Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Luke Southwood is set to return to Cheltenham Town on a permanent deal, according to Gloucestershire Live journalist Jon Palmer.
The 25-year-old is set to become the Robins’ fourth summer signing in what would be a coup for Wade Elliott’s side where he excelled in his performances after previously joining Cheltenham whilst on loan from Reading.
Who is Luke Southwood?
Born in Oxford, Southwood came through the Reading Academy and played through their youth teams.
His first loan move was to Bath City, initially for six months, but he ended up staying the entire 2017-18 season on loan at The Romans and picked up their Player of the Season Award.
He eventually moved on loan to Eastleigh and played a key part in the Spitfires’ campaign during the 2018-19 season, which saw them lose in the National League Play-Off Semi-Finals to eventual winners Salford City. Southwood won the Player of the Month award for April.
The Northern Irishman then moved to Hamilton Academical on loan but ended up making only 15 appearances for the Scottish Premiership side.
After his loan at Hamilton, he ended up becoming first-choice for Reading and played a handful of games for the Championship side before falling out of favour again.
It was then the loan move to Cheltenham where he excelled, playing every minute last season for the Robins as he helped the side finish in 16th in League One, whilst also breaking the record for most clean sheets for a Cheltenham goalkeeper, as well as also finishing 6th in the clean sheets table in League One last season.
Writer’s View
Following the inevitable and sad news of Alfie May’s departure to Charlton Athletic, this news about Southwood will please a lot of Cheltenham fans – including myself. Southwood was one of our standout performers last season and being able to bring him back on a permanent deal shows a statement of intent that we want to continue to fight in League One. It has been a great start to the transfer window and long may it continue.
