Alex Lawless facts for kids
Lawless playing for Luton Town in 2011
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Graham Lawless | ||
| Date of birth | 26 March 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Tonypandy, Wales | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back, midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Luton Town (Under-21s academy coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2002 | Cardiff City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2003 | Ton Pentre | 33 | (10) |
| 2003–2005 | Fulham | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Torquay United | 14 | (0) |
| 2006–2009 | Forest Green Rovers | 102 | (8) |
| 2009–2011 | York City | 51 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | → Luton Town (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2011–2016 | Luton Town | 164 | (17) |
| 2016–2017 | Yeovil Town | 33 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | Leyton Orient | 44 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Ebbsfleet United | 11 | (0) |
| Total | 457 | (41) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003 | Wales U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006 | Wales U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Wales semi-pro | 2 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alex Lawless (born on March 26, 1985) is a Welsh former professional footballer. He now works as the Under-21s Head Coach at Luton Town. Alex played as a right-back or midfielder for teams like Torquay United, Luton Town, and Yeovil Town in the English Football League.
Lawless started his football journey in the youth system at Cardiff City. He then played for Welsh Football League club Ton Pentre. In 2003, he joined Premier League club Fulham. After leaving Fulham in 2005, he spent a season with Torquay United.
He then moved to Forest Green Rovers in the Conference National league. He played there for three seasons. During his time, he won the club's Players' Player of the Season award in 2008. He also played in the final of the Conference League Cup.
In 2009, Alex joined York City. He played for them in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Later in 2010, he signed for Luton Town, first on a loan, then permanently. After two attempts to win promotion through the play-offs, Lawless and Luton Town finally won the Conference Premier title in the 2013–14 season. This meant they were promoted to League Two.
Alex has also played for Wales at different age levels. He played twice for the under-19 team. He also made one appearance for the under-21 team in 2006. He played twice for the Wales semi-pro team. He made his first appearance against Italy in 2007 and scored a goal against England C in 2008.
After his playing career, Alex became a full-time coach. He worked with Leyton Orient FC's under-18s. Then, he joined Luton Town as an assistant coach for the under-18s and under-21s. In the summer of 2023, he became the head coach for the under-18s. After one season, he took on the role of under-21s head coach.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in Football
Alex Lawless was born in Tonypandy, Wales. He went to Tonypandy Comprehensive School. He started his football journey in the youth team at Cardiff City. After leaving Cardiff, he continued his studies.
He then played for Welsh Football League Division One club Ton Pentre. In the 2002–03 season, he played 33 league games and scored 10 goals. This included two goals in a big 9–0 win. After a six-week trial, he signed a professional contract with Premier League club Fulham in August 2003.
Time at Torquay United
Fulham released Alex in May 2005. He then had a trial with League Two club Torquay United in July. Lawless signed for Torquay for free. The manager, Leroy Rosenior, asked fans to be patient with young players like Alex.
He played his first game on August 6, 2005, in a 0–0 draw against Notts County. He had to leave the game early after only 26 minutes due to an injury. He returned from injury in September 2005. This was in a 2–1 win against Shrewsbury Town, which was Torquay's first win of the season. He got another injury in November 2005. He returned three months later in a 1–0 win against Bristol Rovers. In December 2005, he scored an own goal against Wycombe Wanderers. This led to a 2–2 draw. His last game of the 2005–06 season was a 2–0 loss to Lincoln City. Torquay released him after he played 16 games.
Playing for Forest Green Rovers
Alex joined Conference National club Forest Green Rovers in August 2006. He played his first game in a 1–0 loss to Dagenham & Redbridge. Alex scored his first goal for the club in February 2007. It was a "spectacular" long-range shot against Morecambe. However, Forest Green lost that game 3–1. He finished the 2006–07 season with 40 games played and one goal.
In February 2008, he scored the only goal in Forest Green's 1–0 win over Crawley Town. He played 41 games and scored three goals in the 2007–08 season. Forest Green finished eighth in the Conference Premier, their highest ever position. Alex won the Player of the Season award for his team.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, he played as a right-back. He scored a goal from 20 yards to help Forest Green draw 1–1 with Kettering Town. The manager praised him for a "super game." He missed some games due to a hip injury in September 2008. He then got an ankle injury in a game against his old club Torquay. This made him miss three more games. He returned in October 2008. He later got a hamstring injury. When he returned, he scored a "fierce" long-range goal. This helped Forest Green win 1–0 against Mansfield Town. After this game, his hamstring tightened, and he was out for a month with a back injury. He returned in December 2008.
In January 2009, Alex scored against Championship team Derby County in an FA Cup match. His goal put Forest Green 2–0 up, but they ended up losing 4–3. He missed some games due to a hamstring injury and a stomach illness. He returned for the 2009 Conference League Cup Final. Forest Green lost this final 3–0 in a penalty shoot-out after a 0–0 draw. His season ended early in April 2009. He broke his leg in a game against York City. An X-ray showed a hairline fracture. He finished the season with 39 games and six goals.
