Joe Lumley (no, not that one) is a young stopper who we called upon in October 2015 when Jesse Joronen – another loanee – went on international duty. It’s what you might call a quirk of modern football, we reckon. At that time, the lad was working his way up the ranks at QPR; called on to act as deputy to Chris Day when here. And Daysey, of course, is a former Rs man himself. What that means, however, is that Lumley saw no action in Boro’s first team. Instead, he warmed the bench twice.

Joe Lumley: Before Boro’

Mind you, he’d seen action elsewhere before us. After launching his senior career on loan at fellow Herts side Bishop’s Stortford, he gained League experience on loan with Accrington Stanley and Morecambe.

Joe Lumley: After Boro’

His lack of action at the Lamex wouldn’t hold him back. He did go out on loan twice more, however; during the 2016-7 campaign to Bristol Rovers and then Blackpool the following season. By this point, he’d made his first-team debut at Loftus Road. And better still was to come when Lumley became QPR’s first choice stopper in the 2018-9 season. It was a position he’d occupy for just the one season exclusively, however. The arrival of Liam Kelly restricting his game time during the Covid-hit 2019-20 season.

In 2021, Lumley moved to another Boro’ – Middlesbrough – on a permanent deal; leaving Loftus Road in search of regular football. He stayed here for two years before his release in 2023, upon which he joined Southampton.