Luke Varney

Luke Varney

Varney playing for Derby County in 2009
Personal information
Full name Luke Varney
Date of birth (1982-09-28) 28 September 1982
Place of birth Leicester, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Playing position Forward/Winger
Club information
Current team
 Ipswich Town
Number 12
Youth career
Quorn
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Quorn 104 (89)
2003–2007 Crewe Alexandra 95 (27)
2007–2009 Charlton Athletic 57 (10)
2008–2009 → Derby County (loan) 7 (1)
2009–2011 Derby County 5 (1)
2009–2010 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 43 (11)
2010–2011 → Blackpool (loan) 30 (5)
2011–2012 Portsmouth 30 (6)
2012–2014 Leeds United 45 (6)
2014 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 12 (0)
2014–2015 Blackburn Rovers 11 (0)
2015 → Ipswich Town (loan) 10 (1)
2015– Ipswich Town 27 (4)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:22, 15 November 2016 (UTC).


Luke Varney (born 28 September 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ipswich Town. He started his career with non-League club Quorn, a club in his home county of Leicestershire, before moving to league football with Crewe Alexandra. His performances during Crewe's 2006–07 campaign, where he was named in the League One "Team of the Year" despite Crewe's finishing only mid-table and scoring against Manchester United in the League Cup saw him come to the attentions of bigger clubs and consecutive £1m-plus transfers to the Championship followed, as he joined Charlton Athletic and then Derby County. He had made over 200 league appearances, and scored his 50th career league goal, and career first top-flight goal, in the Premier League, with a 76th-minute strike against Fulham on his debut for Blackpool.

Career

Crewe Alexandra

Varney was born in Leicester, and began his career as a semi-professional footballer at non-league level with Quorn before being spotted by Crewe's assistant manager Neil Baker. The Englishman signed for the Railwaymen in 2003 and spent four years at the club, appearing in 95 league games and scoring 27 goals. Varney signed for Crewe Alexandra from non-league Quorn in 2003 for £50,000. Varney's deal also had a 20% sell-on clause with the Leicestershire club.[2] Whilst at Quorn, he worked as a quality controller at a factory.[3] Varney made his Crewe debut five months later in a 3–1 away defeat to Wimbledon. The young Englishman also managed to get his first goal for the club four games after his debut in Crewe's 3–1 away win over Crystal Palace, Dean Ashton scoring the other two goals for The Railwaymen. Unfortunately, Varney picked up a shoulder injury during January 2004, denying him a chance of making any further appearances during the rest of the 2003–04 season.[4]

Varney recovered from his injury in time for the following season, making 26 appearances for Crewe, scoring four goals in those appearances. The striker also picked up two yellow cards during the course of the year. He became more involved in the first team during the 2004–05 season, making 27 appearances and scoring five goals.

In 2006, Crewe Alexandra were relegated to League One. Varney would make his name during the 2006–07 season, scoring 25 goals in all competitions during the season, which saw the Englishman take the honour of the League's third top goalscorer. Varney also formed a notable partnership with Nicky Maynard, as the two became League One's most productive partnership, scoring a total of 44 goals between them.

However, it was Varney's performance against Manchester United in the League Cup that gained attention from the bigger clubs as during the weeks following the game, which saw Varney score the goal that forced extra time,[5] FA Premier League clubs such as Portsmouth were reported to be interested in signing him.[6] On the contrary, however, Varney himself played down any talk of him moving clubs.[7] Varney's season however was cut short in March 2007 after breaking his toe in Crewe's 1–1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Charlton Athletic

Varney completed a move to Charlton Athletic for £2 million in May 2007 with a percentage of the fee going to Quorn, rising to £2.5 million depending on appearances.[8] Charlton manager Alan Pardew commented that "Luke is an exciting young player and perfectly fits the mould of a Charlton player".[8] "The deal was done very quickly" Dario Gradi recalled,[9] "Alan [Pardew] rang me out of the blue really and asked me about Luke. It was a surprise because I had no indication that they were interested before. I said what we wanted for him and then we discussed his strengths and his weaknesses" he added.[9] Varney's first goal for the Addicks came against Leicester City in September 2007, the club he had supported as a boy.[10] Varney scored eight goals in 39 league appearances. In the 2008–09 season, Varney made a further 18 league appearances, scoring twice, joining Derby County on loan.

