Luke McNicholas
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke McNicholas
| image =
| upright =
| caption =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|01|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = Belcarra, County Mayo, Ireland
| height =
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Wrexham
| clubnumber = 31
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Manulla
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Sligo Rovers
| years1 = 2019–2024
| clubs1 = Sligo Rovers
| caps1 = 38
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021
| clubs2 = → Finn Harps (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021–2022
| clubs3 = → Cliftonville (loan)
| caps3 = 24
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023–2024
| clubs4 = → Wrexham (loan)
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Wrexham
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024–2025
| clubs6 = → Rochdale (loan)
| caps6 = 9
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2018
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 12 January 2025
}}
Luke McNicholas (born 1 January 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{English football updater|Wrexham}} club Wrexham.
Career
McNicholas began his career at Mayo soccer team Manulla.
McNicholas began his professional career at Sligo Rovers, but was loaned out to fellow League of Ireland Premier Division side Finn Harps where he didn't make a single appearance, however, upon return he got his chance due to injury to Sligo Rovers keeper Edward McGinty.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-luke-mcnicholas-cliftonvilles-new-21338844 |title=Who is Luke McNicholas? Cliftonville's new signing from Sligo Rovers?| date=18 August 2021 |work=Belfast Live}}
On 17 August 2021, he was loaned out to NIFL Premiership club Cliftonville.{{cite news|url=https://cliftonvillefc.net/2021/08/17/in-good-nich-2/ |title=In good Nich| date=17 August 2021 |work=Cliftonville FC}} During his time there, Cliftonville won the Northern Ireland Football League Cup and came runners up in the NIFL Premiership.{{cite news|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/luke-mcnicholas/596343/ |title=L. McNicholas| accessdate=12 October 2023 |work=Soccerway}}
On 11 August 2023, after establishing himself as Sligo Rovers' number 1, McNicholas would join newly promoted EFL League Two side Wrexham on a short-term loan, with the option for Wrexham to buy in January 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2023/august2/signed--wrexham-sign-goalkeeper-luke-mcnicholas-on-short-term-contract/ |title=SIGNED Wrexham sign goalkeeper Luke McNicholas on short-term contract| date=11 August 2023 |work=Wrexham AFC}} He made his debut for the club on 10 October 2023, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–3 away win at Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy.{{cite news|url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/23847366.wrexham-beat-crewe-reach-knockout-stages-efl-trophy/ |title=Wrexham beat Crewe to reach knockout stages in the EFL Trophy| date=10 October 2023 |work=The Leader}} On 23 January 2024, Wrexham announced that they had signed McNicholas on a permanent deal, joining on a two-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/january/signed--luke-mcnicholas-joins-on-permanent-transfer-from-sligo-rovers/|title=SIGNED {{!}} Luke McNicholas joins on permanent transfer from Sligo Rovers|website=wrexhamafc.co.uk|date=23 January 2024|accessdate=23 January 2024}}
On 15 July 2024, McNicholas joined Rochdale on a season-long loan.{{cite news|url=https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/goalkeeper-joins-on-loan/ |title=Goalkeeper Joins On Loan| date=15 July 2024 |work=Rochdale AFC}} He was recalled on 1 February 2025, after injuries disrupted his loan spell.{{cite news|url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2025/february/01/squad-news---goalkeeper-luke-mcnicholas-returns-to-wrexham/ |title=SQUAD NEWS Goalkeeper Luke McNicholas returns to Wrexham| date=1 February 2025 |work=Rochdale AFC}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 9 November 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/luke-mcnicholas/596343/|title=Republic of Ireland - L. McNicholas - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=ie.soccerway.com}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FAI Cup, Irish Cup & FA Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes League of Ireland Cup, Northern Ireland Football League Cup, EFL Cup & National League Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Sligo Rovers
|2019 |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2020
|LOI Premier Division |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2021
|LOI Premier Division |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2022
|LOI Premier Division |8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2023
|LOI Premier Division |26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| Finn Harps (loan)
|2021 |LOI Premier Division |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Cliftonville (loan)
|24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 0 | ||
| Wrexham (loan)
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy|name=statsEFLT}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Wrexham
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsEFLT}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rochdale (loan)
|9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!74 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 91 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Cliftonville
Wrexham
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wrexham A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNicholas, Luke}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales
Category:Sligo Rovers F.C. players
Category:Finn Harps F.C. players
Category:Cliftonville F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players