Luke McNicholas
| 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 | |||
Luke McNicholas (born 1 January 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Forest Green Rovers.
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 | ||
- ^ Includes FAI Cup, Irish Cup & FA Cup
- ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup, Northern Ireland Football League Cup, EFL Cup & National League Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
Honours
Cliftonville
Wrexham
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24[12]
- EFL League One runner-up: 2024–25
References
- ^ Fullerton, Gareth (18 August 2021). "Who is Luke McNicholas? Cliftonville's new signing from Sligo Rovers?". Belfast Live.
- ^ "In good Nich". Cliftonville F.C. 17 August 2021.
- ^ "Luke Christopher McNicholas". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Henrys, Colin (11 August 2023). "Signed | Wrexham sign goalkeeper Luke McNicholas on short-term contract". Wrexham A.F.C.
- ^ Williams, Richard (10 October 2023). "Wrexham beat Crewe to reach knockout stages in the EFL Trophy". The Leader.
- ^ "Signed | Luke McNicholas joins on permanent transfer from Sligo Rovers". Wrexham A.F.C. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Goalkeeper Joins On Loan". Rochdale A.F.C. 15 July 2024.
- ^ Henrys, Colin (1 February 2025). "Squad News | Goalkeeper Luke McNicholas returns to Wrexham". Wrexham A.F.C. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ "Luke McNicholas joins FGR". Forest Green Rovers F.C. 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Transfer News | Luke McNicholas joins FGR on permanent deal". Wrexham A.F.C. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- ^ "Republic of Ireland – L. McNicholas – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
- ^ "End-of-Season Gallery | Relive the Red Dragons' memorable season". Wrexham A.F.C. 29 April 2024.