Luke Charman
{{short description|English footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke Charman
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Luke Bowler Charman{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/contentassets/507aa6a7a8754b37a8b949396ec5d00e/squad-list-publication-report-2022-23---07.09.2022.pdf |title=Squad lists 2022/23 & U21 registered contract players |publisher=EFL |date=September 2022 |access-date=26 October 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Durham, England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| position = Striker
| currentclub = Hartlepool United
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2017
| youthclubs1 = Newcastle United
| years1 = 2017–2020
| clubs1 = Newcastle United
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2020–2022
| clubs3 = Darlington
| caps3 = 22
| goals3 = 12
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = Rochdale
| caps4 = 20
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2022–2024
| clubs5 = AFC Fylde
| caps5 = 55
| goals5 = 7
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Hartlepool United
| caps6 = 40
| goals6 = 4
| club-update = 17:52, 5 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Luke Bowler Charman (born 9 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{English football updater|HartlepU}} club Hartlepool United.
He began his career with Newcastle United, but never played for their first team, and made his professional debut in the EFL Trophy while on loan at Accrington Stanley. Released by Newcastle in 2020, he joined National League North club Darlington, for whom 19 goals from 33 appearances earned him a move to the Football League with Rochdale. He signed a two-year contract with AFC Fylde in 2022, before joining Hartlepool United in 2024.
Life and career
=Newcastle United=
Charman was born in 1997 in Durham. He lived in nearby Sherburn Village and attended Belmont Community School.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-uniteds-20-best-players-8113227 |title=Newcastle United's 20 best players under 20 – who fans should be keeping tabs on |first=Lee |last=Ryder |website=Chronicle Live |date=15 November 2014 |access-date=11 October 2020}} He joined Newcastle United's Academy at 15,{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/luke-charman-newcastle-darlington-beardsley-18598281 |title=Why former Newcastle United striker holds no regrets about his Magpies release |first=Chris |last=Knight |website=Chronicle Live |date=15 July 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020}} made his debut for their under-18s in a 1–0 loss away to Arsenal U18 in April 2014,{{cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A364281026/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=e32c176b |title=Toon's fortune shot down by Gunners |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle |date=9 April 2014 |page=12 |via=Gale OneFile: News |access-date=11 October 2020 |url-access=subscription}} and took up a two-year scholarship in July after he left school.{{cite news |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/archive/united-welcome-new-scholars/ |title=United welcome new scholars |first=Dan |last=King |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=11 June 2014 |access-date=11 October 2020}} He was told in February 2016 that he would not be kept on at the end of the season,{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-set-release-clutch-10969319 |title=Newcastle United set to release clutch of youngsters from development squad |first=Lee |last=Ryder |website=Chronicle Live |date=1 March 2016 |access-date=11 October 2020}} but the club had a change of heart and offered several scholars an extra year;{{cite news |url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/defender-extends-stay-newcastle-384272 |title=Defender extends stay at Newcastle |newspaper=The Shields Gazette |date=3 June 2016 |access-date=11 October 2020}} coach Dave Watson picked him out as the player who had shown most improvement over the past year.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-youth-coach-admits-lack-11448858 |title=Newcastle youth coach admits lack of victories is affecting 'confidence' of young United players |first=Chris |last=Waugh |website=Chronicle Live |date=9 June 2016 |access-date=11 October 2020}}
He continued to progress, and signed his first professional contract in 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/15339613.newcastle-united-offer-yoan-gouffran-new-deal---release-vurnon-anita/ |title=Newcastle United offer Yoan Gouffran a new deal - but release Vurnon Anita |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=12 October 2020}} During the 2017–18 season, he played twice for Newcastle U21 in the EFL Trophy, top scored for their under-23 team,{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16611996.accrington-stanley-sign-striker-newcastle-united/ |title=Accrington Stanley sign striker from Newcastle United |first=Alex |last=James |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}} and at the end of a season when 18 reserve players were released in a "major shake-up" when "all those who United do not consider to have a future at the club have been allowed to go", his contract was extended.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-reveal-retained-list-14760396 |title=Newcastle United reveal retained list - as Rafa Benitez sends farewell message to released players |first=Chris |last=Waugh |website=Chronicle Live |date=8 June 2018 |access-date=12 October 2020}}
