Tom Lockyer
Lockyer with Wales in 2019
Personal information
Full name Thomas Alun Lockyer[1]
Date of birth (1994-12-03) 3 December 1994[2]
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre back[4]
Team information
Current team
 Luton Town
Number 4
Youth career
Radyr Rangers
2006–2011 Cardiff City
2011–2012 Bristol Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2019 Bristol Rovers 255 (6)
2019–2020 Charlton Athletic 43 (1)
2020– Luton Town 102 (5)
International career‡
2015–2016 Wales U21 7 (0)
2017– Wales 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 15 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:33, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Thomas Alun Lockyer (born 3 December 1994) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Luton Town and the Wales national team.

Club career

Bristol Rovers

Lockyer playing for Bristol Rovers in 2016

Lockyer was born and raised in Cardiff.[5] Lockyer started his career at Radyr Rangers.[6] He joined Cardiff City as a youth aged 11, but was released aged 16, as Cardiff deemed him to be too small to play his preferred position of centre back.[7] Lockyer then signed a scholarship for Bristol Rovers in 2011[8] and went on to make his debut on 12 January 2013, replacing Ellis Harrison, 85 minutes into a 3–0 win over Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium.[9] He made his home debut two months later on 12 March 2013, replacing Oliver Norburn in the 74th minute in a 2–0 win over Port Vale.[10] He signed his first professional contract in May 2013, after making his previous appearances whilst still a youth team player.[11]

Lockyer scored his first league goal in a 1–0 win for Bristol Rovers over Northampton Town on 31 August 2013.[12]

On 17 March 2014, Lockyer signed a new two-year contract extension with Rovers.[13] After Rovers were relegated out of League Two in the 2013–14 season, Lockyer became a very important part of a very successful season after seeing the club get promoted first time of asking. In that season he managed to score one goal vs Grimsby Town.[14] As Rovers returned to League Two, he was a first-team regular and was rewarded by being named the Football League Young Player of the Month for December 2015 after consistent good performances.[15]

He made his 200th appearance for Rovers on 19 August 2017, in a 3–2 victory over Bury, in which he scored the opener.[16]

He departed Bristol Rovers following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2018–19 season.[17]

Charlton Athletic

Lockyer joined Charlton Athletic, who were newly promoted to the Championship, on 28 June 2019 on a two-year contract.[18] His first and only goal for the club was the equaliser in a 2–2 home draw with West Bromwich Albion on 11 January 2020.[19] After playing every minute of 43 league appearances in the 2019–20 season and missing only three matches due to suspension, Lockyer triggered a relegation release clause in his contract in August 2020, allowing him to join another club for free.[20]

Luton Town

Lockyer signed for another Championship club, Luton Town, on 1 September 2020 on a free transfer.[21] His debut came two weeks later in a 1–0 EFL Cup second round victory over Reading.[22] In January 2022, Lockyer scored his first goal for the club with his side's first in a 2–1 win over Bristol City,[23] saying after the match that he had dreamed of scoring against his old rivals.[24]

During the 2022–23 season, Lockyer continued to grow as a player, earning the captaincy following an injury to Sonny Bradley. As the season developed, he earned comparisons from his management team to legendary defenders Franco Baresi[25] and Franz Beckenbauer.[26] On 23 April 2023, Lockyer was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season.[27] At Luton's end of season awards, he took home five awards, most notably the Player of the Season award.[28] On 16 May 2023, he scored Luton's all important second goal to defeat Sunderland and send the club to Wembley Stadium for the Championship play-off final.[29]

Lockyer was in the starting line-up for the 2023 Championship play-off final against Coventry City, but was stretchered off the pitch after collapsing in the 11th minute of the first half and taken to hospital. During Luton's victory celebrations following the penalty shoot-out, the Luton players paraded a Lockyer named playing shirt as they received the trophy and the club posted a photo of Lockyer celebrating in his hospital bed. Luton’s manager Rob Edwards admitted after the game that it felt wrong to celebrate and his thoughts were primarily with Lockyer.[30] On 31 May, it was confirmed by the club that he would be leaving hospital the following day,[31] with a follow-up report a week later stating that Lockyer had suffered atrial fibrillation of the heart, but he was given the all clear to resume his playing career following surgery. On 6 July 2023, it was confirmed that Lockyer had renewed his contract with Luton Town, one week after his previous contract ran out.[32]

On 12 August 2023, Lockyer captained Luton in the club's first Premier League match as they lost 4–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day of the 2023–24 season.[33] On 30 September, Lockyer scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–1 win at Everton[34] – Luton's first win in the competition and first top division win in 31 years.[35]

During a match against AFC Bournemouth on 16 December 2023, Lockyer was stretchered off the pitch after collapsing in the second half, having suffered a cardiac arrest.[36] Bournemouth player Philip Billing was the first person to summon assistance to the defender before the arrival of the medical staff,[37] who managed to resuscitate him in two minutes.[38] The match was subsequently abandoned with the scoreline at 1–1. Luton later released a statement confirming that Lockyer was in a stable condition.[36] After being discharged from the hospital, having had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator fitted, he began a period of rehabilitation at home.[37][38]

International career

In October 2015, Lockyer made his Wales under-21 debut in a 0–0 draw against Denmark.[39]

Lockyer was called up to the Welsh senior team in June 2017, remaining an unused substitute during a 1–1 draw with Serbia.[40] He received his second call-up for the senior squad on 25 August 2017, for the upcoming qualifiers against Austria and Moldova.[41] He made his debut for the senior team on 14 November 2017 as a half-time substitute during a 1–1 draw with Panama.[42] In May 2021 he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[43]

