Luke Norris

Biography

After a difficult first half of the 2020-1 season, Boro’ signed Luke Norris from Colchester United for that extra oomph in attack. We hadn’t exactly excelled at scoring goals before Norris’ arrival; the low ‘Goals For’ tally a big reason why we had only just escaped the bottom two at the turn of the year. But, in a major statement of intent from then-boss Alex Revell, Norris came in and knew how to find the back of the net. It would be a trait that continued through three different managers in the end; most successfully under Steve Evans.

A native of our fair town, Norris came to us on a short-term deal that’d take him up to the end of the 2020-1 season to start with. It perhaps shows the caution that was around the footballing world at the time; the dreaded coronavirus forcing us into a ‘third’ lockdown at the time and raising doubts over the viability of the EFL season. In the end, the short-term deal turned into a two-year stay. And it culminated in the player being part of the squad that’d win promotion to League One. Of course, we were ably assisted by his goals too.

Alas, Nozza wouldn’t make the step up with us in the end. He left the club when his deal was up in summer 2023; the striker doing a lot right by his hometown club and giving us a lot to be grateful for in the process.

Luke Norris: Before Boro’

After starting out at Hitchin Town (boo hiss!), Norris secured a massive move upwards in summer 2010 when Brentford came a-calling. At first, he moved to Griffin Park on a two-year scholarship; making his professional debut in April 2011. He extended his stay by a further year with the Bees in 2013 and was reported to have caught our eye towards the end of the 2013-4 season. Of course, such a move did not materialise.

Instead, he made his way into Kent; signing for Gillingham. Such is the lack of information on this part of his career on Wikipedia that you’d think he was never there. He was though; scoring 15 times in around 80-or-so appearances. After two years at Priestfield, yet again came the time to move on; first to Swindon Town for two years, and then onto Colchester United in summer 2018 – despite recently signing a new deal with the Robins.