Charlie Lakin

Charlie Lakin

Lakin pictured in October 2018
Personal information
Full name	Charlie Lakin [1]
Date of birth	(1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 25) [2]
Place of birth	Solihull, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [3]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Walsall
Number	8
Youth career
200?–2008	Walsall
2008–2017	Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	Birmingham City	10	(0)
2019–2020	→ Stevenage (loan)	20	(2)
2020–2021	→ Ross County (loan)	19	(3)
2021–2024	Burton Albion	29	(1)
2023	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	10	(0)
2023–2024	→ AFC Wimbledon (loan)	6	(0)
2024	→ Sutton United (loan)	21	(7)
2024–	Walsall	15	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:49, 30 November 2024 (UTC)

Charlie Lakin (born 8 May 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Walsall.

He joined Birmingham City as a nine-year-old, went on to make his senior debut for the club in the 2017–18 FA Cup, and played ten times in the 2018–19 Championship. Despite missing two months with injury, Lakin managed 25 appearances on loan at League Two club Stevenage before the 2019–20 season ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent the 2020–21 season on loan to Scottish Premiership club Ross County, before leaving Birmingham on a permanent basis for Burton Albion in August 2021. He had loan spells at Doncaster Rovers and AFC Wimbledon in 2023 and Sutton United in 2024.

Club career

Birmingham City

Lakin was born in Solihull where he attended Langley School. ^[4] He joined Birmingham City's Academy from Walsall's under-nine team, ^[4] and took up a scholarship with the club in July 2015. ^{[5] [6]} In his first season, he featured regularly for Birmingham's under-18 team. ^[7] Speaking in January 2017, Academy manager Kristjaan Speakman described Lakin as "a left-sided midfielder [who] has played in a more central position for the Under-18s over the course of this season. He has real box-to-box energy. He can be creative with the ball but also really robust defensively." ^[8] He finished the season with two goals from 13 appearances in the under-23 team, and signed his first professional contract, of one year, at the end of the 2016–17 season. ^[4] Lakin was a regular in the under-23s in the 2017–18 season, and was one of two players selected to train with UE Cornellà's first team in October 2017 as part of a proposed relationship between Birmingham City and the Spanish Segunda División B (third-tier) club. ^[9]

His involvement with Birmingham's first team increased, and on 27 January 2018, he was given a squad number and included among the substitutes for the FA Cup fourth-round visit to Premier League club Huddersfield Town. ^[10] He remained unused as Birmingham drew the match, but made his senior debut in the replay ten days later. Use of a fourth substitute during extra time of an FA Cup tie, trialled in the later rounds of the 2016–17 edition, was permitted from the first round in 2017–18. ^[11] Lakin became the first Birmingham player to be used under that arrangement when he replaced Jason Lowe after 101 minutes with his team already 3–1 down; the match finished as a 4–1 defeat. ^[12] According to the Birmingham Mail , on his first involvement in the match, "he gathered possession on the edge of his own area, surged through his half and threaded a superb pass to Jota which set Blues away on the counter", showing the "sort of technical ability which has made him such a big hit in his first full season at Under 23 level." ^[13] Two weeks later, Lakin signed a new contract to run until 2020, with a further one-year option in the club's favour. ^[14]

Lakin made his next appearance in the defeat to Reading in the 2018–19 EFL Cup, and his Football League debut in the next match, replacing Gary Gardner towards the end of a goalless draw at home to Swansea City. ^[15] His first league start came in a goalless draw away to Sheffield United on 19 September, partnering Gardner in central midfield; the Birmingham Mail marked him 7.5 out of 10, and said he "gave his first pass away –but that was virtually his last mistake. He was as good without the ball as with it and looks to have given [the manager] another option in the middle." ^[16] He was a regular in the matchday squad until the turn of the year, ^[17] when a thigh injury kept him out of consideration until March 2019, during which time the appearance-based one-year extension to his contract was ratified. ^[18]

