Former Lincoln City and current Maidstone United winger Joan Luque has announced on Twitter he will be leaving the club. He has stated that he has been informed by the club there will be no place for him in the squad next season.
The news broke yesterday that Joan Luque, will not be continuing his time with the Stones following the end of this season.
Luque has been out for the majority of this season injured and is yet to feature for the Stones this campaign. He had this to say when asked by a fan how the injury was.
“It’s good mate! Will be back for preseason as there’s no point in risking it now. Maybe a couple of minutes against Notts but that’s for GE(George Elokobi) to give it to me.”
Seemingly on the road to recovery after a long time out on the sidelines.
The Spaniard first joined the club back in 2020, from Dagenham and Redbridge. He briefly left the Stones for Weymouth in January 2021, before rejoining ahead of their 21-22 title-winning season.
During the 21-22 season, Luque was a vital part of the side that took the Stones back to the National League as champions, scoring 20 goals in 33 league appearances. He’s also picked as the National League Player of The Season. He was formally part of the Lincoln City squad under manager Danny Cowley however never really cemented a place in the side before departing.
He had posted this message for Stones fans on his Twitter following the news.
“I’m absolutely gutted to share the news that the management team have informed me that I’m not in their plans for @MaidstoneUnited next season, meaning I’ll be a free agent from May.”
“With the shock that this news has given me I’m going to try and put into words my feelings about my time here”
“I don’t even know where to start… It has been a rollercoaster of emotions since the day I joined. I will always remember my first day walking on the pitch for my first league game at the club, with the fans allowed back in I had tears in my eyes because you made us feel how much you missed being there with us.”
“I remember when Hak was talking before the game and he stopped talking because you were singing Sweet Caroline out loud, he said, they’ve been waiting 18 months for this day, go and give them something to cheer on, and what a start in front of you! A win and 2 goals!”
“You knew it was going to be a season to remember and what a season, last minute goals, derby wins, and the most important, WE WON THE LEAGUE and that’s something no one will ever take from us or me personally”
“I’ll be forever grateful to that group of players and management for what we achieved last season, and of course to the fans for all those memories we shared together that will forever be in my heart”
“It’s not how I imagined my story with Maidstone will finish, as I pictured and imagined myself coming in at the Gallagher again so many times during my injury rehab, but life’s like this, unexpected and often brutal.”
“So I want to take this moment to say thank you to the club for taking care of me when I got injured and helping me with the surgery and rehab. To the players last year for what we shared. Lifting the League trophy and being named Player of the Season was an amazing achievement that we should always be proud of”
“For the ones this season for their support everyday. To Hak and Terry for giving me the chance to shine again and fall back in love with the game.”
“Thanks also to the medical staff, specially Beth and Luke J. For their support and the way they helped me not only dealing with the situation but making sure my mental health was right too.”
“Also, I want to take this moment to say thank you to Billy Jones and Brad, for giving me some enjoyment by getting back into coaching, it’s been fun to see the improvement on the kids every week and has had a good impact on my mental health too.”
“Special mention to Regan, who’s been always there at the club and at home to support me through my worst days, I’ve gained a true friend for life.”
“And last but not least to the fans, who’ve shown nothing but love and passion since day 1, supporting us to do what we did last year, to become CHAMPIONS alongside us, and for their incredible support shown to myself since the days I joined the club and specially since I got injured.”
“You can’t imagine how much you’ve helped me since I was one more of you in the stands away and home, specially last year, and this year always asking me and showing me how much you want to see me playing again.”
“Maidstone will always be a club I’ll love because of the special fans and I will be a Maidstone supporter for life. All the best, Luque.”
In his own words “Gutted” to be leaving the club.
Here’s what his manager, George Elokobi had to say on the decision.
“With Luque first and foremost Luque is a great gentleman and a very good footballer.”
“A good friend of mine, but as a leader as a manager, you have to make very very difficult decisions. Luque is one of those decisions I’ve made as a manager of this football club.”
“Hopefully it will benefit the football club going forward. In terms of footballing reasons, Luque hasn’t been able to play for us this season, we know the injury he sustained from last season and going forward he hasn’t been able to play any part and won’t be able to play a part this season.”
“In the rebuilding process that is going on at the club, my decision going forward, I’m moving it in a different direction from what Luque must be thinking. However, it’s my decision to ensure that Luque was informed this morning in person and we had a conversation and I told him he won’t be apart of my team going forward for next season.”
“Because he hasn’t managed to prove his fitness this season and I don’t really know when Luque is going to be fit to be honest, and that’s where the decision has come from.”
“Not forgetting, with the rebuilding process that is taking place at Maidstone United, I have really, we haven’t got time, to wait for players to be fit before we make a decision. Because we are right behind in terms of our planning for next season, it’s important that everyone knows where they stand in terms of us going forward.”
“I’m going to say this again, on behalf of myself and the football club Luque’s been an excellent servant for us. We saw a lot of magical moments from him last season, and we want to thank him for everything he has done for this football club.”
“It’s our duty of care to ensure that we will carry on looking after him till his contract comes to an end, and then we can all move on from there”
Writers View
The only word I can use to describe my reaction to this news is shock. I can see why the club have made the decision, as Luque has been out for such a long time, but I still can’t get my head fully around it.
Although he hasn’t featured this season, he was the National League South Player of The Season last year, and looks to be ready to get back out on the grass next year.
With the Stones likely to be heading back to the National League South next season, for me surely he’s worth taking a chance on.
From an outsider’s view, it looked like he built a special relationship with Stones fans, during the title-winning season. But I guess this is the start of the rebuild at Maidstone following a dreadful season.
On Elokobi’s comments, I can’t say I agree with him although, yes you can’t wait on players, this isn’t just any player he’s been a special servant for Maidstone and surely deserves a chance to come back.
Even if he comes back half the player he was before the injury, he’d still be a very valuable assets to this Maidstone side.
