Claude Gnakpa
Claude Gnakpa Date of Birth: Jun 9, 1983 Share "Claude Gnakpa" on FacebookBorn in Marseilles, France. Claude trained with Montpelier HSC and then followed anomadic football life with his time at Luton Town being his longest stay by far. He started out at several French lower league sides then the same routine in Spain before arriving at Swindon Town on trial in March 2007. A few matches were spent bench warming with no chance to prove himself on the pitch but in the Summer a successful trial period at Peterborough United resulted in a contract.
The season was a successful one for the Posh which saw promotion to the second tier with Claude playing his part as a defender in 29 games. A contract could not be agreed and a number of clubs came calling. Luton Town was his choice despite the minus 30 point penalty imposed on the club.
Claude made the first of his 136 appearances for the Hatters against Port Vale in the first game of the 2008/09 season. His first goal came in the 2 1 home defeat to Darlington in October 2008 and he would go on to play in 29 games scoring 4 goals. His most important goal by far came in the Football League Trophy Final against Scunthorpe United at Wembley. Coming on as substitute his run on to a through ball and lob sealed a memorable 3 2 victory in from of 42,000 jubilant Hatters’ fans.
The goal sealed Claude a place in the hearts of the Hatters’ fans who forgave him when at times, he could be clumsy and make the wrong decision. But everyone recognised the talent, the pace, the skill, the heading ability and accepted the unpredictability that Claude brought to the side.
In the 2009/10 season Claude was used more as a winger than a full back and scored his first hat-trick away to Ebbsfleet in March 2010 as part of a 6 1 victory. A total of 32 appearances and 9 goals could not help the Hatters’ to promotion as they lost out in the play off semi final to York City.
The following season saw Claude make 44 appearances and score 15 goals helping to take the Town into the Play off final against AFC Wimbledon. That sad day proved to be Claude’s last for the Hatters as his contract was not renewed. A one year deal with Walsall followed then onto Inverness Caledonian Thistle for a short spell and then to Goa.
In September 2015 the Fenland Citizen announced that Claude had signed for Macmillan F.C. - “Club founder and manager Justin Cross said: ‘It’s fantastic news for the club. He doesn’t want to play for our league team, just the charity one; he will be a great asset to our fundraising efforts.’ Gnakpa came to know about Macmillan FC after playing against them with Luton’s Hatters Talk in the second Mark Ovendale match, in memory of the former Wisbech and Luton goalkeeper, in June. Mr Cross hopes Gnakpa will be available for the next game against the Leverington Veterans, which is due to be held in November. If he can attend, it is hoped a fundraising evening with the star can be held afterwards, too.”
Appearances
- League
- 27
- Non-League
- 82
- FAC
- 14
- League Cup
- 2
- Other
- 11
- Total
- 136
Goals
- League
- 1
- Non-League
- 22
- FAC
- 2
- League Cup
- 0
- Other
- 2
- Total
- 27
Related Items
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Claude Gnakpa -
Claude Gnapka had opened the scoring for the Town with a towering header - Luton Town FC vs Histon (20th Nov 2010)
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Claude Gnapka with a header to make it 2-0 - Luton Town FC vs Eastbourne Borough (23rd Apr 2011)
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Yet another headed goal for Claude Gnapka in a tremendous goal scoring season for him - Histon vs Luton Town FC (25th Apr 2011)
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On a night of excellent long distance strikes # Claude Gnapka fires the second into the top corner - Wrexham vs Luton Town FC (5th May 2011)
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Claude Gnapka celebrating scoring the second for Luton - Kidderminster Harriers vs Luton Town FC (2nd Apr 2011)
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Claude Gnapka rounds the Fleetwood keeper to make it 2-0 - Fleetwood Town vs Luton Town FC (21st Aug 2010)
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Claude Gnapka scores the Luton second - Luton Town FC vs Gateshead (22nd Jan 2011)
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A disappointing day got worse as Claude Gnapka was one of two Hatters to be sent off - Luton Town FC vs Mansfield Town (19th Mar 2011)
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A Claude Gnapka victory dance as he scored the Hatters third goal - Luton Town FC vs Rushden & Diamonds (1st Jan 2011)
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Claude Gnapka scores a penalty to round off the rout with six goals from six different scorers - Luton Town FC vs Southport (9th Apr 2011)
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Claude Gnakpa on his way to netting the match clinching third goal - Luton Town FC vs Scunthorpe United (5th Apr 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa celebrates - Luton Town FC vs Scunthorpe United (5th Apr 2009)
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Claude Gnapka wins another towering header - York City vs Luton Town FC (19th Apr 2011)
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Claude Gnakpa sends in a right wing cross - Eastbourne Borough vs Luton Town FC (13th Feb 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa shrugs off a defender - Luton Town FC vs Crawley Town (1st Sep 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa holds off Michael Blackwood - Luton Town FC vs Tamworth (3rd Oct 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa attacke down the right wing - Altrincham vs Luton Town FC (17th Oct 2009)
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Claude Gnapka on a typical mauranding run - Cambridge United vs Luton Town FC (15th Mar 2011)
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Claude Gnapka under pressure from former Luton hero Ian Roper - Kettering Town vs Luton Town FC (17th Aug 2010)
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Claude Gnapka forces his way throuigh the midfield complete with gloves in mid-March - Mansfield Town vs Luton Town FC (13th Mar 2011)
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Claude Gnapka leads another dance to celebrate scoring the only goal of the game - Luton Town FC vs Grimsby Town (25th Jan 2011)
