Jack Lankester

Jack Lankester

Personal information
Full name	Jack Richard Lankester [1]
Date of birth	(2000-01-19) 19 January 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Bury St Edmunds, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.77 m) [2]
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Crewe Alexandra
Number	14
Youth career
2006–2018	Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Ipswich Town	28	(3)
2018	→ Bury Town (loan)	6	(3)
2021–2024	Cambridge United	100	(6)
2024–	Crewe Alexandra	18	(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:09, 5 January 2025 (UTC)

Jack Richard Lankester (born 19 January 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League Two club Crewe Alexandra, having previously played for Ipswich Town and Cambridge United. ^[3]

Club career

Ipswich Town

Born in Bury St Edmunds, Lankester attended King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds ^[4] and grew up supporting Ipswich Town. ^[5] He joined the Ipswich youth system aged six, progressing through the club's academy before earning a scholarship aged 14. In March 2018 he joined hometown team Bury Town on a work experience loan. ^[6] He progressed from the under-18 team through to the under-23s during 2018, enjoying impressive scoring form, including a brace in a 2–1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Youth Cup on 16 January 2018. ^[7]

After being involved in the first team squad during the 2018–19 pre-season, he signed his first professional contract with the club on 17 August 2018, signing a two-year deal with the option of a further year's extension. ^[8] He made his professional debut for the club on 21 October 2018, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers. ^[9] After making his second first-team appearance, Lankester was placed on standby for the England U19 national team in November 2018. ^[10] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 home defeat to Millwall on 1 January 2019. ^[11] On 7 January 2019, he signed a new three-year contract at the club. ^[12] He made 11 appearances in his debut senior season at Portman Road, with it being cut short in February 2019 due to suffering a back injury which put him out for the rest of the season. ^[13] His impressive progress and lone goal earned him the club's Young Player of the Year award for the 2018–19 season. ^[14]

He recovered and returned to the first team for pre-season, but suffered another stress fracture injury to his back in a friendly against Fortuna Düsseldorf in July. Lankaster subsequently underwent surgery which ruled him out until April 2020. ^[15] Due to this injury and the season being suspended and later ended by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lankester made no appearances during the 2019–20 season. ^[16]

Lankester returned to first-team action during the 2020–21 pre-season. He made his first appearance in almost 20 months as a substitute in a 2–0 away win over Bristol Rovers on 19 September 2020, crossing the ball into the box to force an own goal from Max Ehmer to open the scoring, before providing an assist for the second goal from Jon Nolan. ^[17] He scored his first goal following his comeback from injury against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 3 November 2020. ^[18] In the following league game, Lankester scored a 97th-minute winner in a 2–1 home win over Shrewsbury Town. ^[19]

Cambridge United

On 25 June 2021, Lankester joined fellow East Anglia club Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee, ending his 15-year association with Ipswich Town. ^[20] On 1 May 2024, the club put the player on the transfer list. ^[21]

Crewe Alexandra

On 27 June 2024, Lankester joined League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a three-year deal. ^[22] He made his debut in the side's League Two opener away at Barrow, ^[23] and scored his first Crewe goal in the side's 3–0 win over Harrogate Town at Gresty Road on 21 September 2024. ^[24]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ipswich Town	2018–19 [25]	Championship	11	1	0	0	0	0	—		11	1
	2019–20 [16]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21 [26]	League One	17	2	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	19	2
	Total		28	3	1	0	0	0	1	0	30	3
Bury Town (loan)	2017–18 [27]	IL North Division	6	3	0	0	—		0	0	6	3
Cambridge United	2021–22 [28]	League One	18	1	3	0	1	0	4 [a]	0	26	1
	2022–23 [29]	League One	42	4	3	0	2	0	3 [a]	0	50	4
	2023–24 [30]	League One	40	1	3	1	1	0	3 [a]	1	47	3
	Total		100	6	9	1	4	0	10	1	123	8
Crewe Alexandra	2024–25 [31]	League Two	18	7	0	0	1	0	2	0	21	7
Career total			152	19	10	1	5	0	13	1	180	21

1. Appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

• Ipswich Town Young Player of the Year: 2018–19 ^[14]

References

1. "EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
2. Jack Lankester at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
3. "Jack Lankester". Ipswich Town. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
4. "Lankester targeting Ipswich Town return before end of season". Bury Free Press. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
5. "Big interview: 'This is my club' – Jack Lankester on his journey from Ipswich Town fan to first team player". East Anglian Daily Times. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
6. Lankester out to prove himself on home turf Bury Free Press, 30 March 2018
7. "FA Youth Cup – Town 2 Dagenham 1". Ipswich Town. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
8. "Lankester Signs Pro Deal". Ipswich Town. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
9. "Town 0 QPR 2". Ipswich Town. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
10. "Lambert to watch Town trio in action for England U20s tonight". East Anglian Daily Times. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
11. "Ipswich 2–3 Millwall". BBC Sport. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
12. "New Deal for Jack". Ipswich Town. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
13. Warren, Andy (7 February 2019). "Lankester out for extended spell with stress fracture in his back". East Anglian Daily Times.
14. "Chambo Named Player Of The Year". Ipswich Town F.C. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
15. Warren, Andy (9 August 2019). "Lankester sidelined until 2020 as he prepares for surgery on second stress fracture in back". East Anglian Daily Times.
16. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
17. "Bristol Rovers 0 – 2 Ipswich Town". Ipswich Town F.C. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
18. "Sunderland 2 – 1 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
19. "Ipswich Town 2 – 1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
20. "'A fresh start is something I need' - Lankester signs for Cambridge United". 25 June 2021.
21. "Cambridge United: Ryan Bennett, Lyle Taylor among seven to leave". BBC Sport. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
22. "Lankester joins Crewe". TWTD. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
23. "Barrow 1-0 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
24. "Crewe Alexandra 3-0 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
25. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
26. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
27. "Bury St Edmunds youngster Jack Lankester tipped for the top by U18 academy coach and former Ipswich Town star Alan Lee". Bury Free Press. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
28. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
29. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
30. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
31. "Games played by Jack Lankester in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

External links

• Jack Lankester profile at the Ipswich Town F.C. website
• Jack Lankester at Soccerbase