Getting to know Joe Lumley: A profile of Doncaster Rovers' emergency loan signing

Lumley will make his debut in Saturday’s clash with Sunderland as per the terms of emergency loans.

Here, we take a look at the 25-year-old’s career so far.

Name: Joseph Patrick Lumley

Born: February 15, 1995, Harlow, Essex.

HE STARTED OUT WITH SPURS

Lumley was scouted by Tottenham Hotspur as a ten-year-old while playing for his local junior side Buckhurst Hill and had already settled into life as a goalkeeper. His brother Billy was also snapped up by Spurs. Lumley remained on Tottenham’s books until he was released at 16 having not been offered a full time scholarship. “It was hard but I learned a lot from that, although I didn’t know it at the time,” he said.

HIS HERO WAS SHAY GIVEN

Lumleys idol as a young player was former Newcastle United keeper Shay Given. “Me and my brother used to smash footballs at each other as hard as we could and try to copy what he did,” he said.

QPR CAME CALLING

Lumley was not without a club for long and switched across London to join QPR, with whom he has been for the last decade. His senior debut for the club came at the age of 20 when he stepped in during an injury crisis, for a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

LOAN MOVES FOLLOWED

Lumley has enjoyed a steady stream of loans since 2014 when he first went out to Bishops Stortford. Spells at Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Stevenage, Bristol Rovers and Blackpool followed. The latter two moves came in League One and brought a combined 37 appearances.

HE WAS FIRST CHOICE AT QPR

At the start of the 2018/19 season Lumley was made first choice goalkeeper by then-boss Steve McClaren. He kept 16 clean sheets in 46 matches for Rangers that season. He retained his place at the start of last season but did not enjoy the same success and saw his starts come in waves as he competed with Liam Kelly. Lumley ended the Championship restart with six successive starts.

HE GOT OFF TO A DECENT START THIS SEASON

Lumley started the first three games of the season for QPR but lost his place to former Rovers loanee Seny Dieng, who he has been unable to dislodge since.

THIS IS NOT HIS FIRST LOAN THIS SEASON – OR THIS MONTH

Lumley spent a week on loan at Gillingham earlier this month and played in games against Sunderland and Crewe Alexandra.

HIS TIME AT LOFTUS ROAD LOOKS TO BE ENDING

Lumley will see his current contract with QPR expire in the summer and, given his lack of game time this season, is unlikely to be offered fresh terms. It has been suggested Rangers could attempt to move him on in January.

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