Luke Young (footballer, born 1993)

Luke Young (born 22 February 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Torquay United. He was released by Plymouth Argyle in May 2014. Having progressed through the club's youth system, Young made his debut in the Football League in 2011.

Early life and career

Young was born in Ivybridge, Devon. He signed Centre of Excellence forms with Plymouth Argyle in May 2002, aged nine, and played schools football for Plymouth and Devon. In the 2008–09 season, he made 23 appearances for the club's under-18 side, including the full 90 minutes of the FA Youth Cup fifth round tie with Tottenham Hotspur. Despite still being a schoolboy, he also played once for the reserve team. He was a student at Ivybridge Community College before signing a full-time scholarship with the club. Young made a further 22 appearances for the under-18's in the 2009–10 season, scoring one goal, along with seven appearances for the reserves. Having played in 11 matches for the under-18 side the following season, where he scored two goals, and three matches for the reserves, Young was promoted to the first team squad in January 2011.

Plymouth Argyle

He was an unused substitute in the club's league game at Charlton Athletic on 22 January 2011. Young made his debut one week later against Bournemouth, replacing Northern Ireland international Rory Patterson in the 86th minute. In doing so, he became the 29th player to represent the club in a competitive game during the 2010–11 season. "Rory took a knock, but the boy Young has got good feet. He's a bit slight, but he's a good little footballer," said manager Peter Reid. "I knew Rory was struggling, so I just wanted to have a look at him." He made his first start in a 4–0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on his 18th birthday. Young signed his first professional contract in July, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2012. "Considering that I've been at the club since I was nine, then to get the two-year scholarship and then at the end of that to get the first professional contract that I've been working towards for all these years, is really special," he said on the club's official website. He scored his first goal for Argyle against Torquay United on 2 January 2012.

Young signed a new undisclosed contract in April 2012, along with team-mates Curtis Nelson and Jared Sims. He finished the season by winning the club's Young Player of the Year award, having scored twice in 28 appearances. "We know he's a good player, we see him every day. He is a central midfielder. Most of his games this season have been out on the wing, it's not his natural position," said manager Carl Fletcher. "He's put in the hard work, and he's put a shift in. That's what we expect from him." He was released by the club on the 6/5/14.

Torquay United

On 19 June 2014, Young signed for Devon neighbours Torquay United on a two-year deal.

As of match played 26 November 2016

Individual

• Torquay United Player of the Year: 2014–15

• "TORQUAY UNITED: Aaron Downes and Krystian Pearce are high profile casualties of clearout". Torquay Herald Express. Retrieved 2015-10-18.