Dominic Poleon
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Poleon after a pre-season friendly match at Torquay United in July 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dominic Alfred Poleon[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Newham, England | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker / Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Oldham Athletic | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| 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– | Oldham Athletic | 56 | (8) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:39, 27 January 2016 (UTC). | |||
Dominic Alfred Poleon (born 7 September 1993) is an English footballer who plays for Oldham Athletic as a striker, but can also play as a winger. Born in Newham, East London, he initially played youth football for Chelsea and Southend United before signing for Leeds in August 2010. Whilst at Leeds he has also had spells on loan with both 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.
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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5] He would make his league début two weeks later when he replaced Ross McCormack in Leeds' 2–1 win over Peterborough United.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[8] The imminent loan signing of another of Warnock's former protégés and Moses' former team-mate 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 fellow team-mate Zac Thompson joined League One strugglers Bury on month-long loan deals.[9] 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.[9] He was assigned the number 33 shirt and made his debut for the Shakers in the 1–1 home draw versus Carlisle United.[10] Poleon had hit the post in the game and provided the assist for goalscorer Thompson in the first-half.[11] 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."[12][13]
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.[13] 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.[14][15][16] 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.[17] 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.[18] On 18 January 2013, Poleon signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Leeds.[19]
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."[20] After playing seven times for Sheffield, Poleon was recalled by Leeds caretaker manager Neil Redfearn, after the departure of Neil Warnock."[21]
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.[22]
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.[23]
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.[24]
Manager Lee Johnson stated on the signing of Poleon, "We believe he needs to be coached and educated but we know he has the raw potential to be a big asset to this club and that's why the chairman has gone the extra mile to sign him."
Career statistics
- As of match played 18 April 2014.[25]
| Season | Club | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Play-Offs | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2012–13 | Leeds United | Championship | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 8 | 2 |
| 2012–13 | Bury (loan) | League One | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 8 | 2 |
| 2012–13 | Sheffield United (loan) | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2013–14 | Leeds United | Championship | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 23 | 2 |
| Leeds United Total | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 | ||
| Career Total | 39 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 6 | ||
References
- ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 18. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ↑ "Dominic Poleon". 11 v 11. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ↑ "Youth Trio Sign Professional Deals". Through it all Together. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ↑ "THREE OF THE BEST SEE OFF PRESTON". Leeds United A.F.C. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ↑ "SHREWSBURY LIVE". Leeds United A.F.C. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ↑ "Peterborough 1–2 Leeds United". Leeds United A.F.C. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ↑ "FOREST LIVE". Leeds United A.F.C. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- 1 2 "Leeds United: Poleon must get attitude right – Warnock". Yorkshire Evening Post. 23 September 2012.
- 1 2 "Bury sign Leeds duo Dominic Poleon & Zac Thompson on loan". BBC Sport. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ↑ "Leeds Brace Join on Loan". Bury F.C. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ↑ "Bury 1–1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ↑ "Former Boss Thanks the Gaffer". Leeds United. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Yeovil 2–1 Bury". BBC Sport. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ↑ "Three points, three on the bounce". Bury F.C. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "Bury 2–1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ↑ "Bury 1–1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ↑ "DUO'S LOANS EXTENDED AT BURY". Leeds United Official Website. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ↑ "Dom recalled from Bury loan spell". Leeds United Official Website. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ↑ "Leeds United: Dominic Poleon signs new contract". BBC Sport. 18 January 2013.
- ↑ "Sheffield United sign Dominic Poleon on loan from Leeds". BBC Sport. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ↑ "Striker Recalled From Loan Spell". Leeds United A.F.C. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ↑ "Watford Miss Out On Automatic Promotion". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013.
- ↑ "UNITED SECURE SECOND ROUND SPOT". Leeds United A.F.C. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ↑ "Latics Make Deadline Day Signing". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ "Statistics". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
External links
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