Michael Poke

Michael Harold Poke (born 21 November 1985) is an English professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Woking.

Michael Poke
Personal information
Full name Michael Harold Poke
Date of birth (1985-11-21) 21 November 1985
Place of birth Staines, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
2004–2010 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2010 Southampton 4 (0)
2005 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 0 (0)
2005 → Northampton Town (loan) 0 (0)
2006–2007 → Woking (loan) 3 (0)
2008 → Torquay United (loan) 4 (0)
2008–2009 → Torquay United (loan) 13 (0)
2009–2010 → Torquay United (loan) 29 (0)
2010–2012 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2012 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 8 (0)
2012–2014 Torquay United 57 (0)
2014–2016 Portsmouth 0 (0)
2015 → Eastleigh (loan) 9 (0)
2016 Eastleigh 3 (0)
2016–2017 Woking 35 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 April 2017 (UTC)

Football career

Southampton

Born in Staines, Surrey,[2] Poke attended Longford Community School in Tachbrook Road, Feltham before joining Southampton as a trainee. He had a trial with Northampton Town in August 2004, playing in a scoreless reserve game against Gillingham on 17 August.[3] He remained with Southampton, and with Antti Niemi injured, was named as a substitute for the League Cup tie against Watford in November 2004.[4]

He joined Oldham Athletic on loan in August 2005,[5] but failed to make his debut and suffered a fractured finger.[6]

In October 2005 he joined Northampton Town on loan,[7] making his debut in the 5–2 Football League Trophy win at home to Notts County on 18 October. His loan was extended for a second month,[8] but his only other game for the Cobblers also came in the Football League Trophy, playing in the 3–2 defeat away to Colchester United on 23 November.[9]

On 23 November 2006, he moved on loan to Woking (under manager Glenn Cockerill, a former Southampton player) until Christmas.[10]

In the summer of 2007 Poke was the only fit goalkeeper that Southampton could take on their tour of Norway,[11] making his full debut for the club in the 12–0 demolition of part timers Svarstad.

On 9 January 2008 Poke went on loan to Conference National side Torquay United,[12] taking over as first choice from Martin Rice who had recently taken over the role himself from Simon Rayner. Poke was recalled by Southampton in February 2008 due to an ongoing injury crisis. He had played four Conference games for Torquay, against Salisbury City, Histon, Kidderminster Harriers and Weymouth, without conceding a single goal. He made his Southampton debut on 4 March 2008 at Wolverhampton Wanderers as a half-time substitute for the injured Kelvin Davis. Poke himself was injured later that month to give Southampton three injured goalkeepers.[13]

On 22 July 2008, Poke rejoined Torquay on a season-long loan.[14] However, he was injured early in the season, resulting in Torquay having to loan Scott Bevan from Shrewsbury Town as cover.[15]

On 1 September 2009, Poke was again loaned out to Torquay United for a third spell at the newly promoted League Two side.[16] On 23 December, Poke extended his loan deal with the Gulls till the end of the season.[17] On 15 May 2010, Poke was named in a list of 13 players to be released from Southampton before the start of the 2010–11 season.[18][19]

Brighton & Hove Albion

In June 2010, Poke joined League One side Brighton & Hove Albion on a one-year contract.[20]

On 1 January 2012 it was announced that Poke would join Bristol Rovers on loan for an initial one-month period,[21] which was then extended to the rest of the season.

Poke, along with fellow goalkeeper David González, was released by Brighton at the end of April 2012 following the expiration of his contract.[22]

Torquay United

On 27 June 2012, Poke rejoined Torquay United on a 2-year contract on a free transfer.[23] Martin Ling signed the keeper on recommendation from goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey. Ling stated "I tried to sign him last summer and it never came off because Brighton didn't want Michael to leave, but he is an ideal replacement for Bobby Olejnik and will work well in the goalkeeping unit with Kenny and Martin Rice."