Stevenage

Having made one EFL Cup appearance for Birmingham in 2019–20, Lakin joined EFL League Two club Stevenage on 22 August 2019 on loan for the rest of the season. ^[19] He went straight into the starting eleven for the league visit to Mansfield Town two days later, and played the whole 90 minutes as the match ended goalless. ^[20] A thigh injury suffered during his debut kept him out for two months: he returned to action on 26 October in a 1–0 win at home to fellow strugglers Morecambe. ^[21] He scored his first senior goal on 18 January 2020 to round off a 4–0 win away to Cambridge United. ^{[22] [23]} He had made 25 appearances in all competitions by the time the League Two season was first suspended and then ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{[24] [22]}

Ross County

Lakin started in the opening fixture of Birmingham's 2020–21 season, a 1–0 defeat at home to fourth-tier Cambridge United in the EFL Cup. ^[25] With several midfielders ahead of him in new head coach Aitor Karanka's pecking order, he was not included in the squad for any Championship matches, and on 5 October 2020, he joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on 5 October 2020 on loan for the season. ^[26] He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the Scottish League Cup away to Montrose, who had been 3–0 down but had just pegged the score back to 3–2. Montrose scored again to take the tie to penalties; Lakin converted Ross County's fifth penalty but Montrose's fifth player missed his, so Ross County took the bonus point. ^[27]

Burton Albion

On 31 August 2021, Lakin signed a three-year deal with League One club Burton Albion. ^[28] He went straight into the starting eleven, and marked his third appearance, away to Crewe Alexandra, by being sent off for a second yellow card. ^[29] He finished the season with 28 appearances, of which about half were as a starter, ^[30] but in the first half of the 2022–23 campaign, he played in the cups but only rarely in the league. ^[31]

In January 2023, he joined Doncaster Rovers of League Two on loan for the rest of the season. ^[32]

Lakin joined another League Two club, AFC Wimbledon, on 1 September 2023 on loan until January 2024. ^[33] He made ten appearances –six in the league and four in the EFL Trophy –before returning to his parent club on 4 January 2024. ^{[34] [35]}

A week later, he returned to League Two on loan to Sutton United until the end of the season. ^[36] He was a regular in the starting eleven throughout his loan spell, scored eight goals from 21 league appearances, ^[34] and, according to the club website, "[played] a huge part in keeping our fight against relegation going to the final week of the season." ^[37] Despite being with Sutton for only half the season, his performances earned both Club and Players' Player of the Season awards. ^[37]

Return to Walsall

On 25 June 2024, Lakin agreed to re-join Walsall on a two-year contract, to begin on 1 July after his Burton Albion contract expired. ^[38] He scored his first goal on 3 September in the EFL Trophy against Birmingham City, his former club; the match ended 1–1, and Walsall won the penalty shoot-out to secure the extra point. ^{[39] [40]}

Career statistics

As of match played 30 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Birmingham City	2017–18 [41]	Championship	0	0	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2018–19 [15]	Championship	10	0	0	0	1	0	—		11	0
	2019–20 [22]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2020–21 [42]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2021–22 [30]	Championship	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		2	0
	Total		10	0	1	0	5	0	—		16	0
Stevenage (loan)	2019–20 [22]	League Two	20	2	2	0	—		3 [c]	0	25	2
Ross County (loan)	2020–21 [42]	Scottish Premiership	19	3	1	0	4	1	—		24	4
Burton Albion	2021–22 [30]	League One	27	1	0	0	—		1 [c]	1	28	2
	2022–23 [31]	League One	2	0	1	0	1	0	4 [c]	0	8	0
	2023–24 [34]	League One	0	0	—		0	0	—		0	0
	Total		29	1	1	0	1	0	5	1	36	2
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2022–23 [31]	League Two	10	0	—		—		—		10	0
AFC Wimbledon (loan)	2023–24 [34]	League Two	6	0	0	0	—		4 [c]	0	10	0
Sutton United (loan)	2023–24 [34]	League Two	21	8	—		—		—		21	8
Walsall	2024–25 [39]	League Two	15	1	2	0	3	0	3 [c]	1	23	2
Career total			130	15	7	0	13	1	15	2	165	18

1. Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

• Sutton United Club Player of the Season: 2023–24 ^[43]
• Sutton United Players' Player of the Season: 2023–24 ^[43]

References

1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
2. "Charlie Lakin". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
3. "Charlie Lakin: Profile". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
4. "Lakin making his Bluenose family proud". Birmingham City F.C. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022. I've got really good fitness. I'm energetic all over the pitch, work hard for the team, tackling, passing and try and get goals with every opportunity I have.
5. "Blues sign-up future prospects". Birmingham City F.C. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
6. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2015 and 31/07/2015". The Football Association. p. 50. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
7. "Blues Academy end of term report". Birmingham City F.C. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
8. "Blues trio offered professional contracts". Birmingham City F.C. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
9. "Blues to benefit from Spanish partnership". Birmingham City F.C. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
10. Ireland, Shane (27 January 2018). "Who are Charlie Lakin and Steve Seddon? A quick guide to the Birmingham City kids on the bench at Huddersfield". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
11. "Fourth substitute in extra-time permitted from first round onwards". The Football Association. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
12. "Report: Blues 1 Huddersfield Town 4 (aet)". Birmingham City F.C. 6 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
13. Dick, Brian (7 February 2018). "Birmingham City 1 Huddersfield Town 4: Manchester United are off the agenda but David Stockdale, Che Adams and Charlie Lakin are on it". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
14. "Charlie Lakin rewarded with new deal". Birmingham City F.C. 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
15. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
16. Dick, Brian (19 September 2018). "Birmingham City player ratings: Michael Morrison stars as Sheffield United frustrate Blues". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
17. "C. Lakin". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
18. "Charlie Lakin pens new Blues deal". Birmingham City F.C. 21 March 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
19. "Charlie Lakin loaned to Stevenage". Birmingham City F.C. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
20. "League Two: Mansfield 0 Stevenage 0". The Comet. Stevenage. 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
21. "Injury blow for Blues loan duo". Birmingham City F.C. 29 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
    Mountney, Dan (26 October 2019). "Stevenage 1–0 Morecambe: Captain Cuthbert secures vital win as Boro climb off the bottom of League Two". The Comet. Stevenage. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
22. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
23. "Cambridge 0–4 Stevenage: Boro deal out rare thumping at Abbey Stadium". Sky Sports. 18 January 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
24. Roan, Dan; Stone, Simon (15 May 2020). "League Two clubs vote to end season, but League One teams fail to decide". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
25. "Birmingham City 0–1 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
26. "Ross County take Charlie Lakin on loan from Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
27. "Montrose 3–3 Ross County". BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
28. "Charlie Lakin signs for Burton Albion". Birmingham City F.C. 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
29. "Crewe Alexandra 2–0 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
30. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
31. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
32. Jones, Steve (27 January 2023). "Charlie Lakin's first words after joining Doncaster Rovers on loan from Burton Albion". Doncaster Free Press. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
33. "Charlie Lakin: AFC Wimbledon sign Burton Albion midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
34. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
35. Thorpe, Chris (4 January 2024). "Charlie leaves the Dons". AFC Wimbledon. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
36. "Charlie Lakin: Sutton United sign Burton Albion midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
37. "Player of the Season awards 2023-24". Sutton United F.C. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
38. "Walsall sign Burton midfielder Lakin". BBC Sport. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
39. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
40. Bennett, George (22 September 2024). "EFL Trophy: Birmingham 1 Walsall 1 (3–4 pens) – Report". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
41. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
42. "Games played by Charlie Lakin in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
43. "Player of the Season awards 2023–24". Sutton United FC. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.