| view Lucas's match-by-match record |
| David LUCAS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A former England under-21 international goalkeeper, who signed for former boss Danny Wilson in June 2009 on a two year contract, having been released by Leeds - Lucas didn’t make the best of starts in a Swindon shirt, conceding five goals in a thumping at Gillingham on the opening day of the 2009/10 season. Despite this, Lucas continued as the first choice keeper for the rest of the season - missing only when injuries kept him out - firstly for one match in September when he sustained a knee injury in the warm-up against Colchester, and four matches in the new year, when a persistent groin strain saw him miss games against Southend and Oldham, before a hamstring injury saw him forced off against Brighton in March, and he sat out the next two games. In all cases, his assured performances in goal ensured Lucas retained his place in the starting eleven as soon as he returned to action - though with the form of understudy Phil Smith, he was perhaps fortunate to do so at times - the two safe pairs of hands a far cry from the previous season’s string of goalkeeping howlers, as Swindon challenged for promotion - Lucas coming third in the Supporters’ Club Player of the Year vote. Though the Town made it through to the Play-Off final, Lucas nearly missed out on the occasion - after starting both the semi-final matches against Charlton, Lucas was taken off in the opening minutes of the second leg at The Valley after landing heavily on his shoulder, and he looked on in a sling as Swindon clinched their place at Wembley via a penalty shoot-out. Nevertheless, a scan showed that the damage was not serious, and he recovered in time to take his place between the sticks, but was unable to prevent a 1-0 loss to Millwall that shattered the Town’s promotion dreams. A thigh injury picked up in the Town's final pre-season match against Nottingham Forest kept Lucas out of the opening games of the following season - and it was the first of a number of niggling injuries that interrupted Lucas' 2010/2011 campaign. After the Town had lost their opening two games - the league match against Brighton and the cup game versus Leyton Orient - Lucas recovered in time for the second weekend of the season, as Swindon came back from two goals down to draw at Hartlepool. He remained as first choice through to the end of October - missing only a home game in September against Southampton with a hand injury, and having to retire at half-time at Peterborough, feeling groggy after some midweek dental work, having conceded three goals in the first half in a game that Swindon would go on to lose 5-4. It was a period where manager Wilson commented that there was a very fine difference between his two first team goalkeepers, and that it was increasingly difficult to choose Lucas ahead of Phil Smith - then, at the beginning of November, having conceded eight goals in his three previous games, Wilson decided to drop Lucas to the bench for a home game against Charlton. Though the Town lost 3-0, Lucas remained out of the starting eleven until mid-February - his only appearance being as a first-half substitute for Smith, after he had become injured in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent an equalising goal for Sheffield Wednesday in December, in a game that the Town went on to win 2-1 - a knee injury preventing Lucas from making a return to action during January. When he eventually returned, it was to a team on an awful run of form - without a win in eight games - and though Lucas returned for matches against Colchester, Carlisle and Southampton, all three of these ended in defeat, and the departure of Danny Wilson as manager - Lucas himself admitting that the team had let Wilson down by not playing well enough. New boss Paul Hart continued with Lucas as his first choice keeper for his first match against fellow relegation candidates Walsall - but an arm infection then ruled Lucas out of the next two matches, also against struggling sides, Plymouth and Dagenham. When the Town failed to win either of those games, losing at Plymouth and drawing against Dagenham, they were deep in relegation trouble - and Lucas was recalled to action in mid-March for games against Huddersfield, Brighton and Exeter - matches in which only one point was taken. The Exeter game proved to be Lucas' last action of the season - though he was selected to play against Hartlepool the following Saturday, he suffered a back injury during the warm-up and had to be stretchered from the field - Lucas taking no further part in the season as the Town's relegation to League Two was confirmed. Over the close season, Lucas expressed an interest to make a move back north - saying that though he had good memories at Swindon, his family was suffering from homesickness. After going on trial at Rochdale, he played in a friendly for Preston - but it was the Spotland outfit who sealed his signature - the stopper signing a one-year player/coach deal. PLAYING RECORD:
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date of birth
usual positions goalkeeper youth career senior career website links |
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