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Dominic Poleon

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Dominic Poleon
Poleon after a pre-season friendly match at Torquay United in July 2012
Personal information
Full name Dominic Alfred Poleon[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-07) 7 September 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Newham, London, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[3]
Position(s) Striker / Winger
Team information
Current team
 Ebbsfleet United
Number 14
Youth career
2004–2008 Chelsea
2008–2010 Southend United
2010–2012 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Leeds United 29 (3)
2012 → Bury (loan) 7 (2)
2013 → Sheffield United (loan) 7 (0)
2014–2016 Oldham Athletic 60 (8)
2016–2017 AFC Wimbledon 41 (8)
2017–2018 Bradford City 32 (6)
2018–2019 Crawley Town 30 (5)
2019–2020 Newport County 5 (0)
2020 → Dover Athletic (loan) 6 (1)
2021– Ebbsfleet United 80 (46)
International career‡
2023– Saint Lucia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:37, 5 March 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:45, 17 June 2023 (UTC)

Dominic Alfred Poleon is a footballer who plays as a forward for Ebbsfleet United and the Saint Lucia national team. He played youth football for Chelsea and Southend United before signing for Leeds United in August 2010. Whilst at Leeds he had loan spells with Bury and Sheffield United.

Career

Chelsea and Southend United

Poleon attended Brampton Manor Academy in East Ham. He began his career in football across the city in the junior teams at Chelsea but failed to progress at the Premier League club.[2] He would join Southend United for the later years of his school life and travelled with them on a tour of France in 2009 aged 15 before being signed by Leeds a year later after being identified by Head of Recruitment Steve Holmes.[citation needed]

Leeds United

Poleon joined Leeds in the summer of 2010. He gained good reviews in the youth and reserve teams in his first year at the club. In the following 2011–12 season, Poleon was the leading scorer for the United youth team with 12 goals. He capped his second season at the club by signing a one-year professional contract along with fellow youth prospects Ross Killock and Monty Gimpel.[4]

After scoring for the club's Development Team in a 2–0 friendly match victory over Alfreton Town at North Street on 21 July 2012, Poleon and several other youngsters including Sam Byram, Nathan Turner, Lewis Turner and Monty Gimpel, travelled with the senior team the following week on a pre-season tour of Cornwall and Devon. He scored again against Tavistock in a 6–0 victory and featuring as a substitute in subsequent games versus Bodmin Town and Torquay United as Leeds recorded three wins from three on their summer tour.[5] The tour provided Poleon with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his competency at a senior level ahead of a make-or-break year.

His performances in further pre-season games would lead to the young striker joining fellow prospect Sam Byram on the fringes of the first team for the start of manager Neil Warnock's first full season in charge as he was assigned the number 26 shirt for the campaign. He made his first team début for Leeds in the first game of the season coming on as a 76th-minute substitute against Shrewsbury Town at Elland Road in the League Cup fixture on 11 August 2012.[6] He would make his league début two weeks later when he replaced Ross McCormack in Leeds' 2–1 win over Peterborough United.[7]

Poleon made his first start for Leeds United in a league game against Nottingham Forest on 22 September after impressing as a substitute in a 2–3 league defeat against Hull City earlier in the week. He marked the occasion with his first professional goal in the 25th minute.[8] Prior to the game against Forest, Neil Warnock had questioned Poleon's work ethic and approach to the game, saying that he risked his career 'fizzling out' if he didn't change his attitude.[9] He likened Poleon's attitude to his former protégé at Crystal Palace, Victor Moses, who would prove to increase his application before joining Premier League side Wigan Athletic in £2.5m deal in 2010 and reigning UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea for a fee of around £9m two years later.[9] The imminent loan signing of another of Warnock's former protégés and Moses' former teammate at Palace, Ryan Hall, would further limit Poleon's first-team opportunities at United as he would look to gain valuable playing experience from a loan spell in the lower leagues.