Portsmouth

On 24 June 2014, Poke signed for Portsmouth on a two-year-deal after leaving Torquay due to the latter's relegation to Conference Premier.[24]

Eastleigh

After being limited to opportunities at Portsmouth, Poke joined National League side Eastleigh on loan until January 2016.[25] On 8 August 2015, Poke made his Eastleigh debut in a 4–0 away victory over Southport.[26] However, after impressing within the first few games of his loan spell, Poke suffered a minor shoulder injury in late September, therefore causing Portsmouth to recall him.[27]

On 29 January 2016, Poke returned to Eastleigh, this time joining on a permanent deal until the end of the 2015–16 campaign.[28] After being deployed as a back-up to Ross Flitney, Poke finally made his Eastleigh return in a 3–0 away defeat to Lincoln City.[29] However, after conceding eight goals in three consecutive games, Poke was once again dropped by manager Chris Todd.

Woking

On 8 July 2016, Poke signed for National League side Woking on a one-year deal.[30] On 6 August 2016, he made his Woking debut in a 3–1 home defeat against Lincoln City.[31] On 17 September 2016, Poke registered his first clean sheet for Woking in their 2–0 home victory over Wrexham.[32] On 23 May 2017, it was announced that Poke would leave Woking upon the expiry of his current deal in June 2017.[33]

Career statistics
As of match played 29 April 2017.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southampton 2007–08 Championship 400000—40
Northampton Town (loan) 2005–06 League Two 0000002[lower-alpha 1]020
Woking (loan) 2006–07 Conference Premier 3000—0030
Torquay United (loan) 2007–08 Conference Premier 4000—0040
2008–09 Conference Premier 13000—2[lower-alpha 2]0150
2009–10 League Two 290100000300
Total 460100020490
Brighton & Hove Albion 2010–11 League One 0000100010
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2011–12 League Two 8010000090
Torquay United 2012–13 League Two 43010101[lower-alpha 1]0460
2013–14 League Two 140000000140
Total 570101010600
Eastleigh (loan) 2015–16 National League 9000—0090
Eastleigh 2015–16 National League 3000—0030
Woking 2016–17 National League 35000—00350
Career total 16503020501750
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in 2008–09 Conference Premier play-offs

References
  1. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. p. 434. ISBN 978-0-9926-8640-6.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. "Cobblers look at trio". BBC Sport. 18 April 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  4. "Niemi injury blow for Southampton". BBC Sport. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  5. "Saints' Poke in Oldham loan move". BBC Sport. 21 August 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  6. "Keeper Poke suffers finger injury". BBC Sport. 5 September 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  7. "Cobblers net Saints' Poke on loan". BBC Sport. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  8. "Mendes and Poke stay at Cobblers". BBC Sport. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  9. "Colchester 3–2 Northampton (aet)". BBC Sport. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  10. "Woking bag Saints goalkeeper Poke". BBC Sport. 24 November 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  11. "Southampton pair miss Norway trip". BBC Sport. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  12. "Torquay sign Southampton keeper". BBC Sport. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  13. "Southampton capture keeper Wright". BBC Sport. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  14. "Torquay sign Saints keeper Poke". BBC Sport. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  15. "Bevan agrees Torquay loan switch". BBC Sport. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  16. "Torquay loan keeper Poke". Sky Sports. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  17. "Duo stay with Gulls". Sky Sports. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  18. "Released And Retained List". Southampton F.C. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  19. "Southampton reveal retain and released lists of players". Daily Echo. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  20. "Brighton and Hove Albion sign goalkeeper Michael Poke". BBC Sport. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  21. "Rovers Make Two Loan Signings". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  22. "Albion release keepers". The Argus. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  23. "Torquay United sign Michael Poke and Tom Cruise". BBC Sport. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  24. "Dunne and Poke join Blues". Portsmouth FC. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  25. "Portsmouth goalkeeper Michael Poke joins Eastleigh on loan". Sky Sports. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  26. "Southport vs. Eastleigh". Soccerway. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  27. "Portsmouth sign Wolves goalkeeper Aaron McCarey on loan". Sky Sports. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  28. "Eastleigh complete Michael Poke and Luke Coulson signings". BBC Sport. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  29. "Lincoln City vs. Eastleigh". Soccerway. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  30. "Woking announce signing of Michael Poke". Woking FC. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  31. "Woking 1-3 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  32. "Woking 2-0 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  33. "Released Players". Woking Official Site. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
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