Sheffield Wednesday use little known EFL rule to sign ex QPR star after Charlton Athletic red card

Former QPR goalkeeper Joe Lumley has found himself making headlines this week after completing an unusual mid-season loan move to Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.

The 30-year-old is currently on the books at Bristol City but has been second choice behind Radek Vitek this season, featuring on the bench against the R’s earlier this month. He was then absent from the matchday squad against Norwich City last weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday confirmed the seven-day emergency loan signing of Lumley on Tuesday and the goalkeeper is expected to immediately start for the Owls against Middlesbrough at Hillsborough on Wednesday evening.

Sheffield Wednesday star sent off against Charlton Athletic

It comes after a calamitous series of events for the Yorkshire club in an already turbulent year. Sheffield Wednesday have been without first choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles and were pushed to make the loan signing of Ethan Horvath at the end of August.

Horvath was sent off in the defeat to London outfit Charlton Athletic at The Valley last weekend. The Addicks won that game 2-1 and the goalkeeper was given his marching orders in the 97th minute.

The shot-stopper had clattered into Charlton Athletic man Isaac Olaofe outside the area in the dying moments of the fixture. Referee Tom Reeves did not appear prepared to show a red card until consultation with one of his assistants.

Speaking after the match, Addicks manager Nathan Jones said: “You won't find an easier decision to make in the world of football - barring if he had clubbed him over the head with a baseball bat."

Sheffield Wednesday only had Logan Stretch available to fill in between the sticks against Middlesbrough but the 19-year-old is yet to play a men’s game at professional level. Killian Barrett has National League experience but has been nursing an injury.

Owls use EFL rule to sign ex QPR goalkeeper

The Championship club are under an EFL registration embargo but a little known rule has allowed the Owls to bring in a goalkeeper for the week. The Star cites the EFL rulebook in a quote: “In line with Regulation 57, Clubs can register an Emergency Goalkeeper Loan if they don’t have any Professional Goalkeepers available due to injuries, suspensions or international call-ups.

“Professional Goalkeeper = a goalkeeper (excluding any Goalkeeper registered as a Non-Contract Player) who has been named in the starting eleven on five or more occasions by: any Club (or Premier League club) in any matches in the relevant league or first team cup competitions (other than the EFL Trophy); and/or any other club in a professional league in that club’s home association (by way of example, any division of the Scottish Professional Football League, or Serie A, B or C).”

Lumley is set for his first Championship appearance of the season but has made 152 appearances in the second tier so far in his career. The goalkeeper came through the QPR academy and went on to play 84 times for the club.

Lumley was sent on eight separate loan spells during his eight years as a professional at QPR, eventually turning down a new contract in 2021 and joining Middlesbrough. The player was released by Southampton this summer before joining Bristol City.

In other news, QPR handed 'farcical' injury blow ahead of Swansea City and Derby County.