Luke William Graham (born 27 April 1986) is a semi-professional footballer who plays for Kettering Town as a defender. Born in England, he represented the Republic of Ireland and Wales internationally at youth levels.
Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire,[2] Graham started his career with Northampton Town in their youth system.[3] He was loaned to Billericay Town from November 2003 to February 2004, making nine appearances and scoring one goal in the Isthmian League Premier Division.[4][5] He was offered a professional contract with Northampton in May 2004.[6] Graham joined Southern League Premier Division side Aylesbury United on a one-month loan on 22 December 2004 and he completed this period successfully,[7][8] making five appearances and scoring one goal.[9] He joined Conference North side Kettering Town on loan in February 2005 and made 15 appearances, including playing in a 3–2 defeat after extra time against Altrincham in the play-off Final.[10][11] He signed a new contract with Northampton in August 2005 and joined Conference National team Forest Green Rovers on loan for the 2005–06 season,[12] where he made 30 appearances.[13]
Graham was released by Northampton on 10 May 2006 and later that month agreed to rejoin Kettering permanently.[14][15] He finished the 2006–07 season with 51 appearances and two goals, as Kettering reached the Conference North play-off semi-final.[16] Graham was a member of the side that won the Conference North title the following season, in which he made 35 appearances and scored one goal.[17] He agreed a new contract with the club in May 2008.[18] After struggling to make the breakthrough into the first team he was sent to Conference North side King's Lynn on a one-month loan on 21 October 2008,[19] which was extended for the rest of the 2008–09 season in November.[20]
Conference Premier club Mansfield Town signed Graham on 19 May 2009 but after he lost his place in the team was sent to divisional rivals York City on a one-month loan on 5 November.[21][22] The loan was extended for a second month on 9 December 2009 and he made the move permanent on 6 January 2010 after Mansfield agreed to give him a free transfer, signing until the end of the 2009–10 season.[23][24] He played for York in the play-offs where they eventually lost to Oxford United in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[25]
Although he was offered a new two-year contract at York he moved back to Kettering on a two-year contract on 4 June 2010 with the option of a one-year extension, as it was closer to his home.[26] On 31 January 2011, the day of the transfer deadline, Graham signed on loan for Luton Town for the rest of the 2010–11 season, with a view to a permanent move.[27] He scored the winning goal on his full debut for the club, a 1–0 victory over Gloucester City, that put Luton into the quarter-final of the FA Trophy.[28]
Graham re-signed for Forest Green on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 30 July 2011.[29] He made 29 appearances for Forest Green in the 2011–12 season.[30] Graham and Forest Green agreed to part ways midway through Graham's two-year deal and he joined Hereford United on 20 June 2012.[31] After establishing himself as a vital part of the team, Graham signed a new one-year contract as a player/coach with Hereford on 11 June 2013.[32]
Graham turned down a new deal with Hereford to sign for Conference Premier club Alfreton Town on a two-year contract on 2 July 2014.[33] He wanted to combine playing part-time football with a career as a PE teacher, after completing a degree in sports journalism.[34]
On 2 October 2018, Graham returned to Kettering Town as a player-coach.[35] On 25 September 2019, Graham was named joint caretaker manager for the club together with former Kettering player Steven Kinniburgh.[36] The duo was replaced on 25 October 2019.
Despite being born in England, Graham represented the Republic of Ireland under-18 team before playing for the Wales under-19 side.[37][38]
Kettering Town
Brackley Town