Luton Town post an emotional farewell as Tom Lockyer reveals he’s been medically cleared to play football again following a cardiac arrest.
The 30-year-old Welsh defender is ready to resume his football career after recovering from a cardiac arrest suffered during a match in December 2023, his second collapse in seven months.
He also underwent two ankle surgeries during his recovery, but was able to express joy at being cleared to play again, with Lockyer now without a club after Luton did not renew his contract but allowed him to use their facilities for rehabilitation.
Tom said when speaking on Feast of Football: “Yeah, yeah, all good, yeah. It’s been a long old road, it really has, but, delighted to say that, yeah, I’ve been cleared to play football again, so.
“Obviously that’s yeah, amazing. Just everything I’ve worked for ever since this happened has come down to that and everything looks good. So yeah, really, really happy.”
Rob Earnshaw was all of us hearing this Tom Lockyer news! ❤️
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Tom Lockyer said in his farewell to Luton: “It’s been a long old road, but I am very lucky to have had such wonderful support from those brilliant medical people and everyone at the club to get to this stage,” said Locks.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to represent and captain this great club on the biggest stage. A stage some never thought possible. I left everything out on the pitch every time I pulled on the orange jersey and I have loved every minute of my five years with Luton. A lot might say they’d die for their club, but I can say I actually have!
“I want to give playing another go, because at least then I can say I gave it everything. I know that can’t be here at Luton, but this club has been a huge part of my life, it’s where I became a Premier League player and a dad, and I’ll never forget the great times we’ve shared.
“I can’t emphasise enough how proud I am to have been your captain. I’ll never forget the feeling of scoring against Bristol City, then in the play-off against Sunderland – what a night at the Kenny!
“Leading the team out at Wembley, then at Brighton for the first game in the Prem and scoring in the first-ever Premier League win at Everton was schoolboy dream stuff.
“Thank you to all the supporters who have backed me, your messages of love and support have helped me through some tough times. And to all of my team-mates, managers, staff and friends right through the club, I can’t emphasise enough how knowing that you’ve had my back has brought me to this stage.
“Luton Town will always have a place in my heart. Our results will always be the first I look for, and I look forward to the day I can come back and say a proper farewell in person. Once a Hatter, always a Hatter.”
LUTON STATEMENT:
Today we celebrate the Luton Town career of Tom Lockyer as we bid farewell to our captain, the man who led us into the Premier League, then led by example once there.
We knew this day was always going to come at some point, and inevitably there is sadness at seeing Locks depart. But every Lutonian should also share joy with the 30-year-old that he is now in the long-awaited position to be able to continue his playing career.
In the last month Locks has returned to a football pitch three times in a Luton number four shirt.
First, he played 45 minutes against Chelmsford City. Then came an hour against Reading U21s, before he completed a full 90 minutes against Barnet’s youngsters at The Brache.
For those present at Wembley and Bournemouth in 2023, just seeing him back in the orange that he has worn with pride on 117 occasions was an emotional, milestone moment.
Hatters CEO Gary Sweet was one of those people.
“I was lucky enough to witness Tom complete his first 45 minutes of action for 21 months, contributing admirably alongside our under-21s against a Chelmsford first team,” said Gary. “Witnessing Locks defend against his old team-mate Lyle Taylor was a joy to see, before watching him lead our youngsters against Reading and Barnet.
“It has been a long road to recovery for Tom as we have diligently nursed him back to fitness with great care, enabling him to make decisions about his future career he never thought he would be in a position to make at one point.
“We’ve taken great pride in helping Tom to a full recovery, which will continue for now with another club, but he knows that he and his family will always be welcome at Luton Town, the club he has called home for the past five years.
“We thank Tom so much for the prominent role he has played in our success in recent years. His play-off semi-final goal to level the tie against Sunderland will never be forgotten, and his name is firmly etched into Luton Town history as our first Premier League captain.
“We look forward to giving him a proper Kenilworth Road send-off when his matchday commitments allow.”