On 15 October 2012, Poleon and teammate Zac Thompson joined League One strugglers Bury on month-long loan deals.[10] Both youngsters would be working under the newly appointed Bury manager Kevin Blackwell, who had a seventeen-year association with Warnock as player and coach between 1986 and 2003 and had managed Poleon's parent club between 2004 and 2006.[10] He was assigned the number 33 shirt and made his debut for the Shakers in the 1–1 home draw versus Carlisle United.[11] Poleon had hit the post in the game and provided the assist for goalscorer Thompson in the first-half.[12] The energy and commitment of the youngsters lead to instant praise from Blackwell after the game; observing that "the two young lads from Leeds were absolutely out on their feet after that. For them, the warm up matters, every time they train matters, when they travel in – it matters and I'm really pleased with both of them, the whole team."[13][14]

Poleon scored his first goal for the club in his second game versus Yeovil Town, equalising on the 74th minute mark at Huish Park in a 1–2 defeat.[14] He continued his impressive early form over the following games; adding another assist in a 2–1 victory over Hartlepool United and his second goal in a 1–1 draw at home to Walsall. Poleon got a touch on the ball as it dribbled towards goal, with Poleon getting the final stroke before it nestled into the bottom corner against Portsmouth.[15][16][17] On 19 November, Poleon's loan at Bury was extended until 3 January 2013 but he was recalled by his parent club only a day later due to suspensions and injuries.[18] During Poleon's seven league games; the Shakers accumulated eleven points having previously only picked up four from their first ten.

Poleon was recalled by Leeds on 20 November due to injuries and suspensions at his parent club, coupled with his own good form at Bury.[19] On 18 January 2013, Poleon signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Leeds.[20]

Poleon joined Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season on 12 February 2013. Blades boss Danny Wilson described Poleon as being "raw and unpredictable but very quick... he can get in behind the back of people and he can get a goal. We just feel he can add a little bit extra from the bench or even start."[21] After playing seven times for Sheffield, Poleon was recalled by Leeds caretaker manager Neil Redfearn, after the departure of Neil Warnock.[22]

Poleon scored his second goal for Leeds at Vicarage Road on the final day of the season in Leeds' 2–1 win against Watford after appearing as an early substitute for the injured Steve Morison. During this match Poleon was involved in a controversial collision in which he appeared to push Ikechi Anya, resulting in him accidentally colliding with goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, and earning himself a yellow card. Bond was rendered unconscious and was stretchered off the pitch with a suspected broken nose. Whilst the push was perceived as cynical by many opposing fans, he later posted on his official Twitter that he did not mean to injure the keeper and stressed he had no malicious intentions.[23]

Poleon scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season on his first start, in a League Cup tie at home to Chesterfield. Poleon's goal proved to be the winner as Leeds won the game 2–1.[24]

Oldham Athletic

On 1 September 2014, in the final hour of transfer deadline day, Poleon signed a two-year contract with Oldham Athletic for an undisclosed fee.[25]

AFC Wimbledon

Poleon signed for AFC Wimbledon on 2 July 2016.[26] He scored his first goals for Wimbledon when he scored twice in an EFL Trophy tie against Swansea City Under-23s on 30 August 2016.[27]

Bradford City

He signed for Bradford City in June 2017 on a two-year deal.[28]

Crawley Town

On 5 July 2018, Poleon agreed to join League Two side Crawley Town on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[29]

Newport County

Poleon's contract at Crawley was cancelled by mutual consent on 2 September 2019 to enable him to join League Two Newport County on the same day until the end of the 2019–20 season.[30] He made his debut for Newport 14 September 2019 in the 2–0 defeat to Northampton Town as a second-half substitute.[31]

On 30 January 2020, Poleon joined National League side Dover Athletic on loan until the end of the season.[32] Poleon was released by Newport County at the end of the 2019–20 season.[33]

Ebbsfleet United

On 9 February 2021, Poleon joined National League South side Ebbsleet United on a free transfer following a successful trial period with the club.[34]

A successful February 2023 where Poleon scored seven goals in seven matches, taking Ebbsfleet fourteen points clear of the team in second position, saw the striker win the National League South Player of the Month award.[35] On 7 April 2023, he scored a fourth hat-trick of the season to take his league tally to thirty-six goals, securing a 3–0 victory over Oxford City to secure the National League South title and promotion back to the fifth tier.[36] Having finished the season as top goalscorer, he was named the National League South Player of the Season.[37]

