Freddie Draper

Freddie Draper

Personal information
Full name	Frederick Charles Draper [1]
Date of birth	(2004-02-13) 13 February 2004 (age 20) [2]
Place of birth	Oxfordshire, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Lincoln City
Number	34
Youth career
	Derby County
	Lincoln City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Lincoln City	40	(4)
2022	→ Gainsborough Trinity (loan)	8	(1)
2023	→ Drogheda United (loan)	21	(8)
2023–2024	→ Walsall (loan)	22	(10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:11, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

Frederick Charles Draper (born 13 February 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Lincoln City.

Club career

Lincoln City

Freddie Draper joined the Imps as a first-year scholar from Derby County. ^[3] He signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, signing a three-year deal. ^[4] He would make his Lincoln City debut against Sheffield Wednesday on 23 October 2021 coming off the bench to replace Anthony Scully. ^[5] On 11 February 2022, he would join Gainsborough Trinity on loan until the end of the season. ^[6] On 14 April 2022, he received his nomination for LFE Apprentice of the Season at the 2022 EFL Awards, joined by Deji Elerewe and Michael Williams ^[7] Following the end 2021–22 season, Draper would be named Lincoln City's Academy Player of the season at the end of season awards. ^[8]

The following season, Draper signed a new long-term contract at the club. ^[9] The following month he would score his first professional goal after coming off the bench against Newscastle United U21 in the EFL Trophy. ^[10]

He scored his first Lincoln City league goal against Reading on 6 April 2024 following the return from his loan spell at Walsall. ^[11]

Drogheda United (loan)

On 31 January 2023, he joined Drogheda United on loan for the season along with teammate Elicha Ahui. ^[12] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 loss away to Bohemians on 6 March. On 16 March, he had his penalty saved in the Louth Derby against Dundalk which would have earned Drogheda a point, but he scored the equaliser in the reverse fixture on 28 April, which 10-man Drogheda went on to narrowly lose 3-2 in injury time.

Draper was nominated for the League of Ireland Player of the Month award in May, ^[13] scoring 4 goals throughout the month. These included his first home goal against Shelbourne, a brace in a 3-1 win over UCD, ^[14] and the first goal in a shock win away to league champions Shamrock Rovers. He continued his run of form into June, scoring his 7th and 8th goals of the season; 2 headers, as Drogheda fell to a 3-2 away defeat against Shelbourne. On 22 June 2023, Draper was named League of Ireland Player of the Month for the month of May 2023, becoming the first Drogheda United player to win the accolade since 2014, and the first teenager to claim the award since 1999. ^[15] His last appearance for the club saw him shown a straight red card in a 2-1 home loss to Dundalk.

On 26 June, It was confirmed that both Draper and Ahui would return to Lincoln City following the completion of their loan on 30 June. ^[16]

Walsall (loan)

On 7 July 2023, on signing a new long-term contract at Lincoln City, he joined Walsall on a season-long loan. ^{[17] [18]} He made his debut on 12 August 2023, following the conclusion of his suspension for Drogheda United, starting the game and getting an assist against Stockport County. ^[19] His first Walsall goal came in the first minute against Crewe Alexandra on 19 August 2023. ^[20] He scored his first career hat-trick against Newport County, scoring the third goal in the 96th minute to secure a 3–3 draw. ^[21] On 5 January 2024, Draper was recalled by Lincoln City having scored 10 goals and 3 assists in 23 matches. ^{[22] [23]}

Career statistics

As of match played on 14 December 2024

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lincoln City	2021–22 [24]	League One	8	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
	2022–23 [25]	League One	0	0	1	0	1	0	1 [a]	1	3	1
	2023–24 [26]	League One	15	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	2
	2024–25 [27]	League One	17	2	2	0	1	0	4 [a]	1	24	3
	Total		40	4	4	0	2	0	5	2	51	6
Gainsborough Trinity (loan)	2021–22 [28]	Northern Premier League	8	1	0	0	–		0	0	8	1
Drogheda United (loan)	2023 [25]	LOI Premier Division	21	8	–		–		1 [b]	0	22	8
Walsall (loan)	2023–24 [26]	League Two	22	10	2	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	25	10
Career total			91	23	6	0	2	0	7	2	106	25

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

Individual

• League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month: May 2023, ^[29]

References

1. "EFL Squad List 2021/22" (PDF). English Football League. p. 72. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
2. "F. Draper". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
3. "Freddie Draper". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
4. "Birthday to remember as Freddie turns professional!". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
5. "How Freddie Draper 'earned the right' to make Lincoln City debut at Sheffield Wednesday". LincolnshireLive. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
6. "Draper joins Gainsborough on loan". Lincoln City FC. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
7. "Freddie Draper nominated for LFE Apprentice of the Season". Lincoln City FC. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
8. "Poole honoured at Awards". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
9. "Draper signs long-term contract". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
10. "Freddie Draper's Lincoln City aim after scoring first goal in Papa John's Trophy decider". LincolnshireLuve. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
11. "Passionate Draper has real belief". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
12. "Imps duo join Drogheda". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
13. "League of Ireland on Twitter: "Congratulations to the six players nominated for this month's SSE Airtricity/SWI Player of the Month"". twitter.com. 8 June 2023.
14. "Draper double helps Drogheda see off UCD". rte.ie. RTÉ. 26 May 2023.
15. "Drogheda's Draper named player of the month". 22 June 2023 – via www.rte.ie.
16. "Draper and Ahui to return to Lincoln". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
17. "New long-term deal for Freddie". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
18. "Walsall sign Lincoln's Draper on season-long loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
19. "Walsall 2-1 Stockport County". Walsall F.C. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
20. "Crewe Alexandra 2-2 Walsall". Walsall F.C. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
21. "Newport 3-3 Walsall". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
22. "Draper recalled by the Imps". Lincoln City F.C. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
23. Owner, Ryan Whelan- (1 January 2024). "Exclusive: Lincoln City Make Decision Over Loanee's Future". Look Sports Media. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
24. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
25. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
26. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
27. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
28. "Gainsborough Trinity – Appearances – Freddie Draper" . Retrieved 7 April 2022.
29. "Drogheda United's Freddie Draper youngest this century to win Player of the Month award". Irish Independent. 23 June 2023.