In August 2018, Charman joined League One club Accrington Stanley on loan for the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/stanley-sign-charman-on-loan/ |title=Stanley sign Charman on loan |first=Tom |last=Easterby |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}} Partly through injury,{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16892919.dons-not-benchmark-stanley---coleman/ |title=Dons not a benchmark for Stanley – Coleman |first=Suzanne |last=Geldard |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=20 September 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16968119.stanley-boss-john-coleman-dreaming-wembley-ahead-checkatrade-trophy/ |title=Stanley boss John Coleman dreaming of Wembley ahead of Checkatrade Trophy |first=Alex |last=James |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=8 October 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}} and partly because the rules limited the number of loanees in a matchday squad to five{{snd}}Stanley had seven players on loan{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17202997.john-coleman-stanley-selection-west-brom-visit/ |title=John Coleman on his Stanley selection for West Brom visit |first=Alex |last=James |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=5 November 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}}{{snd}}he did not make his senior debut until 6 November, in the EFL Trophy in a 2–1 win against West Bromwich Albion U21s. Four days later, he started against Colchester United in the first round of the FA Cup, in which fellow Newcastle loanee Dan Barlaser scored the only goal.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46080497 |title=Accrington Stanley 1–0 Colchester United |website=BBC Sport |agency=Press Association |date=10 November 2018 |access-date=14 October 2018}} Shortly after coming on for his first league appearance, as a second-half substitute on 8 December at home to Sunderland in atrocious weather conditions, Charman was involved in the equaliser, which was Connor Hall's first league goal. Five minutes later, the referee abandoned the match, so neither Hall's goal nor Charman's appearance count towards their records.{{cite web |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/loan-watch-dwight-hits-double-figures/ |title=Loan Watch: Dwight hits double figures |first=Rory |last=Mitchinson |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=10 December 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17286883.connor-hall-gutted-first-league-goal-wont-count/ |title=Connor Hall 'gutted' as first league goal won't count |first=Charlotte |last=Coates |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=10 December 2018 |access-date=14 October 2020}} He was recalled by Newcastle in January 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17339833.stanley-boss-coleman-provides-january-transfer-window-update/ |title=Stanley boss Coleman provides January transfer window update |first=Alex |last=James |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=7 January 2019 |access-date=14 October 2020}}
Charman captained Newcastle U23s at the start of the 2019–20 season, and scored a spectacular goal against Macclesfield Town in the EFL Trophy,{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/can-newcastle-united-youngster-luke-16882221 |title=Can Newcastle United youngster Luke Charman be the next cab off the rank in the Under-23s? |first=Lee |last=Ryder |website=Chronicle Live |date=9 September 2019 |access-date=14 October 2020}} but although he was hopeful of impressing manager Steve Bruce,{{cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A602030244/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=d1432c43 |title=Newcastle United striker Luke Charman thanks Longstaff brothers for paving way to first team for second string hopefuls |first=Lee |last=Ryder |newspaper=The Chronicle |location=Newcastle |date=8 October 2019 |access-date=14 October 2020 |via=Gale OneFile: News |url-access=subscription}} he got no closer to the first team, and was released at the end of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-confirm-released-players-18487161 |title=Newcastle United confirm released players as Matty Longstaff talks continue |first=Lee |last=Ryder |website=Chronicle Live |date=25 June 2020 |access-date=14 October 2020}}
=Darlington=
On 14 July 2020, Charman joined National League North side Darlington on a free transfer.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-sign-luke-charman-from-newcastle-1 |title=Quakers sign Luke Charman from Newcastle |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=14 July 2020 |access-date=28 July 2020}} He made his debut in the first match of the season, and scored both his side's goals in a 2–2 draw with Prescot Cables in the FA Cup, but had been substituted by the time Darlington won the tie on penalties.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-take-on-prescot-cables-in-the-emirates-fa-cup |title=Quakers win penalty shootout to go through in Cup |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=3 October 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020}} He made six appearances in the National League North without scoring, but contributed six goals from eight cup matches. In the last of those, he suffered a medial ligament injury that was expected to keep him out for several weeks,{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/luke-charman-injury-update |title=Luke Charman injury update |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=6 February 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021}} by which time the season had been abandoned because of issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56125565 |title=National League North and South seasons null and void: 'It's a bit of a nightmare' |first=Adam |last=Williams |website=BBC Sport |date=19 February 2021 |access-date=28 February 2021}} Charman signed a new two-year contract in July 2021,{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/luke-signs-a-new-contract |title=Luke Charman signs a new contract |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021}} his fitness improved, and he scored freely during the first half of the season, with 12 goals from 16 league appearances.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19818983.darlington-prepare-lose-charman/ |title=Darlington prepare to lose Charman |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=31 December 2021 |access-date=21 January 2022}} Charman was keen to return to full-time football, and his club's refusal to accept an offer from a National League team had led to "tough conversations" with the player. Manager Alun Armstrong told him that "if he works his socks off and does well", there would be interest from clubs at Football League level, and "then we'll wish him all the best and he'll move on". In the expectation of his imminent departure, Darlington signed striker Tyrone O'Neill in early January 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19833219.oneill-returns-darlington-reckoning/ |title=O'Neill returns to Darlington reckoning |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=7 January 2022 |access-date=21 January 2022}}
