Luke started playing football at school and as he progressed through the Sunday Leagues in Long Lane South East London and Maidstone in Kent, he started thinking seriously about taking the first step towards a professional football career.
He applied to join Protec and after two trials was given a place, starting at Protec after finishing school in June 2005. In the first year he did well with his studies and scored a few goals while playing. He was offered a two week trial at Watford FC and also a trial at Reading FC, which gave him much more experience of the reality of football. His third trial was with Tottenham Hotspur FC and after three days he was signed up with a contract. Luke explains:
“The experience with Tottenham was a great for me, but as sometimes happens they didn’t extend my contract. However, they arranged for me to go to Lilleshall to do Exit Trials and scouts from all over the UK and Scotland were there. I got a few clubs interested in me including Bradford FC and I went up to Bradford for a week and was offered a contract after my first trial game.”
At the age of just 18, Luke was given a one year contract with Bradford FC and settled down into life away from home, working hard to get into the team. He played in pre-season reserve games and was called up for the first team where he came off the bench and scored the winning goal! During his time as a striker with Bradford FC Luke scored 10 goals in the reserves and 2 goals for the first team.
However, as an Arsenal supporter he missed home and family down South, so when Barnet FC approached him with a place in the first team he jumped at the chance.
“I had friends, family and a place in the first team in London. The Barnet team is a great young team and I can easily relate to them.”
Luke, then 19 years old, left Valley Parade for Barnet in July 2007 and has settled into life as a successful professional footballer.
Protec was a great experience for Luke. He says:
“It is so good to have an education as well as football in your life when you’re young. At Protec you need to work hard – if you don’t do the college work you’ll don’t get played so you have to knuckle down. Protec is a great place to be, they don’t make empty promises. If you go there and work hard, they will sort you out and you will make something of yourself.”