Derby County

He signed for Derby County on loan on 27 November 2008 with a view to a £1m transfer in January 2009. On 6 December he scored on his home debut for Derby in a match against Crystal Palace. The move became permanent in January 2009 for a fee of just over £1 million.[11] After suffering from various niggling injuries, illness and a loss of form, Varney joined Sheffield Wednesday on a month's loan on 20 March 2009.[12] Varney made four appearances at Wednesday, scoring two goals – a brace against Southampton. He returned to Derby on 21 April 2009, saying that "The loan was enjoyable and now I’m fit and ready to put my all into the last few games with Derby. It feels like a fresh start, a clean slate. When you go out on loan you do think "am I needed here (at Derby)?", but the manager said I was 100% in his plans for next season. It has been an unsettling season as a whole coming from Charlton, the quick change of manager at Derby, and the injuries and illness. But I wish the season was not about to end because I’ve come into a bit of form and I’m enjoying my football."[13] He rejoined Sheffield Wednesday on a four-month loan on 21 August 2009. On his return to Derby he hinted at a return to Sheffield Wednesday either on loan or permanently, Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Sean Mcauley also hinted at this.[14] New permanent Wednesday manager Alan Irvine signed Varney on loan for the remainder of the season on 21 January 2010.[15] Despite Varney's goals he was unable to prevent Sheffield Wednesday slipping to relegation on the final day of the 2009–10 season and returned to Derby his future still very much up in the air.

Prior to the 2010–11 season, Varney was linked with a move to Southampton[16] but remained at Derby and played a part in the club's pre-season preparations, albeit often employed out of position at right back.[17] When employed up front, he put in a Man of the Match display during Derby's 3–1 Bass Charity Vase, scoring twice.[18] Despite this, he was still linked with a move away from the club, with Queens Park Rangers and Crewe Alexandra amongst those expressing an interest[19] before he made a surprise return to the Derby side with his first Derby appearance since 18 August 2010, and his first start since May 2009, in a 1–2 defeat to Cardiff City on 14 August 2010, in which he provided Tomasz Cywka for the Derby goal.[20]

Blackpool (loan)

On 27 August 2010, Varney joined newly promoted Premier League club Blackpool on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal in the region of £500,000.[21] The following day he scored on his debut in the Seasiders first Premier League match at Bloomfield Road, a 2–2 draw with Fulham.[22] He scored his second league goal on 3 October 2010 as Blackpool defeated Liverpool 2–1 at Anfield with Varney's first half goal proving to be the winner, In a performance which saw him named in the week seven 2010–11 Premier League Team of the Week, alongside teammate Charlie Adam.[23][24] After scoring four times in his opening 11 appearances, Blackpool confirmed their desire to sign Varney on a permanent deal in the January 2011 transfer window.[25] Manager Ian Holloway claimed that Blackpool had a "massive clause" in the loan deal which meant they could sign Varney for just £250,000 in the January 2011 transfer window, though Derby denied this saying Varney could be sold to any club and that no deal is in place with Blackpool.[26]

Varney scored his fifth for the club with the second in a 2–2 draw at Bolton Wanderers on 22 November 2010 before embarking on a fifteen match goalless run which saw him dropped to the bench for the 1–1 draw at home to Newcastle United on 23 April 2011. After appearing as a substitute versus Newcastle, and the following game against Stoke City, Varney made just one appearance in the remaining three games of the campaign, coming on for the last 15 minutes in a 4–2 defeat against Manchester United which confirmed Blackpool's relegation from the Premier League after one season.[27] Varney ended the season with five goals from 30 appearances, but enduring an 18-game goalless streak.

Portsmouth

After lengthy speculation,[28] it was confirmed on 6 July 2011, that Varney would join Portsmouth for a fee of £750,000.[29] Varney scored his first league goal for Portsmouth on 6 August 2011 against Middlesbrough. He then scored his second goal for the club in a 4–3 away defeat to West Ham, deflecting in off Carlton Cole, after he volleyed Liam Lawrence's corner.[30] He was then moved up front in a 4–4–2 formation after the departure of Steve Cotterill, where scored three goals in three games, once in a televised home 2–0 victory over Barnsley,[31] and then a brace, again at home, in a 3–1 victory over Doncaster.[32]

Leeds United

After a number of weeks of rumours his signing for Leeds United was confirmed by manager, Neil Warnock on 23 July 2012.

