Exclusive Interview: Luke Mulholland
- Mar 29, 2017
- 3 min read
Name: Luke Mulholland
Age: 28
Position: Midfield
Nationality: English
Club: Real Salt Lake
Photo courtesy of Luke Mulholland
Born in Preston, England, Luke Mulholland was thrown into mens football at an early age, with Lancaster City. He starred for them during a financially difficult time for the club. He also played for the Preston College Football Team, before heading stateside to build his career. Preston College had an annual trip to the states, where Mulholland was spotted and signed. He began in the lower leagues in America, but worked his way up through the ranks and eventually earned a move to Real Salt Lake. After an impressive 2011 season, he was handed trials at MLS side New England Revolution, and English League One side Walsall. He joined Salt Lake in 2014 from the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and is approaching his 100th appearance for the club.
Q - Can you tell us about the early parts of your career in England?
LM - I was just a Sunday league footballer, never with an academy, just a street footballer from Preston. I played for Cadley Boys U11s-16s because that was the team my older brother played for. I played for Preston college football team prior to moving to America.
Q - How did your initial move to America come about?
LM - Preston College Football Team had an annual trip to America and participated in some weekend long tournament.
Q - Can you talk us through your rise up the leagues in America?
LM - Each team was a valuable lesson and a stepping stone for me to reach the MLS.
Q - From your experience, how does football in America compare to England?
LM - It's still not as quick as the Premier League but the style is enjoyable, lower down the English league less football is played and it just becomes lump ball football.
Q - For UK based fans, how does the playoff system work?
LM - Playoffs work just like the football league playoffs for the team battling it out for that last promotion spot.
Q - Could you ever see the English leagues adopting a similar system?
LM - No.
Q - How much has the MLS evolved since you made the move to Salt Lake in 2014?
LM - It's constantly evolving, it's added 4 new teams since I debuted and the standard of play is very competitive.
Q - What do you make of Salt Lake’s start to the season, and what are your ambitions for the season, collectively and individually?
LM - It’s been a difficult start. Our ambitions are to be a hard team to beat and win more games than we lose. Collectively we want to win silverware and make a long run in the playoffs. Individually I want to play as much as possible and contribute to the cause.
Q - Do you have any ambitions to return to England to play one day?
LM - You never know.
Q - If not, what ambitions do you hold for the future?
LM - Embrace it!
We'd like to thank Luke Mulholland for taking the time to speak to us, and we wish him all the best for the rest of the season.
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