George Luke (footballer, born 1933)

George Luke

Personal information
Full name	George Thomas Luke
Date of birth	(1933-12-17)17 December 1933
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Date of death	24 March 2010(2010-03-24) (aged 76)
Place of death	Forest Hall, England
Position(s)	Winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1950–1953	Newcastle United	0	(0)
1953–1959	Hartlepools United	186	(60)
1959–1961	Newcastle United	27	(4)
1961–1963	Darlington	68	(10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

George Luke (17 December 1933 – 24 March 2010) was an English footballer who played as a left-winger for Newcastle United, Hartlepools United and Darlington in the 1950s and early 1960s.^[1]

Luke, a native of Newcastle upon Tyne, began his career at his hometown club Newcastle United, while also working as an apprentice plumber.^[1] He signed for Newcastle in 1950, but never made any first-team appearances during his first spell at St James' Park. He moved on to Hartlepools United in 1953, where he had an illustrious six-year spell, scoring 60 goals in 186 league appearances.^[2]

In 1959, Luke's form for Hartlepools earned him a return to Newcastle, who paid a £4,000 transfer fee for his services. Luke only spent just over a year back at Newcastle, scoring four goals in 27 matches. He left Newcastle for a second time in January 1961, and finished his career at Darlington where he played until his retirement at the end of the 1962-63 season.^[2]

After his retirement from football, Luke opened a carpet shop in Forest Hall, Tyneside, where he lived until his death in March 2010.^[1]

References

1. George Luke dies at age of 76, Northern Echo (25 March 2010). Retrieved on 23 April 2010.
2. Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database