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Claude Gnapka facing some of the resolute Newport defence that earned them a draw and stopped our 100� record - Luton Town FC vs Newport County AFC (24th Aug 2010)
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All eyes on the ball but no joy for Claude Gnapka - Grimsby Town vs Luton Town FC (4th Sep 2010)
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Claude Gnapka celebrates Luton's first goal - Darlington vs Luton Town FC (21st Sep 2010)
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Claude Gnapka misses a penalty - Luton Town FC vs Mansfield Town (28th Sep 2010)
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Claude Gnapka makes another galloping overlap run - Barrow vs Luton Town FC (2nd Oct 2010)
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That is one way to stop a Claude Gnapka surge - Altrincham vs Luton Town FC (13th Nov 2010)
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Claude Gnapka scores the first for Luton - Luton Town FC vs Darlington (1st Feb 2011)
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Claude Gnapka fires in the winner - Hayes & Yeading United vs Luton Town FC (4th Jan 2011)
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Claude Gnapka was the hero as he scored the only goal of the game - Hayes & Yeading United vs Luton Town FC (4th Jan 2011)
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Claude Gnapka rises above the defence wearing a pair of gloves from the club shop - Bath City vs Luton Town FC (8th Jan 2011)
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Claude Gnapka scores the winner, his eighth goal of the season - Luton Town FC vs Grimsby Town (25th Jan 2011)
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Claude Gnakpa is closed down by two defenders - Luton Town FC vs Grays Athletic (24th Oct 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa loses track of the ball - Luton Town FC vs Rushden & Diamonds (31st Oct 2009)
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2-0 Claude Gnakpa fires in his first and Town`s second goal - Luton Town FC vs Hayes & Yeading United (27th Mar 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa`s towering header opens the scoring - Luton Town FC vs Salisbury City (30th Mar 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa fires a shot towards goal - York City vs Luton Town FC (29th Apr 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa goes close - Luton Town FC vs Chesterfield (13th Apr 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa keeps his eye on the ball - Brighton & Hove Albion vs Luton Town FC (20th Jan 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa gets clear of two Bury defenders - Bury vs Luton Town FC (25th Oct 2008)
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Claude Gnakpa keeps his eyes on the ball - Luton Town FC vs Darlington (11th Oct 2008)
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Claude Gnakpa is about to be congratulated by Keith Keane on his goal - Luton Town FC vs Darlington (11th Oct 2008)
- Keith Keane
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Claude Gnakpa thunders in a shot - Luton Town FC vs Brentford (7th Oct 2008)
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Claude Gnakpa tries to hold off the close attentions of Paul Heckingbottom - Bradford City vs Luton Town FC (4th Oct 2008)
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Claude Gnakpa showing admirable balance - Macclesfield Town vs Luton Town FC (6th Sep 2008)
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Claude Gnakpa slaloms through the Grecians defence - Exeter City vs Luton Town FC (30th Aug 2008)
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Claude Gnakpa tries to get round a Gills defender - Gillingham vs Luton Town FC (16th Aug 2008)
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3-0 Claude Gnakpa celebrates with Jake Howells after scoring his second and Town`s third goal - Luton Town FC vs Hayes & Yeading United (27th Mar 2010)
- Jake Howells
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Claude Gnakpa heads in his and Town`s first goal to level the scores - Ebbsfleet United vs Luton Town FC (20th Mar 2010)
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Steve Basham and Claude Gnakpa celebrate with Adam Newton after he scored the second goal - Luton Town FC vs Rochdale (7th Nov 2009)
- Steve Basham
- Adam Newton
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Claude Gnakpa runs at Tom Kennedy - Luton Town FC vs Rochdale (7th Nov 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa has just scored Town`s first goal. Kevin Gallen and Shane Blackett look quite happy about it too - Luton Town FC vs Cambridge United (21st Nov 2009)
- Kevin Gallen
- Shane Blackett
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Claude Gnakpa is sent crashing to the ground by Andy Nicholas and it is a penalty - Rotherham United vs Luton Town FC (28th Nov 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa adds the third goal - Luton Town FC vs Rotherham United (8th Dec 2009)
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Claude Gnakpa loses the ball on the edge of the penalty area - Luton Town FC vs Eastbourne Borough (28th Dec 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa`s shot finds the net for the only goal of the game - Gateshead vs Luton Town FC (23rd Jan 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa attacks down the right flank - Barrow vs Luton Town FC (6th Feb 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa goes close to scoring - Crawley Town vs Luton Town FC (27th Feb 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa`s rising shot goes over the bar - Luton Town FC vs Forest Green Rovers (9th Mar 2010)
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Danny Ireland grabs the ball under pressure from Claude Gnakpa - Luton Town FC vs Forest Green Rovers (9th Mar 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa`s header came to nothing - Luton Town FC vs Wrexham (13th Mar 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa takes on Lee Baker - Luton Town FC vs Kidderminster Harriers (16th Mar 2010)
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Claude Gnakpa will not let his man past - Luton Town FC vs Plymouth Argyle (12th Aug 2008)