Lucas Akins
Encyclopedia
Lucas-Jordan Jeremiah "LJ" Akins (born 25 February 1989 in Huddersfield
) is a professional
footballer who plays for Football League One
side Tranmere Rovers
.
where he was top scorer for the Under-18 team.
He made his Huddersfield debut on 27 April 2007, when he replaced Luke Beckett
in a match against Northampton Town
at the Sixfields Stadium
, where ironically he had scored a hat-trick for Huddersfield's youth team against Northampton in the FA Youth Cup
in November 2006. He was awarded a one year professional contract by the club in May 2007.
He scored his first senior goal for the club in the last friendly before the 2007-08 season
started against Mansfield Town
and also hit the post in the same game. He was a regular in the squad at the beginning of the 2007-08 season
, mainly featuring from the bench.
On 22 November, manager Ritchie sent him on loan to Conference National
side Northwich Victoria
for match practice. He helped his new club to a first victory of the season in his first game, ending a 19 game streak for Northwich without a win. He scored his first goal for his new club in their 2-1 win over Altrincham
on 26 December 2007. His loan was extended into a second and third month. He returned to Huddersfield on 15 February 2008.
It was said that Andy Ritchie had offered Akins a new deal but when he left the club by mutual consent on 1 April 2008 things changed. Stan Ternent
was later appointed and told Akins he would now not be offered a new deal as he wanted to bring in more experience. He was therefore released at the end of the season.
side Hamilton Academical
during the summer of 2008, on 22 July 2008 he was signed on a two-year contract.
He scored his first goal for the Scottish
side in a friendly against Dumbarton and scored a further 3 goals in 3 pre-season friendlies for his new side taking his tally to 4 before the start of the new SPL season. He made his competitive debut in first game of the new SPL season on 11 August 2008 in the 3-1 win over Dundee United
at New Douglas Park
.
Later in the season, he joined Scottish First Division side Partick Thistle
on loan. He appeared nine times for his loan club, scoring his only goal against Greenock Morton
in a 1-0 win.
Having made thirteen appearances for Hamilton, he was released, with ten other players on 12 May 2010.
in July 2010 he then undertook a 2 week trial with Tranmere Rovers
. He signed on non-contract terms and made his debut for the club against Bournemouth on 21 August 2010. Three days later he signed a one year contract with Tranmere. He scored his first two goals for Tranmere Rovers on 25 April 2011 in a 4-0 win over Exeter City. At the end of the 2010-11 season he offered a new contract by the club.
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
) is a professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer who plays for Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
Youth career
He started his career with Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
where he was top scorer for the Under-18 team.
Huddersfield
On 20 April 2007, then manager Andy Ritchie promoted him and 3 other members of Huddersfield's academy to the first team squad, following excellent performances for the academy and reserve teams.He made his Huddersfield debut on 27 April 2007, when he replaced Luke Beckett
Luke Beckett
Luke John Beckett is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker and is currently without a club. Beckett played in the Football League for ten years notably appearing for Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Oldham Athletic, having also played for Chester City, Chesterfield,...
in a match against Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
at the Sixfields Stadium
Sixfields Stadium
Sixfields Stadium is a 7,653-capacity all-seater sports stadium in Northampton, England. It has been the home ground of Northampton Town Football Club following their move from the County Ground in October 1994....
, where ironically he had scored a hat-trick for Huddersfield's youth team against Northampton in the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
in November 2006. He was awarded a one year professional contract by the club in May 2007.
He scored his first senior goal for the club in the last friendly before the 2007-08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
started against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and also hit the post in the same game. He was a regular in the squad at the beginning of the 2007-08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
, mainly featuring from the bench.
On 22 November, manager Ritchie sent him on loan to Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
for match practice. He helped his new club to a first victory of the season in his first game, ending a 19 game streak for Northwich without a win. He scored his first goal for his new club in their 2-1 win over Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
on 26 December 2007. His loan was extended into a second and third month. He returned to Huddersfield on 15 February 2008.
It was said that Andy Ritchie had offered Akins a new deal but when he left the club by mutual consent on 1 April 2008 things changed. Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
was later appointed and told Akins he would now not be offered a new deal as he wanted to bring in more experience. He was therefore released at the end of the season.
Hamilton Academical
After spending time on trial with the newly-promoted Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
during the summer of 2008, on 22 July 2008 he was signed on a two-year contract.
He scored his first goal for the Scottish
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
side in a friendly against Dumbarton and scored a further 3 goals in 3 pre-season friendlies for his new side taking his tally to 4 before the start of the new SPL season. He made his competitive debut in first game of the new SPL season on 11 August 2008 in the 3-1 win over Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
at New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park is a football stadium in Hamilton which serves as the home of Hamilton Academical. It takes its name from Douglas Park, the club's former stadium.-Stadium:...
.
Later in the season, he joined Scottish First Division side Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
on loan. He appeared nine times for his loan club, scoring his only goal against Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
in a 1-0 win.
Having made thirteen appearances for Hamilton, he was released, with ten other players on 12 May 2010.
Tranmere Rovers
After going on trial with RochdaleRochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
in July 2010 he then undertook a 2 week trial with Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. He signed on non-contract terms and made his debut for the club against Bournemouth on 21 August 2010. Three days later he signed a one year contract with Tranmere. He scored his first two goals for Tranmere Rovers on 25 April 2011 in a 4-0 win over Exeter City. At the end of the 2010-11 season he offered a new contract by the club.