On 9 November 2022, more than a year since he last played for his country, Lockyer was called up to the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[44] On 21 November 2023, Lockyer played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Turkey, his first competitive game for his country in over three years.[45]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bristol Rovers 2012–13[46] League Two 4000000040
2013–14[47] League Two 41140101[lower-alpha 1]0471
2014–15[48] Conference Premier 44120—3[lower-alpha 2]0491
2015–16[49] League Two 430101000450
2016–17[50] League One 460302000510
2017–18[51] League One 371103000411
2018–19[52] League One 40320204[lower-alpha 3]1484
Total 255613090812857
Charlton Athletic 2019–20[19] Championship 4310000—431
Luton Town 2020–21[53] Championship 2001020—230
2021–22[54] Championship 29120101[lower-alpha 4]0331
2022–23[55] Championship 39330113[lower-alpha 4]1465
2023–24[56] Premier League 1410010—151
Total 10256051411177
Career total 4001219014112244515

International

As of match played 21 November 2023[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales 201710
201840
201950
202030
202110
202200
202320
Total160

Honours

Bristol Rovers

Luton Town

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Tom Lockyer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Tom Lockyer". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Piercy, James (16 May 2019). "Tom Lockyer in talks with four Championship clubs as he claims he stayed at Bristol Rovers for 'two years too long'". Bristol Live. Local World. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Tom Lockyer named Football League Young Player of the Month". Bristol Rovers F.C. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Cardiffian". Bristol Rovers F.C. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Hassan, Nabil (17 January 2016). "Tom Lockyer: Bristol Rovers defender on relegation & promotion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Bristol Rovers FC Player Profiles: Tom Lockyer". Bristol Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "Fleetwood 0–3 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 2–0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Tom Lockyer signs". Bristol Rovers F.C. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 1–0 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  13. ↑ "Tom Lockyer signs contract extension". Bristol Rovers F.C. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Grimsby Town 0–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Tom Lockyer named Football League Young Player of the Month". The Football League. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Reaction: Tom Lockyer post Bury". Bristol Rovers F.C. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "Bristol Rovers: Chris Lines heads list of nine players to leave League One club". BBC Sport. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Charlton Athletic: Chuks Aneke and Tom Lockyer join on two-year contracts". BBC Sport. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  20. ↑ Cawley, Richard (10 August 2020). "Exclusive: Tom Lockyer activates release clause at Charlton Athletic". South London Press. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  21. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (1 September 2020). "Town chief thrilled to sign 'ambitious' Lockyer from Addicks". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  22. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (16 September 2020). "Hatters rated: Reading 0 Luton Town 1". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Luton Town 2–1 Bristol City: Luton keep up good form with City win". BBC Sport. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  24. ↑ Piercy, James (26 January 2022). "Former Bristol Rovers defender dreamed of scoring against Bristol City as he makes cheeky claim". Bristol Post. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  25. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (15 March 2023). "Town defender likened to Italy and AC Milan legend Franco Baresi by Hatters assistant". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  26. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (4 April 2023). "First Baresi - now Hatters defender Lockyer is compared to Bayern Munich and Germany legend Beckenbauer". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  27. ↑ EFL Team of the Season
  28. 1 2 "LTST Presentation Evening 2023 round-up". www.lutontown.co.uk. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  29. ↑ "Luton Town 2–0 Sunderland (Agg 3–2): Hatters power through to play-off final". BBC Sport. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  30. ↑ "Luton promoted to Premier League: Tom Lockyer celebrates from hospital after collapsing at Wembley". Sky Sports. 27 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "Tom Lockyer to return home tomorrow!". www.lutontown.co.uk. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  32. ↑ Lockyer 2023 Deal, LutonTown.co.uk
  33. ↑ "Tom Lockyer "We'll take positives"". Luton Town F.C. 14 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "Everton 1-2 Luton: Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris goals secure historic first Premier League win". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  35. ↑ "Rob Edwards 'very, very proud' of Luton after landmark Premier League win". BeIN Sports. 1 October 2023.
  36. 1 2 "Luton captain Lockyer collapses on pitch". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  37. 1 2 Bosher, Luke (21 December 2023). "Lockyer discharged from hospital following cardiac arrest". The Athletic. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  38. 1 2 Garrick, Omar (31 December 2023). "Lockyer issues positive health update following cardiac arrest". The Athletic. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  39. ↑ "Denmark U21 0–0 Wales U21". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  40. ↑ Pritchard, Dafydd (11 June 2017). "Serbia 1–1 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  41. ↑ "Tom Lockyer called up to Wales senior squad". Bristol Rovers F.C. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  42. ↑ Pritchard, Dafydd (14 November 2017). "Wales 1–1 Panama". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  43. ↑ "Uncapped Colwill in Wales Euro 2020 squad". BBC Sport.
  44. ↑ "World Cup 2022: Wales name injury doubt Joe Allen in 26-man squad". BBC Sport. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  45. ↑ "Wales must settle for play-offs after Turkey draw". BBC Sport.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "T. Lockyer: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Tom Lockyer in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  57. ↑ "Lockyer, Tom". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  58. ↑ Anderson, John, ed. (2016). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-4722-3395-0.
  59. ↑ Mitchell, Brendon (17 May 2015). "Bristol Rovers 1–1 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  60. ↑ "Luton win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  61. ↑ "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  62. ↑ "Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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