Luke Molyneux

Luke Molyneux (born 29 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League Two club Hartlepool United.

Luke Molyneux
Personal information
Full name Luke James Molyneux[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-29) 29 March 1998[2]
Place of birth Bishop Auckland, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Hartlepool United
Number 10
Youth career
2014–2018 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Sunderland 3 (0)
2018–2019 → Gateshead (loan) 15 (2)
2019 → Hartlepool United (loan) 16 (2)
2019– Hartlepool United 77 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:37, 30 April 2022 (UTC)

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]

Gateshead (loan)

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]

Hartlepool United (loan)

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 2021–2022 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][24][25]

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.[26]

Career statistics
As of matches played 30 April 2022.[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland 2016–17 Premier League 0000004040
2017–18 Championship 1000003040
2018–19 League One 2000102050
Total 30001090130
Gateshead (loan) 2018–19 National League 152210010183
Hartlepool United 2018–19 National League 162000000162
2019–20 National League 101100000111
2020–21 National League 252210020293
2021–22 League Two 4285110635412
Total 931382108311018
Career total 111151032018314121

Honours

Hartlepool United

Individual

References
  1. "CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS AT 19th MAY 2018" (PDF). EFL. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  2. "Luke Molyneux". Hartepool United FC. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  3. "Luke Molyneux". Hartepool United FC. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  4. "Sunderland 3–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  5. "Molyneux joins Gateshead on loan". safc.com. Sunderland AFC. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  6. "Dunston UTS 0–4 Gateshead RECAP- Heed through to the next with dominant display". chroniclelive.co.uk. Chronicle Live. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  7. "Maidstone United 2–3 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  8. "Luke Molyneux -2018/19". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  9. "Hartlepool United boss reacts after landing Sunderland youngster on loan". BBC Sport. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  10. "Luke Molyneux -2018/19". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  11. "Hartlepool United 3–2 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  12. "Hartlepool United 2–1 FC Halifax Town". BBC Sport. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  13. "Luke Molyneux joins Hartlepool United just a week after leaving Sunderland". chroniclelive.co.uk. Chronicle Live. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  14. "Molyneux Out After Surgery On Ankle". hartlepoolunited.co.uk. Hartlepool United FC. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. "Hartlepool United 0–1 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  16. "Hartlepool United 2–0 Aldershot Town". BBC Sport. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  17. Dominic Scurr (8 October 2020). "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". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  18. Brent Pilnick (20 June 2021). "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". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  19. Matty Jones (20 July 2021). "Luke Molyneux signs contract extension with Hartlepool". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  20. Dominic Scurr (25 September 2021). "Story of the day: Hartlepool United 1–1 Exeter City - Pools drop points at Victoria Park for the first time this season". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  21. "Hartlepool United 2–2 Charlton Athletic (5–4)". Sky Sports. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  22. Ben Painter (10 February 2022). "Molyneux wins Papa Johns award". Hartlepool United FC. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  23. https://twitter.com/Official_HUFC/status/1520874260692094976
  24. https://twitter.com/Official_HUFC/status/1520873221578448897
  25. https://twitter.com/Official_HUFC/status/1520873221578448897
  26. "Luke Molyneux". Hartepool United FC. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  27. Luke Molyneux at Soccerway
  28. Pilnick, Brent (20 June 2021). "Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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