Luke McNicholas
Irish footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luke McNicholas (born 1 January 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Forest Green Rovers.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 January 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Belcarra, County Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Forest Green Rovers | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Manulla | |||
| Sligo Rovers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2024 | Sligo Rovers | 38 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Finn Harps (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Cliftonville (loan) | 24 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Wrexham (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Wrexham | 0 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Rochdale (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2025– | Forest Green Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 January 2025 | |||
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.[1]
On 17 August 2021, he was loaned out to NIFL Premiership club Cliftonville.[2] During his time there, Cliftonville won the Northern Ireland Football League Cup and came runners up in the NIFL Premiership.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5] On 23 January 2024, Wrexham announced that they had signed McNicholas on a permanent deal, joining on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[6]
On 15 July 2024, McNicholas joined Rochdale on a season-long loan.[7] He was recalled on 1 February 2025, after injuries disrupted his loan spell.[8]
On 3 July 2025, McNicholas joined National League club Forest Green Rovers on a permanent deal.[9][10]
Career statistics
- As of match played on 9 November 2024[11]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sligo Rovers | 2019 | LOI Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[c] | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | LOI Premier Division | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| Finn Harps (loan) | 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Cliftonville (loan) | 2021–22 | NIFL Premiership | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | |
| Wrexham (loan) | 2023–24 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Wrexham | 2023–24 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | League One | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale (loan) | 2024–25 | National League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| Forest Green Rovers | 2025–26 | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 74 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 91 | 0 | ||
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy