It’s hard to fathom the breadth of emotions Tom Lockyer must be feeling right now.
It is a little under two years since the defender’s last professional appearance, suffering a cardiac arrest whilst playing for Luton Town in the Premier League in December 2023.
A return last year was then delayed by ankle ligament damage before departing Luton, with the 30-year-old linking back up with boyhood club Bristol Rovers earlier this month.
Having trained with Darrell Clarke’s side at The Quarters, Lockyer is once again part of the Gas, signing a contract in BS7 and completing his most remarkable of comebacks.
Sitting down to discuss it all with BRTV, Lockyer touches on his journey, his health, his family, his passion for football, and why ‘coming home’ was the right decision…
Tom, welcome back to Bristol Rovers. Sat here right now, how does that feel?
“It feels really, really good to once again be a Bristol Rovers player. Obviously I’ve been training here for a while and I’ve tried not to think too much about it or get too excited about the ifs, buts and maybes. But as soon as I knew that Darrell wanted to get something done it was easy for me to then make a decision about coming back home. I’m just really looking forward to pushing on now.”
It's been about two years since you last played a game of professional level football. How do you put into words just what that journey has been like to bring you to the place you’re at today?
“It’s been really, really, really, really, really, really, really tough. And that’s to put it lightly. I honestly wouldn’t wish the last two years I’ve had on anyone. To get so close to playing again only to snap my ankle ligament two days before the first game, which I originally thought was only going to be a three-month injury. But then two months after that, and the operation, to be told it hasn’t worked and it turns into a nine-month injury, it was just a nightmare.
“It was mentally so tough as well and I always like to pride myself on how tough I am, and even that was really tough for me. My partner and I have had our daughter now which really does put a perspective on everything and that has really helped me through it. And my partner has been amazing as well.
“It’s been really tough but I’m hoping now to get back on the pitch and almost just draw a line under all of it. What’s been has been and it has made me a stronger person for it, without a shadow of a doubt, and I just want to look forward now.”
Given this journey, how life has been, what does today mean for you and for them in terms of not just being a Rovera player again, but a professional footballer once again too?
“They’ve lived and breathed and kicked every ball with me throughout my whole journey in football. Seeing what happened to me, I always said it was harder for them than it was for me because I was just living through it. I can just roll my sleeves up and get on with it, but it was tough for me and I always think it was probably tougher for them as well.
“When I knew I was going to leave Luton Town, I sat down and thought about how in an ideal world, I’ll probably get five more years of professional football so what do I want out of it? It was about trying to have success, I want to be in a good group and I know Darrell prides himself on having a good group and a good team spirit which is massive. I’ve seen that already.
“But also, my family have been on this journey with me and there is a chance to go home, then surely we have to try and take it. As soon as Darrell mentioned about the potential about joining back then, for me, it’s not about which league we’re in. It’s about coming home and playing football and, more importantly, about enjoying my football again.”
You said it there. ‘Coming home’ – it’s got such a nice ring to it. Home to Bristol Rovers. I can’t even imagine what that means to you.
“It is only really today where I’ve allowed myself to get really excited because until it’s signed, sealed and delivered, you always think something might go wrong. But I was coming in today, trying to keep the smile off my face. And once I’d seen Ricky Martin and the gaffer after training, and we spoke, I had that feeling that I had missed.
“It is so hard to explain but it’s everything I’ve worked so hard for over the last two years. Hopefully I can have many, many more good memories in a football shirt. I’m going to celebrate the little wins back on a football pitch and I just want to enjoy it. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise. I’m doing this because I love playing football and I’ve got that massive desire to play football again, and what better place to do that than back home.”
What’s it been like training with the group, being in the squad, catching up with old friends like Ellis Harrison…?
“Agent Ellis has been on me for a while now! We used to live together the first time around and anyone watching this knows what Ellis is like. We’ve got some great memories and we’ve joked about moving back in together and kicking the girls out.
“It’s been good, and I definitely feel like I can help the group. I feel like I can add to the group and Darrell has been really good with me as well in terms of letting me look a little bit at the coaching side as well. That’s far from my main focus at the minute, I want to get back playing, but that’s something I have half-an-eye on for the future too. My full focus in on the pitch but if times arise where I can help out behind the scenes too then I’ll definitely be doing that.”
We know how excited the gaffer is to have you back. Is it the same Darrell you remember from your first spell here?
“I’ve just seen him then and he’s around the training ground shouting about how he’s saved my career twice now! Nothing will change with him. He’s such a bubbly character and I’ve always said that he’s the best man-manager I’ve ever played under. He knows how to get the best out of players and we’ve always kept in touch.
“I have a lot to be thankful for with him. He gave me the captaincy here first time around when I didn’t even want to be or believe I could be a captain. He saw something in me that I didn’t and he almost put that burden on me to show me I was good enough and tell me I had the qualities to push on and become a leader. I certainly think that helped me in my career, having that faith put in me.”
As we look forward, with some big games coming up, how are the feelings as we get closer towards stepping back onto a pitch in a competitive game for the first time in two years?
“It’s going to be amazing. This is what I’ve worked for over the last two years. I don’t look at the fixtures and think about X, Y or Z. I want to play football and I want to play in every game. I know that’s not going to be an option having been out for so long, in the short term at least, but I just want to get out on the pitch as much as possible.
“I can’t wait to get back in front of the Thatchers End too. I’ve had dreams already of scoring a last-minute winner in front of the Thatchers End and just going nuts. Let’s hope they come true. I’ll give a lot for that to be the case. I want to be back out there, enjoying it. I can’t wait to walk out at The Mem again and see fellow Gasheads there and hopefully give them a lot of moments to cheer about in the future. Let’s hope that comes true.”
