Luke Gambin
Luke David Gambin (born 16 March 1993) is a professional footballer who last played as a winger for EFL League Two club Sutton United. Born in England, he represents the Malta national team.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Luke David Gambin[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 16 March 1993||
Place of birth | Sutton, London, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Youth career | |||
AFC Wimbledon | |||
2009–2011 | Barnet | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2017 | Barnet | 124 | (15) |
2011–2012 | → Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2012 | → Hendon (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2017–2019 | Luton Town | 29 | (2) |
2018–2019 | → Crawley Town (loan) | 26 | (3) |
2019–2021 | Colchester United | 39 | (1) |
2021 | → Newport County (loan) | 11 | (1) |
2021–2022 | Ħamrun Spartans | 25 | (2) |
2022–2023 | Sutton United | 5 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2016– | Malta | 36 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:34, 11 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:15, 24 June 2023 (UTC) |
Career
Barnet
Born in Sutton, London,[2] Gambin began his career in the youth system at AFC Wimbledon before moving to Barnet as an apprentice in 2009.[3][4] He made his first-team debut in a 4–0 win at home to former club AFC Wimbledon on 28 April 2012, coming on as a late substitute for Scott McGleish,[5] before signing his first professional contract in the summer of 2012.[6] Gambin made his first appearance of 2012–13 after being introduced as a 66th-minute substitute in a 3–0 defeat away to Bradford City on 15 September 2012.[7] He found first-team opportunities limited, joining Isthmian League Premier Division club Hendon on loan in November 2012 and debuted as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to Aldershot Town in the FA Cup first round.[8][9] He completed the loan spell with three appearances.[8] Gambin broke into the Barnet first-team towards the end of the season and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 win at home to Morecambe on 9 March 2013.[7] He finished the season with two goals from 10 appearances,[7] but was unable to help Barnet prevent relegation to the Conference Premier.[10]
Gambin signed a new long-term contract with Barnet a little more than a week before the start of 2013–14.[11] He scored Barnet's first goal in a 3–0 win at home to Chester on the opening day of the season and finished 2013–14 with one goal from 25 appearances.[12] Gambin scored four goals in 26 league appearances for Barnet in 2014–15 as the club won the Conference Premier title and therefore promotion to League Two.[12] After the end of the season, Barnet took up the option to extend Gambin's contract.[13] In Barnet's first season back in the Football League, Gambin scored four goals in 49 appearances,[14] as they finished 15th in League Two.[15]
He made his first appearance of 2016–17 in the starting lineup away to Cambridge United on the opening day of the season, which finished as a 1–1 draw.[16] Barnet accepted a bid in excess of £100,000 from Leyton Orient for Gambin in August 2016, but he rejected the opportunity and instead stayed with the club.[17] His first goal of the season came on 8 October 2016 against Doncaster Rovers, when he scored a late equaliser in the 86th minute to make the score 2–2, although Barnet went on to lose 3–2.[18] After four goals from 21 appearances, Gambin was transfer listed after he rejected an offer of a new contract for the fourth time.[19]
Luton Town
Gambin signed for League Two club Luton Town on 16 January 2017 on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, with the option of a further year.[4] He made his debut five days later, starting in Luton's 1–1 draw away to Wycombe Wanderers.[20] Gambin scored his first goal for Luton with the second goal in a 3–0 victory at home to Hartlepool United on 14 February.[21] He was an unused substitute in both legs of their 6–5 aggregate play-off semi-final defeat to Blackpool,[22][23] and finished 2016–17 with 17 appearances and one goal.[24]
He joined League Two club Crawley Town on 31 August 2018 on loan until the end of 2018–19.[25] Gambin was released by Luton when his contract expired at the end of the 2018–19 season.[26]
Colchester United
Gambin signed for League Two club Colchester United on 26 June 2019 on a two-year contract, effective from 1 July.[27] He made his club debut as a substitute for Jevani Brown in Colchester's 1–1 home draw with Port Vale on 3 August.[28] He scored his first goal for the club on 29 October 2019 in Colchester's 3–1 EFL Cup victory against his former club Crawley Town.[29][30]
He joined Colchester's divisional rivals Newport County on 20 January 2021 on loan until the end of the season.[31] His debut came three days later in a 3–2 away defeat to Oldham Athletic, in which he scored Newport's second goal.[32]
Ħamrun Spartans
Gambin signed for Ħamrun Spartans in July 2021.[33]
Sutton United
On 16 July 2022, Gambin returned to England to join League Two club Sutton United having already featured in friendlies across pre-season.[34] He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.[35]
International career
Gambin is of Maltese descent and joined the Malta squad for training in June 2015.[36] His application for Maltese citizenship was successful and he was called up to the national team in May 2016.[37] He debuted later that week, starting in a 6–0 friendly defeat to the Czech Republic.[38] Gambin scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw with Slovakia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match on 27 March 2021.[12]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played end of 2022–23 season
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Barnet | 2011–12[5] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2012–13[7] | League Two | 10 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
2013–14[12] | Conference Premier | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
2014–15[12] | Conference Premier | 26 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 30 | 4 | ||
2015–16[14] | League Two | 44 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 49 | 4 | |
2016–17[24] | League Two | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | |
Total | 124 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 136 | 15 | ||
Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) | 2011–12[39] | Southern League Premier Division | 4 | 0 | — | — | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 5 | 1 | ||