Time at York City
Alex signed a one-year contract with York City in June 2009. York City was also in the Conference Premier. He played his first game in a 2–1 loss to Oxford United in August 2009. He missed a game in September 2009 because of a virus. He scored his first goal for York in November 2009. It was the only goal in a 1–0 win against Gateshead.
He injured his hamstring in February 2010. He returned in March as a substitute in a 4–0 win. He played in both games of York's play-off semi-final win against Luton Town. York won 2–0 overall. He started in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium in May. York lost this final 3–1 to Oxford. He played 45 games and scored one goal for York that season.
He played his first game of the 2010–11 season in August 2010. He scored his first goal of the season in September 2010. It was York's second goal in a 3–1 win against Tamworth.
Joining Luton Town
On November 8, 2010, Alex joined Luton Town, another Conference Premier team. He first joined on a loan, with a plan to make the move permanent in January 2011. York City did not want him to leave. However, they agreed when Luton increased their offer.
He played his first game for Luton in a 1–0 loss to Wrexham in November 2010. In the next game, Alex scored his first Luton goal. It was the winning goal in a 1–0 victory against Altrincham. Alex signed permanently for Luton in January 2011. He signed a one-and-a-half-year contract. His first game after signing was in a 0–0 draw against Bath City. After another midfielder left, Alex played a bigger role for Luton. Luton finished third in the league that season. He scored a "superb" goal from 35 yards in Luton's 3–0 play-off semi-final win against Wrexham. He then played in the second game, which Luton won 2–1. In the 2011 Conference Premier play-off final against AFC Wimbledon at Wembley, he missed the first penalty kick in the penalty shoot-out. Luton lost the shoot-out 4–3.
In September 2011, Alex broke his hand during a game against his old club York. He punched a wall out of frustration. This meant he was out for about a month, and his club fined him. He played in Luton's 2012 Conference Premier play-off final in May 2012. Luton lost 2–1 to York at Wembley. Alex signed a one-year contract extension in July 2012.
The manager praised Alex for his "quality... hard work and... discipline" in December 2012. This was when he played his 100th game for the club. He scored the winning goal in Luton's 1–0 victory over Championship team Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup in January 2013. He was voted the competition's Player of the Round. Alex played 48 games and scored five goals that season. Both Luton supporters and his teammates voted him as the club's Player of the Season for the 2012–13 season. He signed a new two-year contract with Luton in May 2013.
Alex had a groin injury at the start of the 2013–14 season. He made his first start in September in a 3–0 win against Dartford. In that game, he scored one goal and helped set up another. This win helped Luton start a 27-game unbeaten run in the league. Alex was a big part of this, scoring five more goals and getting 10 assists. He played 32 games and scored six goals. He often played in a new position as a left midfielder. He missed the end of the season due to injury. On April 15, 2014, Luton won the Conference Premier title and were promoted to League Two. This was Alex's first title and promotion as a player.
Alex had many injuries during the 2014–15 season. He played 15 league games and scored three goals. Even with limited playing time, his contract was extended until the end of the 2015–16 season.
On May 10, 2016, it was announced that Alex's contract would not be renewed. He had played 203 games and scored 22 goals for Luton since joining in 2010. He left the club when his contract ended.
Later Career Teams
On July 29, 2016, Alex signed a one-year contract with League Two club Yeovil Town. At the end of the 2016–17 season, Yeovil released Alex and five other players.
On July 11, 2017, Alex signed a two-year contract with National League club Leyton Orient. He was released at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Alex signed for National League club Ebbsfleet United on June 27, 2019.
International Games
Alex Lawless played one game for the Wales national under-19 team on September 24, 2003. This was in a 2–1 win against Greece. He played his only game for the under-21 team in a 1–0 loss to Northern Ireland in February 2006.
He played his first game for the Wales semi-pro team in a 4–2 loss to Italy in November 2007. He also played against England C in February 2008. He scored a goal from 20 yards in their 2–1 loss. He was chosen to play against Finland in November, but he missed the game due to an injury.
How He Played
Alex Lawless could play in many positions. He could play as a right or left midfielder, a central midfielder, and a right-back. He was good at all these positions, but he liked playing in midfield the most. He was also good at playing just behind the main striker.
People described his play as a right midfielder as "skilful." He was also said to be "comfortable on the ball, a good passer, mobile and with an eye for goal." One manager said he was a player who was always "consistent." When he signed for York, the manager said, "He is a great all-rounder, a technically good footballer and has a very professional attitude." His teamwork with another player in central midfield for York was praised. A teammate said, "Alex Lawless was flawless and he should be playing in the Football League."
About Alex's Life
After joining York City in 2009, Alex Lawless lived in a house with some of his teammates. Alex is interested in art. He studied art in school. He once said, "I wouldn't mind trying to make a living from it one day but my main priority is football." He supports Manchester United. People first noticed his interest in art when he painted a picture of the manager, Alex Ferguson.
Honours and Awards
Luton Town
- Conference Premier: 2013–14 (This means they won the league title!)
Leyton Orient
- National League: 2018–19 (They won this league title too!)
Individual Awards
- Luton Town Player of the Season: 2012–13 (Fans and teammates voted him the best player that season!)
