joins the Gas on Loan!. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 10 July 2021.
  19. Web site: Match Report - Rovers 1–2 Chelsea U21s. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 13 October 2021.
  20. Web site: Salford City 1–1 Bristol Rovers. BBC Sport. 23 November 2021. 24 November 2021.
  21. Web site: Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton launches scathing criticism of ex-Derby County man Luke Thomas. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 24 November 2021.
  22. Web site: Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton doubles down on Luke Thomas criticism in astonishing detail. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 25 November 2021.
  23. Web site: Luke Thomas: 'I let people down at Bristol Rovers and deserved rocket from Joey Barton'. Bristol Post. Frost. Sam. 9 January 2022. 13 January 2022.
  24. Web site: Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win. BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. 9 May 2022.
  25. Web site: Bristol Rovers pushing for permanent deal for Barnsley winger Luke Thomas. Bristol Post. Palmer. Jon. Frost. Sam. 14 July 2022. 9 October 2022.
  26. Web site: Barnsley 1–0 Cheltenham Town. BBC Sport. 6 August 2022. 9 October 2022.
  27. Web site: Key Barnsley midfielder suffers broken leg and will be out for at least four months. Yorkshire Post. McKenna. Ben. 8 October 2022. 9 October 2022.
  28. Web site: REDS SUBMIT RETAINED LIST. www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 24 June 2023. 25 June 2023.
  29. Web site: Thomas Returns to Rovers. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 24 June 2023. 25 June 2023.
  30. Web site: Portsmouth 1–1 Bristol Rovers. BBC Sport. 5 August 2023. 6 August 2023.
  31. Web site: Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton launches an astonishing outburst at his own player after 'inferior' Peterborough United beat his team. Peterborough Telegraph. Swann. Alan. 30 September 2023. 2 October 2023.
  32. Web site: Luke Thomas' injury acts as double-whammy for Bristol Rovers after Joey Barton's criticism. Bristol Post. Hargraves. Daniel. 2 October 2023. 2 October 2023.
  33. Web site: The Bristol Rovers player who represents Matt Taylor's biggest success story at the Gas so far. Bristol Post. Hargraves. Daniel. 3 January 2024. 11 January 2024.
  34. Web site: Bristol Rovers 2–1 Portsmouth. BBC Sport. 26 December 2023. 11 January 2024.
  35. Web site: Thomas: "It's a very proud moment for me.". Barnsley Football Club. 6 September 2019. 8 September 2019.
  36. Web site: Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win. BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. 9 May 2022.