Luke Croll

Luke Alan Croll (born 10 January 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Eastleigh. He became a free agent on 30 June 2024.

Luke Croll

Personal information
Full name	Luke Alan Croll[1]
Date of birth	(1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Eastleigh F.C.
Number	15
Youth career
0000–2013	Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2017	Crystal Palace	0	(0)
2013–2014	→ Harrow Borough (loan)	2	(0)
2015	→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)	3	(0)
2016–2017	→ Exeter City (loan)	19	(0)
2017–2019	Exeter City	23	(0)
2019–2021	Dagenham & Redbridge	51	(0)
2021–2022	Chesterfield	9	(1)
2023	North Carolina FC	1	(0)
2023–2024	Eastleigh	18	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:42, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Crystal Palace

Croll was born in Lambeth and joined the Crystal Palace Academy as a 9 year old. The left-sided centre-half put in a series of consistent performances for the under-21 side to earn himself a professional contract at the club, and went onto establish himself in the side that won the U21 League 2 South in the 2014-15 season.^[3] In the 2015-16 season, Croll was named as an unused substitute against Watford. Croll was released by Crystal Palace on the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2017.^[4]

2013–14 Harrow Borough (loan)

In January 2014, Croll joined Isthmian League side Harrow Borough on a short-term loan.^[5] Croll made 2 league appearances ^[6] before returning to the Crystal Palace Development side.

2015–16 Plymouth Argyle (loan)

On 20 November 2015, Croll joined Plymouth Argyle on loan until 2 January 2016.^[7]

2016–17 Exeter City (loan)

On deadline day, Croll joined Exeter City on loan until 14 January 2017.^[8] The loan period was later extended until the end of the 2016–17 season.^[9]

Exeter City

In June 2017, Croll signed a permanent deal with Exeter after being released by Crystal Palace.^[10] He was released by Exeter at the end of the 2018–19 season.^[11]

Dagenham & Redbridge

In July 2019 he signed for National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on a one-year contract.^[12] He was released by Dagenham along with five others in June 2021 following the expiration of his contract.^[13]

Chesterfield

On 6 November 2021, Croll joined National League side Chesterfield on a short-term deal.^[14] He made his debut later that day, making an impressive debut that saw him score as Chesterfield defeated Southend United in the FA Cup first round.^[15]

North Carolina FC

On 2 February 2023, Croll signed with North Carolina FC of the USL League One, the third-tier of US soccer.^[16]

Eastleigh

In December 2023, Croll returned to England, joining National League club Eastleigh.^[17] He departed the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 February 2022

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Crystal Palace	2013–14[19]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2014–15[20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2015–16[21]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2016–17[22]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Harrow Borough (loan)	2013–14[6]	IL Premier Division	2	0	0	0	—		0	0	2	0
Plymouth Argyle (loan)	2015–16[21]	League Two	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Exeter City (loan)	2016–17[22]	League Two	19	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	20	0
Exeter City	2017–18[23]	League Two	10	0	0	0	1	0	2[a]	0	13	0
	2018–19[24]	League Two	13	0	1	0	1	0	3[a]	0	18	0
	Total		42	0	1	0	2	0	6	0	51	0
Dagenham & Redbridge	2019–20[25]	National League	30	0	1	0	—		2[b]	0	33	0
	2020–21[25]	National League	21	0	2	0	—		2[b]	0	25	0
	Total		51	0	3	0	0	0	4	0	58	0
Chesterfield	2021–22[25]	National League	9	0	3	1	—		0	0	12	1
Career total			107	0	7	1	2	0	10	0	126	1

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References

1. "List of Temporary Transfers of Players under Written Contract Between 01/01/2013 and 31/01/2013" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
2. "Luke Croll". 11v11. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
3. "Development Profiles". www.cpfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
4. "Premier League players released by their clubs". skysports.com. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
5. "Football League clubs line up for Crystal Palace striker". Croydon Advertiser. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
6. "Luke Croll Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
7. "Crystal Palace defender Luke Croll has signed for Plymouth Argyle on loan until 2nd January 2016". www.cpfc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
8. "Exeter City sign Crystal Palace defender Luke Croll on loan until mid-January". Exeter City F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
9. "Luke Croll: Crystal Palace defender extends loan at Exeter". BBC Sport. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
10. "Luke Croll: Exeter City sign Crystal Palace defender on permanent deal". BBC Sport. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
11. "Christy Pym: Exeter City boss Matt Taylor expects goalkeeper to leave Grecians". BBC Sport. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
12. Ranson, Jacob (2 July 2019). "Daggers sign former Crystal Palace youngster Croll". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
13. Ranson, Jacob (18 June 2021). "Dagenham & Redbridge release six as they announce retained list". Ilford Recorder. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
14. "Defender signs for Spireites". Chesterfield FC. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
15. "Chesterfield 3–1 Southend United". BBC Sport. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
16. USLLeagueOne com Staff (2 February 2023). "North Carolina sign English defender Luke Croll". USL League One.
17. @EastleighFC (16 December 2023). "✍️ | After receiving international clearance last night, we can announce that Luke Croll has joined the #Spitfires! Welcome to Eastleigh, Luke! 💙" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 April 2024 – via Twitter.
18. "OFFICIAL | 2024/25 RELEASED & RETAINED LIST". www.eastleighfc.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
19. "Games played by Luke Croll in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
20. "Games played by Luke Croll in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
21. "Games played by Luke Croll in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
22. "Games played by Luke Croll in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
23. "Games played by Luke Croll in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
24. "Games played by Luke Croll in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
25. "L. Croll: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 August 2019.

External links

• Luke Croll at Soccerbase