Luke Wilkinson

Wilkinson was released early from his contract with Bristol City at the age of 17 and was offered a trial by Premier League club Portsmouth.[5] He played in a reserve game against Fulham, in which first-team manager Paul Hart described as the most impressive debut he had seen from any young player.[5] The reserves remained unbeaten with Wilkinson in defence until the end of the season.[5] His outstanding form for the reserves earned him a professional contract in July 2009.[5]

In January 2010, he joined League Two club Northampton Town on a one-month loan, however, he failed to make an appearance for the club.[6]

In February 2010, he joined Conference South club Eastleigh on an initial one-month loan, which was later extended until the end of the season.[7]

In the summer of 2010, Wilkinson was released by Portsmouth and signed for newly promoted League One club Dagenham & Redbridge on a three-year contract.[8] In November 2010, he joined Conference South club Boreham Wood on an initial one-month loan, making his debut in a 3–2 defeat at home to Dover Athletic.[9] The loan was then extended by a further month,[10] before it was extended once more until the end of the season.[11] Wilkinson scored his first goal on the final day of 2010–11 in a 3–0 win at home to Lewes and finished the season with 28 appearances.[12] He rejoined Boreham Wood in August 2011 on a five-month loan.[13] He was a mainstay in the team, making 25 appearances, the last of which came in a 2–1 defeat at home to Woking on 28 January 2012, before returning to Dagenham at the end of January.[14] In February 2012, he joined fellow Conference South club Dartford on loan.[15] In March 2012, his loan was extended until the end of the season after scoring two headers in consecutive wins over Havant & Waterlooville and Sutton United.[16] He claimed his first piece of silverware as Dartford were promoted to the Conference Premier via their play-off win over Welling United on 13 May 2012.[17]

Wilkinson made his professional debut for Dagenham on 1 September 2012 in a 2–2 draw Kingsmeadow to AFC Wimbledon.[18] He cemented his place in the first-team by scoring four goals, which prompted Daggers manager John Still to offer him a new contract until 2015.[19] He finished 2012–13 with 46 appearances in all competitions and won the club's Player of the Year award.[20] This led to reported interest from Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Norwich City.[20] However, no move materialised and Wilkinson admitted that he needed another few years to develop as a player before making the step up.[21]

Wilkinson's start to the 2013–14 season was delayed by a groin injury picked up in pre-season, before making his return at the end of August in a 3–0 defeat to Mansfield Town.[22] He went on to make 25 appearances but a combination of further injuries, the form of Scott Doe and Brian Saah, and the late emergence of Ian Gayle resigned Wilkinson to the bench for the majority of the season.[22] In May 2014, he was placed on the transfer list at his own request and his name was circulated to other clubs highlighting his availability.[22] In June 2014, he stated he was happy to fight for his place if a move away from the club didn't materialise.[23]

On 7 July 2014, Wilkinson signed for League Two club Luton Town on a one-year contract, managed by his former Dagenham manager John Still, for an undisclosed fee.[24] He debuted on the opening day of 2014–15 in a 1–0 win away to Carlisle United, Luton's first Football League match in five years.[25] Wilkinson scored his first goal in a 2–0 win at home to Oxford United on 27 September 2014,[26] and this was followed up with a goal in the following match, a 2–1 win away to Stevenage.[27] He was named League Two Player of the Month for September 2014, during which Luton kept a clean sheet in each of the four matches Wilkinson played in that month.[28] Wilkinson was sent off on two occasions, the first coming in stoppage time during a 1–0 defeat away to Burton Albion on 22 November, a result that ended Luton's 11-match unbeaten run in League Two,[29] and the second coming in a 1–0 win at home to Carlisle United on 14 February 2015.[30] The latter red card coincided with a four match suspension for defensive partner Steve McNulty, who was sent off for a studs-up challenge in the previous match, a 2–2 draw at home to York City.[31] In their absence, Luton lost twice in a row, during which stand-in defenders Alex Lacey and Fraser Franks failed to impress.[32] Wilkinson finished the season with four goals from 48 appearances, triggering a one-year contract extension to keep him at Luton until the summer of 2016.[33]

Wilkinson made his first appearance of 2015–16 in the starting lineup away to Accrington Stanley on the opening day of the season, which finished as a 1–1 draw,[34] and followed up with a goal in the following league match, a 2–2 draw at home to Oxford United on 15 August 2015.[35] He went on to score two goals in September, the first coming in a 3–1 win away to Cambridge United on 5 September,[36] and the second coming in a 3–1 win away to Morecambe on 29 September.[37] Wilkinson made his final appearance for Luton in a 4–3 defeat at home to Northampton Town on 12 December.[38]

On 22 January 2016, Wilkinson was sold to fellow League Two club Stevenage on a contract until the end of 2015–16, with Luton replacing him with Alan Sheehan, who was signed on loan from Bradford City later that day.[39][40] Wilkinson said he was surprised by the decision but was looking forward to helping Stevenage climb the table.[41] He debuted a day later in a 0–0 draw at home to Barnet.[42] Wilkinson scored his first two goals for Stevenage in a 3–2 defeat at home to League Two leaders Northampton Town on 19 March.[43] He finished the season with 19 appearances for Stevenage and signed a new undisclosed length contract with the club after the end of the season.[44]

Wilkinson was released by Stevenage at the end of the 2018–19 season.[45]

Following his release from Stevenage, Wilkinson signed for National League club Yeovil Town on a two-year contract.[46]

On 20 May 2022, Wilkinson agreed to join fellow National League club Woking upon the expiry of his contract with Yeovil, signing a two-year contract and linking up with his former manager Darren Sarll.[47]