Jack Tucker Explained

Jack Tucker
Fullname:Jack Robert Tucker[1]
Birth Date:13 November 1999
Birth Place:Whitstable, Kent, England[2]
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Milton Keynes Dons
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:–2007
Youthclubs1:Whitstable Town
Youthyears2:2007–2018
Youthclubs2:Gillingham
Years1:2017–2022
Clubs1:Gillingham
Caps1:116
Goals1:3
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Greenwich Borough (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:1
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Hastings United (loan)
Caps3:7
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–
Clubs4:Milton Keynes Dons
Caps4:55
Goals4:1
Club-Update:18:17, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

Jack Robert Tucker (born 13 November 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Milton Keynes Dons.

Club career

Gillingham

Tucker joined the academy of Gillingham as a seven-year old from his hometown club Whitstable Town.[3]

Having progressed through the academy system, he made his league debut for the club on 8 October 2017 as a 45th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Portsmouth, and soon after signed professional terms in January 2018.[4] During his first two seasons as a professional, Tucker had short loan spells with Isthmian League clubs Greenwich Borough[5] and Hastings United,[6] [7] and featured twice in the EFL Trophy for Gillingham. Following impressive performances, he was rewarded with a contract extension at the end of the 2018–19 season.[8]

On 12 November 2019, Tucker scored his first professional goal in a 2–0 home EFL Trophy win over Tottenham Hotspur U21s.[9] Having broken into the first team, a month later he was the subject of a transfer bid in December 2019 from an unnamed Championship club, which was rejected by Gillingham chairman Paul Scally[10] and the same day Tucker signed a further contract extension with the club.[11] He was named as the Kent side's young Player of the Season at the conclusion of the 2019–20 season.[12]

On 6 March 2021, he scored his first league goal for Gillingham in a 3–1 victory over Ipswich Town.[13]

Following the club's relegation to League Two at the end of the 2021–22 season, Tucker rejected the offer of a new deal in favour of a move elsewhere,[14] bringing an end to his fifteen-year association with Gillingham. At the club's end of season awards he was named Young Player of the Season, winning the award for the third successive year and the fourth time overall.[15] [16] [17]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 17 June 2022, Tucker signed for League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a long-term contract, with compensation owed to Gillingham due to his age.[18] [19] He made his debut on 30 July 2022 in a 1–0 defeat away to Cambridge United.[20]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gillingham2017–18League One1000001020
2018–19League One0000001010
2019–20League One280300031341
2020–21League One431202030501
2021–22League One442201030502
Total116370301111374
Greenwich Borough (loan)2017–18[21] Isthmian South2121
Hastings United (loan)2018–19[22] Isthmian South East7070
Milton Keynes Dons2022–23League One381204040481
2023–24League Two160101030210
2024–25League Two0000000000
Total541305070691
Career total1795100801812156

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers. English Football League . 15 October 2019.
  2. https://www.kentlive.news/sport/football/football-news/proud-mum-thanks-gillingham-fc-1096944 Proud mum thanks Gillingham FC for opportunities as teenage son signs two-year professional contract
  3. Web site: Mum praises Gillingham for helping son achieve footballing dream. Youlton. Clive. 21 January 2018. kentlive. 1 January 2020.
  4. Web site: Three sign professional contracts with Gills. 16 January 2018. 15 November 2018. Gillingham F.C..
  5. https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2018/january/tucker-work-exp/ Jack Tucker joins Greenwich Borough
  6. http://www.hastingsunited.com/news/tucker-a-ufor-now TUCKER A 'U'........FOR NOW!
  7. https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/sport/football/local/hastings-united-sign-player-from-higher-level-club-1-8780631 Hastings United sign player from higher level club
  8. Web site: Tom Eaves and Tomas Holy offered new contracts by Gillingham. 20 May 2019. 21 May 2019. BBC Sport.
  9. Web site: Report: Gillingham 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur U21 . . 12 November 2019 . 21 June 2022 .
  10. Web site: Gillingham reject Tucker bid. 19 December 2019. Kent Online. en. 1 January 2020.
  11. Web site: Tucker: It was a simple decision to make. 23 December 2019. Kent Online. en. 1 January 2020.
  12. News: 31 July 2020. Gillingham defender Connor Ogilvie picks up four awards at the League 1 club's virtual player-of-the-year awards event. Kent Online. 1 August 2020.
  13. News: Gillingham 3-1 Ipswich Town. BBC Sport .
  14. Web site: Gillingham manager Neil Harris admits Jack Tucker is likely to leave and that Robbie McKenzie could be tempted to . . 12 May 2022 . 21 June 2022 .
  15. Web site: Jack Tucker named Young Player of the Year. www.gillinghamfootballclub.com.
  16. Web site: Tucker | "I will enjoy my summer but I look forward to next season". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com.
  17. Web site: Cawdell . Luke . 1 May 2022 . Stuart O'Keefe voted Gillingham supporters' player of the year 2021/22; Chairman Paul Scally insists they will be a better club next season . 2 May 2022 . Kent Online . en.
  18. Web site: Jack Tucker to join MK Dons . . 17 June 2022 . 17 June 2022 .
  19. News: Dons sign Tucker as McEachran agrees new deal. BBC Sport .
  20. Web site: Cambridge United 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . . 30 July 2022 . 31 July 2022 .
  21. greenwichborofc . greenwichborofc . Greenwich Borough F.C. . 957276834332323840 . 27 January 2018 . GOAL: GREENWICH BOROUGH 1-0 Shoreham - Jack Tucker (36').
  22. hastingsufc . hastingsufc . Greenwich Borough F.C. . 1073956636698574848 . 15 December 2018 . Today's teams.
  23. Web site: Mark Byrne voted Player of the Year . . 6 May 2018 . 21 June 2022 .
  24. News: 9 May 2021. Kyle Dempsey named Gillingham supporters' player-of-the-year 2020/21; Vadaine Oliver players' player, Jack Tucker young player and Connor Ogilvie goal of the season. Kent Online. 16 May 2021.