Hearing rumour luke officially left the club to sign for a club in national league , if true wish him nothing but the best a true leader when we needed him most

Loved Luke. What a player in that play-off epic. I'd commission a statue of him for BP, running wide-eyed, fists clenched and mouth wide open as he rants against Mullin in that Wrexham game.

Thanks for what you have done Luke, and good luck if you are finding pastures new.

Quoted from SpiritOf98

Loved Luke. What a player in that play-off epic. I'd commission a statue of him for BP, running wide-eyed, fists clenched and mouth wide open as he rants against Mullin in that Wrexham game.

Luke Waterfall will of course be forever remembered for that moment, but though it often gets lost in the sheer madness of that season, it wasn’t his only last minute winner in a Town shirt.

anyone know if this is happening or not? If so which club has he gone to?

Quoted from Wainmans Gloves

anyone know if this is happening or not? If so which club has he gone to?

I'd imagine if he's left it'll be to a club within commutable distance from Sheffield. So one of Oldham, Halifax, York, Altrincham, Rochdale or Chesterfield.  

The thing I liked about that goal, that squad, was how happy the loan players were.

We've had plenty whose time here went far beyond what Abrahams, Dieseruvwe and even Raikhy had, but these lads played their part and looked like they genuinely loved it here.

I know it counts for little in reality, but I like it when players get older, look back, and think their time at Grimsby was the best. Because they're not from round here, but whenever they see or hear of Grimsby for the rest of their lives they'll have happy memories.

I'm sure Waterfall will have those too.

Absolutely be the right move for all parties involved, but always hard to see players you really like move on and probably even harder when you see them not managing to cut it at their previous standards.

I'm sure he'll be the first to admit he's not the best actual footballer but intercourse me if you wanted anyone to run through a wall, he's the only number you're looking for.  Written off by virtually everyone, myself included, after the disaster that was 20/21.  Even started the next season on the bench behind Shaun Pearson and David Longe-King but soon regained his place and went onto be one of the most important performers that season.

The sheer attitude of his "intercourse off, intercourse off, fuuuccccck offffff" to Mullin at Wrexham is without shadow of doubt one of my favourite Town memories ever.

Whoever gets him in the Conference has got an absolute warrior and beast.  

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

I'd imagine if he's left it'll be to a club within commutable distance from Sheffield. So one of Oldham, Halifax, York, Altrincham, Rochdale or Chesterfield.  

He's mad if he's chosen to drive over Woodhead and back every day from Sheffield  ;D

Danny Rose not happy as his car share will be obliterated with Eastwood and hunt to follow

A great leader who will be sorely missed, piled in with a few goals too.  I wish him all the luck in the world and thank him for his time here.

Quoted from Poojah

Luke Waterfall will of course be forever remembered for that moment, but though it often gets lost in the sheer madness of that season, it wasn’t his only last minute winner in a Town shirt.

Tweet 1490762427931275268 will appear here...

Yeah, crazy season. Remembering those games where you'd get to your feet for a corner almost anticipating the goal from a Hunt/Waterfall combo.

Luke has been a great servant for town and will be fondly remembered. Obviously his departure means there could be " wages room" for another player.

Quoted from SpiritOf98

Yeah, crazy season. Remembering those games where you'd get to your feet for a corner almost anticipating the goal from a Hunt/Waterfall combo.

As it happens, it feels like we haven’t scored from a corner since. It must have happened, but I genuinely can’t think of one off the top of my head.

Edit: Holohan at Luton, actually, but they’ve been few and far between.

Quoted from Poojah

Luke Waterfall will of course be forever remembered for that moment, but though it often gets lost in the sheer madness of that season, it wasn’t his only last minute winner in a Town shirt.

Tweet 1490762427931275268 will appear here...

That was Efete! Waterfall nodded it down to him  

Quoted from Hagrid

That was Efete! Waterfall nodded it down to him  

Yeah, you’re quite right. I couldn’t quite remember or work it out from that angle, so I Googled it to try and double check. Google is wrong.

It's quite clearly Michee's goal. I never understood the debate or the fact it was ever credited to Waterfall.

Quoted from Mariner_09

It's quite clearly Michee's goal. I never understood the debate or the fact it was ever credited to Waterfall.

Absolutely crucial goal whoever got the final touch - 15 mins that turned our season round after the bad mid-season run…

Hartlepool is the rumour.

