Luke Young (footballer, born 1993)
{{short description|English football midfielder}}
{{For|the English international footballer|Luke Young (footballer, born 1979)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke Young
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Luke Young{{Hugman|25835|accessdate=9 June 2016}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|2|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Plymouth, England
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Cheltenham Town
| clubnumber = 8
| youthyears1 = 2002–2011
| youthclubs1 = Plymouth Argyle
| years1 = 2011–2014
| clubs1 = Plymouth Argyle
| caps1 = 99
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2014–2018
| clubs2 = Torquay United
| caps2 = 133
| goals2 = 16
| years3 = 2018–2024
| clubs3 = Wrexham
| caps3 = 226
| goals3 = 21
| clubs4 = Cheltenham Town
| years4 = 2024–
| caps4 = 34
| goals4 = 4
| club-update = 22:18, 8 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Luke Young (born 22 February 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|CheltenT}} club Cheltenham Town. Having progressed through Plymouth Argyle's youth system, Young made his debut in the Football League in 2011. He subsequently played with Torquay United, Wrexham and Cheltenham Town.
Club career
=Early life and career=
Young was born in Plymouth, Devon. He signed Centre of Excellence forms with Plymouth Argyle in May 2002, aged nine, and played schools football for Plymouth and Devon.[http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2272930,00.html "Young gun"]. Plymouth Argyle F.C. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011. In the 2008–09 season, he made 23 appearances for the club's under-18 side, including the full 90 minutes of the FA Youth Cup fifth round tie with Tottenham Hotspur.[http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Argyle-s-stars-future/article-1236500-detail/article.html "Who are Argyle's stars of the future?"]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. The Herald. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.[https://archive.today/20130505084432/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Tottenham-prove-hot-young-Pilgrims-Home-Park/article-691697-detail/article.html "Tottenham prove too hot for young Pilgrims at Home Park"]. The Herald. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011. Despite still being a schoolboy, he also played once for the reserve team. He was a student at Ivybridge Community College before signing a full-time scholarship with the club.[https://archive.today/20130505094010/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/given-new-apprenticeships-youth-chiefs/article-728058-detail/article.html "Nine given new apprenticeships by youth chiefs"]. The Herald. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011. Young made a further 22 appearances for the under-18's in the 2009–10 season, scoring one goal, along with seven appearances for the reserves. Having played in 11 matches for the under-18 side the following season, where he scored two goals,[https://archive.today/20130505091148/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Young-star-performer-Pilgrims-opening-win/article-2529523-detail/article.html "Young star performer in Pilgrims' opening win"]. The Herald. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2011.[https://archive.today/20120912131619/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Young-s-mark-snatch-win-Greens/article-3082006-detail/article.html "Young's on the mark to snatch win for Greens"]. The Herald. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011. and three matches for the reserves, Young was promoted to the first-team squad in January 2011.
=Plymouth Argyle=
He was an unused substitute in the club's league match at Charlton Athletic on 22 January 2011.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9362020.stm "Charlton 2–0 Plymouth"]. BBC Sport. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011. Young made his debut one week later against Bournemouth, replacing Northern Ireland international Rory Patterson in the 86th minute.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9376391.stm "Plymouth 1–2 Bournemouth"]. BBC Sport. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011. In doing so, he became the 29th player to represent the club in a competitive match during the 2010–11 season.[https://archive.today/20130505072848/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Argyle-boss-stays-upbeat-despite-spurned-chances/article-3161931-detail/article.html "Plymouth Argyle boss stays upbeat despite spurned chances"]. The Herald. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011. "Rory took a knock, but the boy Young has got good feet. He's a bit slight, but he's a good little footballer," said manager Peter Reid. "I knew Rory was struggling, so I just wanted to have a look at him." He made his first start in a 4–0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on his 18th birthday.[http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2299766,00.html "Young starts"]. Plymouth Argyle F.C. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9401823.stm "Brighton 4–0 Plymouth"]. BBC Sport. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011. Young signed his first professional contract in July, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2012.{{cite web|title=Plymouth Argyle sign Luke Young and Jamie Richards|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14110294|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 February 2012|date=11 July 2011}} "Considering that I've been at the club since I was nine, then to get the two-year scholarship and then at the end of that to get the first professional contract that I've been working towards for all these years, is really special," he said on the club's official website. He scored his first goal for Argyle against Torquay United on 2 January 2012.{{cite news|title=Luke Young sets sights on more goals for Plymouth Argyle|url=http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Luke-Young-sets-sights-goals-Plymouth-Argyle/story-14323706-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912052349/http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Luke-Young-sets-sights-goals-Plymouth-Argyle/story-14323706-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|access-date=8 February 2012|newspaper=Western Morning News|date=4 January 2012}}{{cite web|title=Plymouth Argyle boss Carl Fletcher pleased for scorer Young|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16393338|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 February 2012|date=3 January 2012}}
