Freddie Draper

Frederick Charles Draper (born 28th July 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Walsall on loan from Lincoln City.

Freddie Draper
Personal information
Full name Frederick Charles Draper[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-28) 28 July 2004[2]
Place of birth Oxfordshire, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Walsall
(on loan from Lincoln City)
Number 15
Youth career
Derby County
Lincoln City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Lincoln City 8 (0)
2022 → Gainsborough Trinity (loan) 8 (1)
2023 → Drogheda United (loan) 21 (8)
2023– → Walsall (loan) 13 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:54, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Lincoln City

Freddie Draper joined the Imps as a first-year scholar from Derby County.[3] He signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, signing a three-year deal.[4] He would make his Lincoln City debut against Sheffield Wednesday on 23 October 2021 coming off the bench to replace Anthony Scully.[5] On 11 February 2022, he would join Gainsborough Trinity on loan until the end of the season.[6] On 14 April 2022, he received his nomination for LFE Apprentice of the Season at the 2022 EFL Awards, joined by Deji Elerewe and Michael Williams[7] Following the end 2021-22 season, Draper would be named Lincoln City's Academy Player of the season at the end of season awards.[8]

The following season, Draper signed a new long-term contract at the club.[9] The following month he would score his first professional goal after coming off the bench against Newscastle United U21 in the EFL Trophy.[10]

Drogheda United (loan)

On 31 January 2023, he joined Drogheda United on loan for the season along with teammate Elicha Ahui.[11] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 loss away to Bohemians on 6 March. On 16 March, he had his penalty saved in the Louth Derby against Dundalk which would have earned Drogheda a point, but he scored the equaliser in the reverse fixture on 28 April, which 10-man Drogheda went on to narrowly lose 3-2 in injury time.

Draper was nominated for the League of Ireland Player of the Month award in May,[12] scoring 4 goals throughout the month. These included his first home goal against Shelbourne, a brace in a 3-1 win over UCD,[13] and the first goal in a shock win away to league champions Shamrock Rovers. He continued his run of form into June, scoring his 7th and 8th goals of the season; 2 headers, as Drogheda fell to a 3-2 away defeat against Shelbourne. On 22 June 2023, Draper was named League of Ireland Player of the Month for the month of May 2023, becoming the first Drogheda United player to win the accolade since 2014, and the first teenager to claim the award since 1999.[14] His last appearance for the club saw him shown a straight red card in a 2-1 home loss to Dundalk.

On 26 June, It was confirmed that both Draper and Ahui would return to Lincoln City following the completion of their loan on 30 June.[15]

Walsall (loan)

On 7 July 2023, on signing a new long-term contract at Lincoln City, he joined Walsall on a season-long loan.[16][17] He made his debut on 12 August 2023, following the conclusion of his suspension for Drogheda United, starting the game and getting an assist against Stockport County.[18] His first Walsall goal came in the first minute against Crewe Alexandra on 19 August 2023.[19] He scored his first career hat-trick against Newport County, scoring the third goal in the 96th minute to rescue a point.[20]

Career statistics
As of match played on 24 October 2023
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lincoln City 2021–22[21] League One 8010000090
2022–23[22] League One 0010101[lower-alpha 1]131
2023–24[23] League One 0000000000
Total 80201011121
Gainsborough Trinity (loan) 2021–22[24] Northern Premier League 8100–0081
Drogheda United (loan) 2023[22] LOI Premier Division 218––1[lower-alpha 2]0228
Walsall (loan) 2023–24[23] League Two 13800001[lower-alpha 1]0148
Career total 50172010315618
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in Leinster Senior Cup

References
  1. "EFL Squad List 2021/22" (PDF). English Football League. p. 72. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. "F. Draper". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  3. "Freddie Draper". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. "Birthday to remember as Freddie turns professional!". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  5. "How Freddie Draper 'earned the right' to make Lincoln City debut at Sheffield Wednesday". LincolnshireLive. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  6. "Draper joins Gainsborough on loan". Lincoln City FC. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. "Freddie Draper nominated for LFE Apprentice of the Season". Lincoln City FC. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. "Poole honoured at Awards". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  9. "Draper signs long-term contract". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  10. "Freddie Draper's Lincoln City aim after scoring first goal in Papa John's Trophy decider". LincolnshireLuve. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  11. "Imps duo join Drogheda". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. "League of Ireland on Twitter: "Congratulations to the six players nominated for this month's SSE Airtricity/SWI Player of the Month"". twitter.com. 8 June 2023.
  13. "Draper double helps Drogheda see off UCD". rte.ie. RTÉ. 26 May 2023.
  14. "Drogheda's Draper named player of the month". 22 June 2023 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. "Draper and Ahui to return to Lincoln". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  16. "New long-term deal for Freddie". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  17. "Walsall sign Lincoln's Draper on season-long loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  18. "Walsall 2-1 Stockport County". Walsall F.C. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  19. "Crewe Alexandra 2-2 Walsall". Walsall F.C. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  20. "Newport 3-3 Walsall". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  21. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  22. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  23. "Games played by Freddie Draper in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  24. "Gainsborough Trinity – Appearances – Freddie Draper". Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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