Locks leaves Kenilworth Road aiming to resume a career that started with Bristol Rovers and has taken in three promotions from National League to Premier League, European Championship and World Cup squad inclusion while a Luton player, not to mention a goal in our historic maiden Premier League win at Everton.
He joined the Hatters from Charlton in the lockdown summer of 2020, helping Nathan Jones’ side to a 12th-place finish in the Championship before our fans really had chance to make him a favourite as they were allowed back into grounds for 2021/22.
After playing for Wales in the delayed Euro 2020 tournament that summer, Locks became a regular in the team that made the play-offs, scoring once in 34 appearances as Town finished sixth, losing out to Huddersfield over two legs.
The following campaign saw him wear the captain’s armband in Sonny Bradley’s absence, playing 45 times, scoring in the play-off semi-final win over Sunderland and being named Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Player of the Year and joint Players’ Player with his great friend, Carlton Morris.
Leading us out at Wembley was his proudest moment to that point, but the first episode with his heart, when he collapsed due to an atrial fibrillation, saw his game against Coventry end after just eight minutes.
It was from his hospital bed that the Instagram picture of him and his family celebrating the penalty shoot-out win went viral, and he soon passed all the medical tests to resume playing that summer, signing a new contract and leading the team out for the first Premier League game at Brighton.
He made 14 top-flight appearances and was performing to such a level that he had won his place back in the Welsh starting line-up for their Euro 24 qualifier against Turkey, before suffering the cardiac arrest on the Vitality Stadium pitch.
In the 22 months since, Tom and his partner Taylor have become parents to their daughter, Mila, and he has become a fine ambassador for the British Heart Foundation and their campaign highlighting the need to learn the CPR skills that saved his life.
We are all so grateful for those heroes who not only brought him round, but who have since helped rehabilitate him here at The Brache to the point of being able to play again, with the additional hurdle of two ankle operations.
From everyone at Luton Town, a heartfelt thank you for making us dream and achieve, Locks. We wish you and your family all the very best for everything that lies ahead.
Once a Hatter, always a Hatter.
Here’s how fans reacted as Luton post emotional farewell as Tom Lockyer reveals he’s been cleared to play football again…
@JoshLTFC_: Gutted about the way his Luton career ended, but the legacy he has left at the club won’t be forgotten. Farewell Locks 🧡
@JKS1989: Regardless of anything else, you played with the attitude, desire and passion that no fan could have ever questioned. That’s why you’re so loved by the supporters. A true Luton great. We all wish you well with whatever comes next 🧡 👏🏼
@sjdhatters: After watching that shambles tonight Club should be begging him to stay. He actually gives a fuck which can’t be said for most of that lot that turned out tonight. Find a way to have him involved and try and rebuild our culture
@FanHubHatter: Damn I’d have loved to see him in a Luton shirt at Kenilworth road just one more time 😢
@JordanTompkinss: Captain, leader, legend. We’d of never got relegated with him in the side last season. Never let us down, proper warrior 👒
@amacagent: Gave us every last ounce of sweat will go down as proper Luton very few nowadays can make that claim go well TL proven to be irreplaceable 👏👏👏
@LewisT_Williams: A fantastic player. Let’s hope we find someone of his calibre again soon, a true captain. #LTFC
@hatterneil: Proper, genuine LTFC legend. So many incredible moments but the noise and limbs after his goal in the play off semi will stay with me forever. Good luck, Locks 🫡
@BedfordHatter: When Tom had to stop playing we never recovered. Probably the best leader of a team I’ve seen at Luton. Everything we currently lack. Good luck to Tom and his family 🧡
@glenmaxwell76: Would have him in front of any of the defenders we currently have . His leadership alone would make a big impact
@TheLTIPodcast: People throw around the term ‘Legend’ far too easily in this day and age. Locks was a Legend. He’s a Leader. He’s exactly what we’re missing right now. Sad to see him go. All the best Captain!
@KatLTFC: Thanks for everything, Locks. Really gutted about this.
@jamesltfc02: Unless locks said no, that is an awful mistake 🤣
@prishungry: I would have loved to see him play for us again, even just once. He’s been sorely missed. What a guy, what a captain, always welcome at KR 🤎