Varney scored his first Leeds United goal in his debut against Bodmin Town to make it 1–0 to Leeds and the game finished 4–0. Varney was allocated the number 11 shirt for the 2012–13 season on 3 August.[33]

Varney made one and scored one in his competitive début for Leeds in the first game of the season against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup on 11 August.[34] Varney made his league début for Leeds in their 1–0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[35] In Leeds' 3–0 League Cup win against Southampton, Varney was famous for a miss which was described by Neil Warnock as 'miss of the century', when he missed a wide open goal from 2–3 yards out. Warnock later apologised for coming across "as a dinosaur, although I'm not sure which one."[36]

Varney was sent off for a deliberate elbow against Millwall on 18 November.[37] Varney scored his second goal for Leeds in their 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in January.[38]

Varney scored in consecutive games against two of his former clubs, scoring a goal in a 2–1 loss to Charlton Athletic[39] before following it up with a brace against Sheffield Wednesday in Brian McDermott's first game in charge in a 2–1 win on 13 April.[40]

Following Leeds 1–1 draw with Ipswich on 28 January 2014, then Leeds manager Brian McDermott revealed to LUTV that Varney had refused to play for Leeds for the game, due to an offer coming in from league rivals Blackburn and him not wanting to get injured. McDermott said he had told Varney he didn't agree with his stance and that he was disappointed with the player.[41] On 8 February 2014, Varney joined Blackburn Rovers on loan until 11 May 2014 with a view to a permanent move.[42] On 16 May 2014, Varney was released by Leeds United.[43]

Blackburn Rovers

On 1 July 2014, Varney signed a one-year deal with former loan club Blackburn Rovers after his release from Leeds United.[44]

Ipswich Town

On 20 February 2015, Varney joined Ipswich Town on loan for an initial one-month period with the option to extend this loan until the end of the season, having made 11 appearances for Blackburn Rovers, all from the bench.[45]

He was injured in the Playoff Semi-Final game against Norwich City but remained at the club before signing permanently in December 2015, taking the number 42 shirt.[46] Varney went on to make 18 appearances for Ipswich in the Championship in 2015/16, most as a substitute. He scored once, a last-minute winner in his final game for the club, a 3-2 home win over MK Dons on 30 April 2016.

He signed a new contract in August 2016 as cover for the injured Brett Pitman [47]

Style of play

Varney can play as a winger or a centre forward. Not naturally gifted with the ball at his feet, and lacking a decent first touch, balance and the ability to finish, his style of play generally involves winning headers and hassling opposition defenders to create openings for his strike partner. Simulation is also a big part of his game, and he has been challenged publicly by opposition managers for diving in an attempt to win free kicks and penalties. Ian Holloway criticised him for a dive in a game between Crystal Palace and Leeds United in the 2012–13 season, stating in a post-match interview: 'He got a booking for a complete waste-of-time of a dive and he was laughing about it but he basically tried to get a penalty and that ain’t funny'.[48] Playing for Blackburn Rovers against Leeds in the 2014–15 season, Varney dived to win a penalty that proved to be decisive in the match. The decision was called a 'joke' by Leeds manager Neil Redfearn.[49] Varney has also been accused of diving by Gus Poyet in a game between Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds in the 2012–13 season.[50]

Club career statistics

As of 23 April 2014
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 2003–04[51] First Division811010—101
2004–05[52] Championship2641000—274
2005–06[53] Championship2751010—295
2006–07[54] League One341700315[lower-alpha 1]74225
Total 952730515710835
Charlton Athletic 2007–08[55] Championship3982010—428
2008–09[56] Championship1820010—192
Total 57102020—6110
Derby County (loan) 2008–09[56] Championship710000—71
Derby County 2008–09[56] Championship312000—51
2009–10[57] Championship100010—20
2010–11[58] Championship100000—10
Total 1222010—152
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2008–09[56] Championship420000—42
2009–10[57] Championship3990000—399
Total 43110000—4311
Blackpool (loan) 2010–11[58] Premier League3050000—305
Total 3050000—305
Portsmouth 2011–12[59] Championship3060010—316
Total 3060010—316
Leeds United 2012–13[60] Championship3443121—396
2013–14[61] Championship1120000—112
Total 4563121—508
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2013–14[61] Championship1200000—120
Ipswich Town 2014–15[61] Championship1110000—111
2015–16[61] Championship2010000—201
2016–17[61] Championship000000—00
Career total 324671011125735077

[62]