Hendon (loan) | 2012–13[8] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
Luton Town | 2016–17[24] | League Two | 16 | 1 | — | — | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 17 | 1 | ||
2017–18[40] | League Two | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 4] | 1 | 20 | 2 | |
2018–19[41] | League One | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Total | 29 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 3 | ||
Crawley Town (loan) | 2018–19[41] | League Two | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
Colchester United | 2019–20[29] | League Two | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3[lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 37 | 2 |
2020–21[42] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
Total | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
Newport County (loan) | 2020–21[42] | League Two | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
Ħamrun Spartans | 2021–22[12] | Maltese Premier League | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | ||
Sutton United | 2022–23[43] | League Two | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Career total | 265 | 24 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 309 | 26 |
- Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- Appearance in Football League Trophy
- Appearance in Southern League Cup
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- One appearance in EFL Trophy, two in League Two play-offs
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Malta | |||
2016 | 6 | 0 | |
2017 | 7 | 0 | |
2018 | 4 | 0 | |
2019 | 5 | 0 | |
2020 | 6 | 0 | |
2021 | 4 | 1 | |
2022 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 36 | 1 |
- As of match played 30 March 2021. Malta score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gambin goal.[44]
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 27 March 2021 | Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia | 27 | Slovakia | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [46] |
References
- "Notification of shirt numbers: Colchester United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 21. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
- "Luke Gambin". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- "Luke Gambin". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- "Hatters snap up Maltese international Gambin from Barnet". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- "Luke Gambin agrees pro deal with Barnet". Barnet & Potters Bar Times. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- "Former staff – Luke Gambin". Hendon F.C. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Aldershot Town 2–1 Hendon". Hendon F.C. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Davies, Tom (28 April 2013). "Barnet and Aldershot slide into Conference after AFC Wimbledon win". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- Newson, Adam (2 August 2013). "Barnet youngsters Elliot Johnson and Luke Gambin have signed new long-term contracts with the club". Barnet & Potters Bar Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "L. Gambin: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Bodell, Tom (9 May 2015). "Cook and Saville released as Barnet announce retained list". Barnet & Potters Bar Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- "League Two: 2015/16: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Cambridge United 1–1 Barnet". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- "Barnet winger Luke Gambin rejects move to Leyton Orient". Sky Sports. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Doncaster Rovers 3–2 Barnet". BBC Sport. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- Walker, Ron (12 January 2017). "Barnet midfielder Luke Gambin transfer listed after turning down new deal at The Hive". Barnet & Potters Bar Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Mullins dismissed as Luton are held by Wycombe". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Luton Town 3–0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Middleton, Nathan (14 May 2017). "Blackpool 3–2 Luton Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- Mitchell, Brendon (18 May 2017). "Luton Town 3–3 Blackpool (agg: 5–6)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- "Bondz N'Gala, Joe Maguire and Luke Gambin: Crawley Town bring in trio on deadline day". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- Simmonds, Mike (17 May 2019). "McCormack leaves Kenilworth Road as Luton release five". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Hudson, Matt (26 June 2019). "U's flash: Winger Luke signs up". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- Waldron, Jonathan (3 August 2019). "Colchester United play out opening-day draw with Port Vale". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Crawley 1–3 Colchester: League Two side reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals". BBC Sport. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Luke Gambin: Colchester United winger joins Newport County on loan". BBC Sport. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Kirwan, Chris (23 January 2021). "Newport lose to Oldham after Joss Labadie red card". South Wales Argus. Newport. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Ħamrun Spartans sign Malta attacking midfielder Luke Gambin
- "Three additions to squad before Charlton game". www.suttonunited.net. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- "Squad Update". www.suttonunited.net. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- Azzopardi, Kevin (1 June 2015). "Barnet winger Gambin starts five-day trial". Times of Malta. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Luke Gambin selected to play for Malta!". Barnet F.C. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- Brincat, Henry (27 May 2016). "Malta succumbs to heavy 0–6 defeat against Czech Republic". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "The team: Luke Gambin: 2011/12 season". Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "Games played by Luke Gambin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- "Gambin, Luke". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
"Slovakia vs. Malta 2–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
"Croatia vs. Malta 3–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 March 2021. - "Luke Gambin - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive".
- "Slovakia vs. Malta 2–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 632–633. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
- Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.