He goes with my thanks and gratitude for his service. Took me a while to like him in all fairness but my kind of player does what it says on the tin. Luke in his spells with Grimsby & Lincoln has had a fantastic lower league career. Good luck to a Warrior

After the relegation season, I alike many thought he had 0 chance of a future at this football club. His own personal comeback story showed the type of bloke he is. One of the most important players over the past few seasons. Not many people can play for Lincoln and Grimsby and be loved by both fanbases but he is certainly one of them, El Capitano.

Told he could leave after relegation by Hurst, decided to stay and fight for a place that was not guaranteed, got back in the team and stayed in it on merit. Became a huge part of the playoff season that followed becoming a leader on the pitch and off it, showing younger players an example to follow of how a pro should carry themselves. Exactly the kind of player we needed at that time being strong at the back defending against physical forwards that are good in the air. Pitched in with a fair few goals from set pieces too which made us a more effective unit. He was fantastic in the playoff games, Wrexham being a stand out performance.

First season back in L2 he was also pretty successful though it hasn't really happened for him in recent times. If he's taking a step down the leagues I can see him doing really well as the type of players he'll more often be up against will be the type he can battle in the air with. He knows what it takes already to win in that league.

Good player, good bloke by the looks of it and when we needed him to step up great captain. Had his tough periods but clearly has massive resilience, and maybe is the king of comeback kings.

If he goes good luck to him, would prefer another CB incoming though before this happens.

Been told it hartlepool i will be keeping an eye for there results just for luke , sure they will enjoy him at that level like us & gimps did

Quoted from fishcake63

Been told it hartlepool i will be keeping an eye for there results just for luke , sure they will enjoy him at that level like us & gimps did

Teaming up with Manny D again then!

Quoted from Poojah

As it happens, it feels like we haven’t scored from a corner since. It must have happened, but I genuinely can’t think of one off the top of my head.

Edit: Holohan at Luton, actually, but they’ve been few and far between.

Did maher score from a corner this season at home.

Quoted from The Yard Dog

Did maher score from a corner this season at home.

Oh yeah, against Gillingham.

Quoted from Heisenberg

Oh yeah, against Gillingham.

That feels like 10 years ago.

Quoted from Poojah

That feels like 10 years ago.

Things seemed so rosey straight after that game! We’d just beaten top of the table promotion hopefuls with relative ease.

Is this official yet or just forum conjecture?

Confirmed

End of an era. A bonkers, at times turbulent era, but an incredible one all the same. Thanks for the memories, Luke.

Aye, certainly not a dull 4 and a half years. Big signing for Pools, go well Luke.

Good luck Luke. You had some good days for the club and will go down in folklore for that winner at Wrexham

Thank you for incredible memories, You proved doubters wrong, Me included, Absolutely brilliant in that promotion season.

All the best for the rest of your career

Probably the last 'Old Fashioned' centre-back we'll see as you don't get many of his type around these days.

There's a lot to be said for busting a gut and giving your all and it can help make up for shortfalls in other areas.

Did a great job for us and should do a great job for Hartlepool for a year or two.

Good luck to him.

Can't argue with letting him go, but Luke will be remembered here as a f@cking warrior won't he. With the unforgettable celebration of his goal at Wrexham the icing on the cake.

Good luck at Hartlepool

He will be a great signing get your money on the Poolies gatecrashing the play offs now they've got Lionheart Luke.

A real stalwart!  While he might not suit the way we’re playing now he’ll be a huge loss in the dressing room.  Best of luck to Luke.

This one was always going to sting. A colossus.

Only reservation with him going is the loss of experience and leadership in the dressing room.

Be very interesting to see who Artell brings in to add that to the set-up and can't imagine he's let Waterfall go without having someone waiting in the wings, especially as Hartlepool (or any other non-league team) could have signed him beyond this January window closing.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Only reservation with him going is the loss of experience and leadership in the dressing room.

Be very interesting to see who Artell brings in to add that to the set-up and can't imagine he's let Waterfall go without having someone waiting in the wings, especially as Hartlepool (or any other non-league team) could have signed him beyond this January window closing.

Kevin Phillips said the recruitment team identified Luke quite a while ago, so seems it may of been in the works for a while.

Quoted from Poojah

End of an era. A bonkers, at times turbulent era, but an incredible one all the same. Thanks for the memories, Luke.

Nuff said!