Young signed a new undisclosed contract in April 2012, along with teammates Curtis Nelson and Jared Sims.{{cite web|title=Signed On |url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2712269,00.html |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C. |access-date=6 May 2012 |date=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627103153/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10364~2712269%2C00.html |archive-date=27 June 2012 }}{{cite web|title=Curtis Nelson, Luke Young and Jared Sims sign Plymouth Argyle deals|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17595618|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=6 May 2012|date=3 April 2012}} He finished the season by winning the club's Young Player of the Year award, having scored twice in 28 appearances.{{cite web|title=Young Young Young Player|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2760912,00.html|publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C.|access-date=6 May 2012|date=5 May 2012}}{{cite web|title=Luke Young|url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=1010&scp=1,2,3,4,5,6,7|work=GoS–DB|publisher=Greens on Screen|access-date=6 May 2012}}
=Torquay United=
On 19 June 2014, Young signed for Devon neighbours Torquay United on a two-year deal.{{cite web|title=Torquay United sign former Plymouth midfielder Luke Young|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27919173|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 June 2014|date=19 June 2014}}
=Wrexham=
Following Torquay United's relegation to National League South in the 2017–18 season, Young signed for Wrexham on a two-year deal.{{cite web|title=Torquay United sign former Plymouth midfielder Luke Young|url=http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/16255679.Luke_Young_joins_Wrexham_AFC/|publisher=Leader Live|access-date=29 May 2018|date=29 May 2018}} He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2018–19 season during a 1–0 victory over Dover Athletic.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989668 |title=Dover 0–1 Wrexham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 August 2018 |access-date=4 August 2018}}
Young was promoted to club captain for the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web |title=Luke Young - Midfielder - First Team - Wrexham AFC |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/teams/first-team/midfielder/luke-young/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=www.wrexhamafc.co.uk}} He was released at the end of the 2023-24 season.{{cite web|title=CLUB STATEMENT {{!}} 2024 released/retained list |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/may/club-statement--2024-releasedretained-list/}}
= Cheltenham Town =
On 18 June 2024, Young signed for recently relegated League Two side Cheltenham Town.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2024 |title=Town sign midfielder Luke Young |url=https://www.ctfc.com/news/2024/june/18/town-sign-midfielder-luke-young/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Cheltenham Town Football Club}} He scored on his EFL debut for the club in a 3-2 defeat to Grimsby Town.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 8 March 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Wrexham
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24{{Cite web | url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/april/end-of-season-gallery--relive-the-red-dragons-memorable-season/ | title=END-OF-SEASON GALLERY {{!}} Relive the Red Dragons' memorable season | website=www.wrexhamafc.co.uk}}
- National League: 2022–23{{Cite news |date=22 April 2023 |title=Mullin the hero as Wrexham win to earn promotion |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65283910 |access-date=22 April 2023}}
- FA Trophy runner-up: 2021–22{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61512965 |title=Bromley beat Wrexham to lift FA Trophy |author=Aled Williams |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2022 |access-date=2 February 2023}}
Individual
- Plymouth Argyle Young Player of the Year: 2011–12
- Torquay United Player of the Year: 2014–15,{{Cite web|title = TORQUAY UNITED: Aaron Downes and Krystian Pearce are high profile casualties of clearout|url = http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/TORQUAY-UNITED-Aaron-Downes-Krystian-Pearce-high/story-26395840-detail/story.html|website = Torquay Herald Express|access-date = 18 October 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150429075731/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/TORQUAY-UNITED-Aaron-Downes-Krystian-Pearce-high/story-26395840-detail/story.html|archive-date = 29 April 2015}} 2016–17, 2017–18{{Cite web|title = Luke Young owes Torquay United nothing after four years of commitment|url = https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/luke-young-owes-torquay-united-1528756|website = Devon Live| date=3 May 2018 |access-date = 29 May 2018}}
- Wrexham Player of the Year: 2019–20, 2020–21{{cite news|url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/19332562.wrexham-midfielder-young-recognised-efforts/ |title=Wrexham midfielder Young recognised for his efforts |author=Richard Williams |publisher=The Leader |date=27 May 2021 |access-date=10 January 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170104234038/http://www.torquayunited.com/team/player-profile/luke-young/8 Luke Young profile] at the Torquay United F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
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| list1 =
{{Torquay United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Wrexham A.F.C. Player of the Year}}
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{{Cheltenham Town F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Luke}}
Category:Footballers from Plymouth, Devon
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players