Luke Croll
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luke Alan Croll (born 10 January 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Eastleigh. He became a free agent on 30 June 2024.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke Alan Croll[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 January 1995[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Lambeth, England | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Eastleigh F.C. | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2013 | Crystal Palace | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2017 | Crystal Palace | 0 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | → Harrow Borough (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Exeter City (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Exeter City | 23 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 51 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Chesterfield | 9 | (1) |
| 2023 | North Carolina FC | 1 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Eastleigh | 18 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:42, 16 December 2023 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Crystal Palace
Croll was born in Lambeth and joined the Crystal Palace Academy as a 9 year old. The left-sided centre-half put in a series of consistent performances for the under-21 side to earn himself a professional contract at the club, and went onto establish himself in the side that won the U21 League 2 South in the 2014-15 season.[3] In the 2015-16 season, Croll was named as an unused substitute against Watford. Croll was released by Crystal Palace on the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2017.[4]
2013–14 Harrow Borough (loan)
In January 2014, Croll joined Isthmian League side Harrow Borough on a short-term loan.[5] Croll made 2 league appearances [6] before returning to the Crystal Palace Development side.
2015–16 Plymouth Argyle (loan)
On 20 November 2015, Croll joined Plymouth Argyle on loan until 2 January 2016.[7]
2016–17 Exeter City (loan)
On deadline day, Croll joined Exeter City on loan until 14 January 2017.[8] The loan period was later extended until the end of the 2016–17 season.[9]
Exeter City
In June 2017, Croll signed a permanent deal with Exeter after being released by Crystal Palace.[10] He was released by Exeter at the end of the 2018–19 season.[11]
Dagenham & Redbridge
In July 2019 he signed for National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on a one-year contract.[12] He was released by Dagenham along with five others in June 2021 following the expiration of his contract.[13]
Chesterfield
On 6 November 2021, Croll joined National League side Chesterfield on a short-term deal.[14] He made his debut later that day, making an impressive debut that saw him score as Chesterfield defeated Southend United in the FA Cup first round.[15]
North Carolina FC
On 2 February 2023, Croll signed with North Carolina FC of the USL League One, the third-tier of US soccer.[16]
Eastleigh
In December 2023, Croll returned to England, joining National League club Eastleigh.[17] He departed the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.[18]
Career statistics
- As of match played 5 February 2022
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2013–14[19] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[20] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[21] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[22] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Harrow Borough (loan) | 2013–14[6] | IL Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 2015–16[21] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Exeter City (loan) | 2016–17[22] | League Two | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Exeter City | 2017–18[23] | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018–19[24] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 51 | 0 | ||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2019–20[25] | National League | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[25] | National League | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| Total | 51 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 0 | ||
| Chesterfield | 2021–22[25] | National League | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Career total | 107 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 126 | 1 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy