What was meant to be a day of promise for two of Premier League's most impressive outfits turned quickly into a morose setting at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, December 16, 2023, afternoon. High-flyers AFC Bournemouth, with wind in their sails following a 3-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, were battling a gritty Luton Town, who, under the stewardship of Rob Edwards and with a cast of unpretentious individuals, are punching above their weight this season. However, as the tied game raced toward its conclusion, Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed into the ground, bringing a screeching halt to the proceedings. Scarily, Luton and Lockyer had been here before. (Football News)
Seven months before his latest collapse, Lockyer had suffered from a similar affliction at the Wembley Stadium with his team fighting for a place among the Premier League elite in the Championship Playoff final. The Welshman was stretchered off after just 11 minutes and would watch the Hatters achieve what once seemed like a distant dream from the comfort of a hospital bed, his family by his side. Months later, the central defender would return to action and lead Luton onto the brightly lit pitch for their much-awaited top flight return. He had defied fate once; should he want to continue playing after this latest episode, he will have to do it again.
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Whatever Lockyer chooses to do, he has precedents to seek assistance from. Just over three years ago, playmaker Christian Eriksen suffered from a near-fatal cardiac arrest - not too dissimilar to Lockyer's ailment against Bournemouth - while in action for Denmark at the 2020 UEFA Euro (2021). Making full recovery, Eriksen returned to the Premier League, first with Brentford and then with Manchester United, for whom he plays at the time of writing. But, that is not an outcome shared by all who underwent the same lethal trials.
A long, long time before Eriksen's miraculous recovery, central midfleder Fabrice Muamba suffered cardiac arrest and collpased on the pitch while playing for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham Hotspur in a FA Cup match. Muamba's heart had stopped on the spot and it would not beat for another 78 minutes. With the incredible intervention of medical professionals, Muamba was able to live, but he did not kick a ball professionally again.
Lockyer will await judgement on his illness before taking a decision, but should he decide to hang up his boots for good, he would have left a lasting legacy behind, at least at Kenilworth Road.
Born and raised in Cardiff, Lockyer honed his football skills in the Cardiff City academy before moving to England to join Bristol Rovers. He made his professional debut with Bristol Rovers and became an established starter, helping them return from their lowest ebb to professional football and later reach the EFL League One, English football's third tier.
Having achieved what he had wished to achieve in Briston, Lockyer joined Charlton Athletic for a season before arriving at Kenilworth Road to sign for Luton Town in 2020. There, he found a permanent home for himself, winning the admiration and the adoration of those who would travel to the arena to watch him put his body on the line week in and week out. Tributes, naturally, began pouring in for the Wales international, with him being compared to some of the game's greats.
“Richie called him Franco Baresi I think after the game the other day, so high praise from Richie Kyle!" said Luton boss Rob Edwards one week. While on another occasion, Edwards compared him to Germany great Franz Beckenbauer: "It was a great goal, you see Tom Lockyer from centre half stepping in like (Franz) Beckenbauer, and there’s some good players here."
Lockyer had played 14 of Luton's 16 games in the Premier League in 2023/24 and was helping his time fight to survive for a second season. His future, at present, remains unclear. But Lockyer has defied fate once; rest assured, he will be hoping to do that again.
