Michael Ledger

Michael Ledger (born 15 November 1996) is an English footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spennymoor Town. He has previously played for Sunderland, Notodden, Queen of the South and Greenock Morton, and on loan at Viking and Hartlepool United.

Michael Ledger
Personal information
Full name Michael Ledger[1]
Date of birth (1996-11-15) 15 November 1996[2]
Place of birth Consett, England
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Spennymoor Town
Number 24
Youth career
2005–2015 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Sunderland 0 (0)
2017 → Viking (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2018 → Hartlepool United (loan) 11 (0)
2018–2019 Notodden 47 (2)
2020 Queen of the South 5 (0)
2020–2022 Greenock Morton 47 (1)
2022– Spennymoor Town 24 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:44, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

Career

Sunderland

Born in Consett, Ledger joined the Sunderland Academy at the age of seven.[3] After progressing through the youth system at Sunderland, Ledger was captain for the under-18 team and his impressive displays resulted in him signing his first professional contract.[4][5] Soon after that he was promoted to the development squad in June 2015.[6]

Whilst progressing through the development squad at Sunderland, Ledger started to feature during the 2016-17 season, as he played on four occasions in the EFL Trophy campaign.[7][8] On 2 January 2017, Ledger was called up to the first-team squad for the first time, although he was an unused substitute in the 2–2 draw versus Liverpool.[9] After his loan spell with Viking ended, Ledger signed a full-time contract with the Black Cats in June 2017.[10]

Loan Spells

In November 2016, Ledger was sent out on loan to Norwegian club Viking until their close season in February 2017 [11][12] and debuted for the club on 3 April 2017, in a 1–0 defeat away to Vålerenga.[13][14] He then claimed an assist for Samuel Adegbenro in a 4–2 defeat versus Strømsgodset on 29 May 2017.[15] During his time at the club Ledger started in every match for Viking,[16] with his final appearance coming on 18 June 2017, in a 1–0 defeat against Lillestrøm.[17]

Despite interest from clubs in the Bundesliga,[18] Ledger was loaned out to Hartlepool United on 31 August 2017, until the end of the season,[19] debuting in a 3–1 win versus Maidstone United on 14 September 2017.[20] After suffering an injury set-back in late September 2017,[21] Ledger remained in the first-team, despite competition from other squad players.[22][23]

Notodden FK

On 13 March 2018, Ledger signed for Notodden FK in Norway on a two-year contract.[24]

Queen of the South

On 31 January 2020, Ledger signed for Dumfries club Queen of the South until 30 June 2020.[25]

Greenock Morton

On 25 September 2020, Ledger signed for Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton.[26]

Spennymoor Town

On 20 August 2022, Ledger moved back to England when he signed for National League North side Spennymoor Town.[27]

Career statistics
As of 30 April 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland 2016–17[28] Premier League 0000004[lower-alpha 1]040
2017–18[29] Premier League 0000000000
Total 0000004040
Viking (loan) 2017[30] Eliteserien 13010—00140
Hartlepool United (loan) 2017–18[31] National League 110100000120
Notodden 2018[30] 1. divisjon 21010—00220
2019[30] 1. divisjon 23111—2[lower-alpha 2]0262
Total 44121—20482
Queen of the South 2019–20[32] Scottish Championship 5000000050
Greenock Morton 2020–22[33] Scottish Championship 190303000650
Career total 9217130601483
  1. Appearances for Sunderland under-23s in the EFL Trophy
  2. Appearances in the 2019 1. divisjon relegation play-offs

Personal life

Ledger is a Sunderland supporter.[34][35]

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish retained lists".
  2. "Michael Ledger". 11v11. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. "MISLYKKET TOKT I TIGERSTADEN" (in Norwegian). Viking FK. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  4. "Sunderland agree deals for four players". Sunderland Echo. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  5. "Sunderland youngsters reveal joy after penning first professional contracts". Sunderland Echo. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  6. "Congerton: Bringing through quality, home-grown players key for Sunderland". Sunderland Echo. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  7. "Jason Denayer: An easy decision to leave Man City and join Sunderland". Sunderland Echo. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  8. "Player ratings as Sunderland exit Checkatrade Trophy at Wolves". Sunderland Echo. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  9. "Sunderland 2 Liverpool 2: Match ratings, Jermain Defoe and Vito Mannone star". Sunderland Echo. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  10. "Revealed: Sunderland's retained list". Sunderland Echo. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  11. "Football League clubs target Sunderland for January loan swoop". Sunderland Echo. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  12. "Sunderland youngster seals Norway switch as team-mate vows improvement". Sunderland Echo. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  13. "Mislykket tokt i Tigerstaden". viking-fk.no (in Norwegian). Viking FK. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  14. AS, TV 2. "Viking henter midtstopper fra Premier League-klubb". TV 2 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  15. "FÅ LYSGLIMT I EN TRAGISK AFFÆRE PÅ MARIENLYST" (in Norwegian). Viking FK. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  16. "Viking-treneren: Trenger fem-seks nye spillere for å overleve" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  17. "NEDTUR PÅ OVERTID" (in Norwegian). Viking FK. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  18. "Defender to battle for first team football at Sunderland as clubs across Europe weigh up move". Sunderland Echo. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  19. "Michael Ledger: Sunderland defender joins Hartlepool United for 2017–18 season". BBC Sport. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  20. "Hartlepool United 3 Maidstone United 1 match report". Kent Online. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  21. "Hartlepool United-Eastleigh: Team news, double blow for Pools". Hartlepool Mail. 23 September 2017.
  22. "Hartlepool United's former Chelsea defender faces surgery question". Hartlepool Mail. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  23. "Winning is all that matters, insists Hartlepool United boss Craig Harrison". Hartlepool Mail. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  24. "MICHAEL LEDGER KLAR FOR NFK". Notodden FK. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  25. "Michael Ledger Signs". qosfc.com. 31 January 2020.
  26. "'Ton announce signings - in triplicate!". gmfc.net. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  27. "Moors Clinch Michael Ledger Signing". Spennymoor Town. 20 August 2022.
  28. "Games played by Michael Ledger in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  29. "Games played by Michael Ledger in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  30. Michael Ledger at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  31. Michael Ledger at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  32. "Games played by Michael Ledger in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  33. "Games played by Michael Ledger in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  34. "Defender reveals why he had to go on loan and how Viking and Hartlepool spells can help achieve Sunderland 'dream'". Sunderland Echo. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  35. "Get to know Michael Ledger". Sunderland A.F.C. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
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