=Rochdale=
Amid interest from clubs including Bradford City and Hartlepool United, Charman signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Rochdale of League Two on 20 January 2022; the fee was undisclosed.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19863448.luke-charman-left-darlington-completed-move-rochdale/ |title=Luke Charman has left Darlington and completed a move to Rochdale |first=Matty |last=Jones |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=20 January 2022 |access-date=21 January 2022}} After completing a four-match suspension imposed for a second sending-off while at Darlington, Charman made his Rochdale and Football League debut on 1 February, replacing Alex Newby after 58 minutes of a 1–1 draw away to Colchester United.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19830145.darlington-lose-luke-charmans-red-card-appeal/ |title=Darlington lose Luke Charman's red card appeal |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=6 January 2022 |access-date=21 January 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2022/february/report_colchesterunitedaway_feb2022/ |title=Match Report: Colchester United 1–1 Rochdale |publisher=Rochdale A.F.C. |date=1 February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022}} Charman finally scored for Rochdale on 30 April, with two goals in the first 17 minutes of the match at home to Bristol Rovers, but the match ended as a 4–3 defeat.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198434 |title=Rochdale 3–4 Bristol Rovers |website=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2022 |accessdate=9 July 2022}} After a brief substitute appearance in the opening match of the 2022–23 season, a hamstring injury was to keep him out for some time.{{cite news |url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2022/august/injuryupate_charman/ |title=Injury update |publisher=Rochdale A.F.C. |date=6 August 2022 |access-date=3 September 2022}}
=AFC Fylde=
Charman left Rochdale on 14 October to sign a two-year contract with National League North club AFC Fylde, who paid an undisclosed club-record fee for his services.{{cite web |url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2022/october/lukecharmandeparts/ |title=Luke Charman departs |publisher=Rochdale A.F.C. |date=14 October 2022 |access-date=26 October 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/afc-fylde-bring-in-former-newcastle-united-youngster-for-a-club-record-fee-3881435 |title=AFC Fylde bring in former Newcastle United youngster for a club record fee |first=Gavin |last=Browne |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |date=16 October 2022 |access-date=26 October 2022}}
=Hartlepool United=
On 5 June 2024, it was announced that Charman would sign for National League club Hartlepool United once his existing contract with AFC Fylde expired at the end of the month.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-land-first-summer-signing-with-the-capture-of-afc-fylde-forward-luke-charman-4655114 |title=Hartlepool United land first summer signing with the capture of AFC Fylde forward Luke Charman |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |newspaper=Hartlepool Mail |date=5 June 2024 |access-date=5 June 2024}} He made his competitive debut for Hartlepool in the opening match of the 2024–25 season, a 1–0 victory against Yeovil Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/player-ratings-from-hartlepool-uniteds-hard-fought-win-over-national-league-new-boys-yeovil-town-4737503 |title=Player ratings from Hartlepool United's hard-fought win over National League new boys Yeovil Town |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=11 August 2024 |access-date=15 August 2024}} On 5 October, he scored his first Hartlepool goal in a 4–3 home win against Sutton United.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-4-3-sutton-united-mani-dieseruvwe-comes-off-the-bench-to-score-a-hat-trick-as-pools-fight-back-from-the-brink-to-secure-first-home-win-4811875 |title=Hartlepool United 4–3 Sutton United: Mani Dieseruvwe comes off the bench to score a hat-trick as Pools fight back from the brink to secure first home win |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=5 October 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024}} He registered three assists in a 4–3 away win against Solihull Moors on 23 November.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-player-ratings-as-pools-edge-seven-goal-thriller-at-in-form-solihull-moors-4880418?page=2 |title=Hartlepool United player ratings as Pools edge seven goal thriller at in-form Solihull Moors |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=23 November 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 5 May 2025}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|luke-charman/454451}}
{{Hartlepool United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charman, Luke}}
Category:Footballers from Durham, England
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players
Category:Darlington F.C. players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players