International career

Poleon was born in England and is of St Lucian descent.[38] On 16 June 2023, Poleon made his debut for the Saint Lucia national football team, in a 3–1 defeat to Martinique in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup Preliminary Round.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 February 2021[40]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 2012–13 Championship 6 2 0 0 2 0 — 8 2
2013–14 Championship 19 1 1 0 3 0 — 23 1
2014–15 Championship 4 0 0 0 1 0 — 5 0
Total 29 3 1 0 6 0 — 36 3
Bury (loan) 2012–13 League One 7 2 1 0 — 0 0 8 2
Sheffield United (loan) 2012–13 League One 7 0 — — 0 0 7 0
Oldham Athletic 2014–15 League One 35 4 2 0 — 2[a] 2 39 6
2015–16 League One 25 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 29 5
Total 60 8 5 1 1 0 2 2 68 11
AFC Wimbledon 2016–17 League One 41 8 3 3 1 0 4[b] 2 49 13
Bradford City 2017–18 League One 32 6 2 0 1 1 2[b] 0 37 7
Crawley Town 2018–19 League Two 30 5 1 0 1 0 3[b] 1 35 6
Newport County 2019–20 League Two 5 0 3 0 0 0 4[b] 0 12 0
Dover Athletic (loan) 2019–20 National League 6 1 — — 0 0 6 1
Ebbsfleet United 2020–21 National League South 1 0 — — 0 0 1 0
Career total 218 33 16 4 10 1 15 5 259 43
Notes
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 16 June 2023[41]
National team Year Apps Goals
Saint Lucia 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Ebbsfleet United

Individual

  • National League South Player of the Month: February 2023[35]
  • National League South Player of the Season: 2022–23[37]
  • Ebbsfleet United Supporters' Player of the Season: 2022–23
  • Ebbsfleet United Players' Player of the Season: 2022–23

References

  1. ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Dominic Poleon". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Dominic Poleon". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  4. ^ Hill, Thomas (11 June 2012). "Youth Trio Sign Professional Deals". SB Nation. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Three of the Best See Off Preston". Leeds United A.F.C. 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Shrewsbury Live". Leeds United A.F.C. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Peterborough 1–2 Leeds United". Leeds United A.F.C. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  8. ^ "FOREST LIVE". Leeds United A.F.C. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  9. ^ a b Hay, Phil (23 September 2012). "Leeds United: Poleon must get attitude right – Warnock". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Bury sign Leeds duo Dominic Poleon & Zac Thompson on loan". BBC Sport. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Leeds Brace Join on Loan". Bury F.C. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Bury 1–1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Former Boss Thanks the Gaffer". Leeds United. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Yeovil 2–1 Bury". BBC Sport. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Three points, three on the bounce". Bury F.C. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Bury 2–1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Bury 1–1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Duo's Loans Extended at Bury". Leeds United Official Website. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Dom recalled from Bury loan spell". Leeds United Official Website. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  20. ^ "Leeds United: Dominic Poleon signs new contract". BBC Sport. 18 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Sheffield United sign Dominic Poleon on loan from Leeds". BBC Sport. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  22. ^ "Striker Recalled From Loan Spell". Leeds United A.F.C. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Watford Miss Out on Automatic Promotion". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013.
  24. ^ "United Secure Second Round Spot". Leeds United A.F.C. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  25. ^ "Latics Make Deadline Day Signing". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  26. ^ "Dominic Poleon: AFC Wimbledon sign Oldham Athletic striker". BBC Sport. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Wimbledon 3–0 Swansea U23s". BBC Sport. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Dominic Poleon: Bradford City sign AFC Wimbledon forward". BBC Sport. 28 June 2017.
  29. ^ "Reds Sign Striker Dominic Poleon". Crawley Town FC. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  30. ^ Penman, Andrew (2 September 2019). "Newport County sign former Crawley Town striker". South Wales Argus.
  31. ^ "Northampton Town 2-0 Newport County: Cobblers end Exiles' winning run". BBC Sport. 14 September 2019.
  32. ^ Williams, David (30 January 2020). "Newport County AFC's Dominic Poleon joins Dover Athletic on loan for rest of the season". South Wales Argus.
  33. ^ "NEWPORT COUNTY AFC CONFIRM LIST OF PLAYERS RETAINED AND RELEASED". newport-county.co.uk.
  34. ^ "Fleet land former Leeds leading man". ebbsfleetunited.co.uk. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  35. ^ a b "It's A Fleet Double As Dom And Dennis Take South Acclaim". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  36. ^ a b "Ebbsfleet United win title to seal National League return after three years". BBC Sport. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Meet Your National League South Season's Big Winners!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  38. ^ Finisterre, Terry (19 April 2015). "Exploring Saint Lucia's football diaspora". St. Lucia News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  39. ^ "Martinique 3–1 Saint Lucia". www.concacaf.com. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  40. ^ "D. Poleon". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  41. ^ "Poleon, Dominic". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
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