Mountain of a man.  Should never need to buy a pint in Gy or Meggies.  Best of luck Luke.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Kevin Phillips said the recruitment team identified Luke quite a while ago, so seems it may of been in the works for a while.

Interesting. By identify I wonder if that means it came on their radar that he was looking for something (basing that on Artell's comments about Waterfall wanting to know where he stood).

If it means they became aware of his ability as a fifth tier defender, then their recruitment team are doing a bloody good job of stating the obvious.

Quoted from arryarryarry

https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2024/january/interview-luke-waterfall-on-joining-pools/

Does this mean we have become the feeder club for Hartlepool?

Quoted from MarinerRob

Does this mean we have become the feeder club for Hartlepool?

Think it makes them our reserves.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Only reservation with him going is the loss of experience and leadership in the dressing room.

Be very interesting to see who Artell brings in to add that to the set-up and can't imagine he's let Waterfall go without having someone waiting in the wings, especially as Hartlepool (or any other non-league team) could have signed him beyond this January window closing.

Maybe he thinks someone like Danny Rose has the experience and leadership in the dressing room?
He has already brought in DougTharme to replace him in defence.
Similarly I guess Harry Wood to replace Khan.
Artell has intimated that those whose contracts expire this year & don't figure in his future plans  can go now if they have found another club .
So that  as it stands leaves Justin Obikwu in for either Abo or the most likely to go - Arthur?
I have no idea of course!

I imagine Rose is a good character in the dressing room, he's still captain as well which suggests Artell values his leadership abilities.

But we're very thin on the ground of those with what appear to be leadership qualities (and we're looking from the outside in here) but crucially experience at this level.

Rodgers has a bit.  Clifton a bit.   Then it's a real struggle.  Eisa...Vernam...

Quoted from diehardmariner

I imagine Rose is a good character in the dressing room, he's still captain as well which suggests Artell values his leadership abilities.

But we're very thin on the ground of those with what appear to be leadership qualities (and we're looking from the outside in here) but crucially experience at this level.

Rodgers has a bit.  Clifton a bit.   Then it's a real struggle.  Eisa...Vernam...

Agree there, and it's one thing Artell values. At Crewe he brought in 2/3 old heads to go alongside the young talent to guide it and set standards.

Bit of a risk this one from DA, losing a real leader on and off the pitch as we head into a relegation battle. I’d rather we kept him for the run in and let him leave at the end of the season.

Quoted from jimgtfc

Bit of a risk this one from DA, losing a real leader on and off the pitch as we head into a relegation battle. I’d rather we kept him for the run in and let him leave at the end of the season.

The problem is budget. If you cannot justify him in the first team, you're paying money for advice and leadership.

I think we need to wage money to improve so have to roll the dice on this.

Luke is a legend and has done us well, and I hope this works for him, but for me, it was the end of the road here, and we need to move on to progress.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Agree there, and it's one thing Artell values. At Crewe he brought in 2/3 old heads to go alongside the young talent to guide it and set standards.

Yep.  Paul Green, Nicky Hunt and Chris Dagnell.  I think he brought two of those in.  It's a very young and experienced squad we have now, I'll be amazed if there's not at least two older and wiser heads brought in before the window ends.

I seem to recall Luke saying at the start of the season that he was finding it difficult, at his age, to maintain his fitness and recovery levels in L2.

He has been a diamond for the club since the close season ( NL) under PH, when he came back rejuvenated and not only showed but played to his true potential.

Had two cracking seasons, and he got my vote for player of the year in both.

Good luck Luke.

What a lovely heartfelt message.

Highs and lows but always committed and that is something you can't always say.
Cheers Luke.

Had a lot of decent centre halves in my 60+ years supporting town but not too many were better than Waterfall in the air. One of the best headers of the ball, in both areas, that we’ve had. Good luck to him deserving of another couple of seasons playing and I hope he has more success.

I've been watching Town for over 50 years and I have to say that the play off campaign was the most incredible two weeks I can remember. Luke was a huge part of that and so I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that  none of us will ever forget that fortnight and his part in it.  He performance at Wrexham in particular was immense.

What a guy.

Wishing him the very best of luck in the rest of his career.    

I have the utmost respect and admiration for Luke, for all the reasons given by the previous posters.

The man should never have to buy himself a beer in any pub in Grimsby if he's ever back in town.

If the club could find a role for him when his playing days are over I'd be delighted.