George Luke
Encyclopedia
George Luke was an English footballer who played as a left-winger for Newcastle United
, Hartlepools United
and Darlington
in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Luke, a native of Newcastle upon Tyne
, began his career at his hometown club Newcastle United, while also working as an apprentice plumber
. 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.
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.
After his retirement from football, Luke opened a carpet shop in Forest Hall
, Tyneside
, where he lived until his death in March 2010.
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
and Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Luke, a native of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, began his career at his hometown club Newcastle United, while also working as an apprentice plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
. He signed for Newcastle in 1950, but never made any first-team appearances during his first spell at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
. He moved on to Hartlepools United in 1953, where he had an illustrious six-year spell, scoring 60 goals in 186 league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearances.
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
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
where he played until his retirement at the end of the 1962-63
1962-63 in English football
The 1962–63 season was the 83rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*Everton won the League Championship, their first post-war title.*Manchester United won the FA Cup, their first major trophy since the Munich Air Disaster in 1958....
season.
After his retirement from football, Luke opened a carpet shop in Forest Hall
Forest Hall
Forest Hall is a village east of Benton in North Tyneside in the north of England.-Facilities:There are pubs, social clubs and a shopping centre with a variety of shops, take away food outlets and two restaurants. It has two supermarkets. One is Sainsbury's Local, which opened in November 2007...
, Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
, where he lived until his death in March 2010.