  1. ↑ Appearances in Football League Trophy

Honurs

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "The stakes are high as Reds meet Quorn". F.C. United of Manchester. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  3. ↑ Turbervill, Huw (24 August 2008). "Luke Varney lives up to star billing as Charlton defeat Reading". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Varney Completes Charlton Switch". Crewe Alexandra F.C. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  5. ↑ "Crewe 1–2 Man Utd (aet)". BBC Sport. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  6. ↑ Sunday's (29 October 2006) football gossip BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2007
  7. ↑ "Varney brushes off transfer talk" BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2007
  8. 1 2 "Addicks Wrap Up Striker Deals". Sky Sports. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
  9. 1 2 "Deal Was Done Quickly". Crewe Alexandra F.C. 22 May 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  10. ↑ "Late starter eyes early goal". Charlton Athletic F.C. 21 September 2007. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2007.
  11. ↑ Hudd, Tony (29 December 2008). "Varney stays at Pride Park". Kent Online. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Wednesday snap up striker Varney". BBC Sport. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  13. ↑ "Varney relishing fresh chance". Derby Telegraph. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  14. ↑ "Varney returns on half-season loan". swfc.co.uk. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  15. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday re-sign Derby County's Luke Varney". BBC Sport. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  16. ↑ "Owls' demise leaves Luke in limbo". Eat Sleep Sport. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.
  17. ↑ "Southend 1 – 1 Derby". Vital Football. 9 July 2010.
  18. ↑ "Burton 1 – 3 Derby". dcfc.co.uk. 28 July 2010.
  19. ↑ "Derby 1–2 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 14 August 2010.
  20. ↑ "Varney Joins Blackpool on Loan". Derby County F.C. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "Blackpool 2–2 Fulham". BBC Sport. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  22. ↑ http://origin-www.premierleague.com/page/TeamOfTheWeek/0,,12306~2175276,00.html
  23. ↑ "Pressure mounts on Roy Hodgson as Liverpool lose to Blackpool". Guardian. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  24. ↑ "Blackpool to seal Luke Varney move in January after he proves value-for-money". Daily Mail. 22 November 2010.
  25. ↑ "Luke Varney move to Blackpool not done deal – Derby". BBC Sport. 24 November 2010.
  26. ↑ "Relegation Torment For Varney". dcfc.co.uk. 23 May 2011.
  27. ↑ "Pompey set to replace Nugent with Blackpool hero". mirrorfootball.co.uk. 21 June 2011.
  28. ↑ "Cotterill hails double swoop". portsmouth.co.uk. 6 July 2011.
  29. ↑ Weld, Neil (10 September 2011). "West Ham 4–3 Portsmouth". Portsmouth F.C. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  30. ↑ Weld, Neil (15 October 2011). "Portsmouth 2–0 Barnsley". Portsmouth F.C. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  31. ↑ Weld, Neil (22 October 2011). "Donny Destroyer's Delight". Portsmouth F.C. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  32. ↑ "NEW SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED". Leeds United A.F.C. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  33. ↑ "SHREWSBURY LIVE". Leeds United A.F.C. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  34. ↑ "Becchio goal secures win against Wolves...". Leeds United A.F.C. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  35. ↑ "Luke Varney Laughs off 'Miss of the Century,' Says These Things Happen in Soccer (Video)". NESN. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  36. ↑ "UNITED GO DOWN AT THE DEN". Leeds United A.F.C. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  37. ↑ "LEEDS DUMP SPURS OUT OF CUP". The FA. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  38. ↑ "LATE GOAL SENDS UNITED TO DEFEAT". Leeds United A.F.C. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  39. ↑ "LEEDS UNITED V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY". Leeds United A.F.C. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "Leeds United striker Ross McCormack pledges his future to club". Daily Mail. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Rovers seal Varney deal". Blackburn Rovers FC. 8 February 2014.
  42. ↑ "SEVEN RELEASED BY UNITED". Leeds United AFC. 16 May 2014.
  43. ↑ "Luke Varney: Blackburn Rovers sign ex-Leeds United striker". BBC Sport. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  44. ↑ "Ipswich Town sign Luke Varney on loan from Blackburn Rovers". Ipswich Town F.C. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  45. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33461045
  46. ↑ http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/ipswich-town-sign-luke-varney-on-short-term-contract-3240865.aspx
  47. ↑ "Crystal Palace v Leeds United: Lethal Murray dents Whites' play-off hopes". BBC Sport. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  48. ↑ "Leeds United: Varney in the dock over dive accusation". Yorkshire Evening Post. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  49. ↑ "Brighton's Gus Poyet calls Neil Warnock a 'hypocrite'". BBC Sport. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  50. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2003–04". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  51. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2004–05". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  52. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2005–06". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  53. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2006–07". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  54. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2007–08". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  55. 1 2 3 4 "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2008–09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  56. 1 2 "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2009–10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  57. 1 2 "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2010–11". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  58. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2011–12". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  59. ↑ "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2012–13". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 "Matches played by Luke Varney in 2013–14". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  61. ↑ http://www.prideofanglia.com/page.php?page=playerProfile&last=varney&first=luke
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