" DID CARDIFF CITY MISS A DIAMOND? "

In 2011, Cardiff City released young Welsh defender Tom Lockyer telling him “you’re too small” to play centre-half. Four years on and Lockyer is thriving at League Two Bristol Rovers and is tipped to have a big future at a high level.

Friday 22nd Jan 2016


The talented Wales Under-21 international has already made over a hundred league appearances for the Pirates and he has big aspirations.

Last week Tom Lockyer picked up the Football League’s Young Player of the Month award for December after a number of stand-out performances for his club Bristol Rovers. Lockyer has been at Rovers since 2011 and has already made 112 league appearances despite being just twenty-one years of age.


The 6ft centre-half joined home-town club Cardiff at the age of eleven but was released five years later because of his size. Lockyer then signed a scholarship at Bristol Rovers and went on to make his first-team breakthrough just two years later and didn’t actually sign his first professional contract until four months later.

Speaking to BBC regarding his release from Cardiff, Lockyer said: “From that day on I thought, ‘I’m going to prove them wrong’. That was my attitude, I started going to the gym, working on strength and speed and it’s worked out for me. It was a blessing in disguise.”

The 21-year-old has made three appearances for the Welsh Under-21 side, making his début last October in a goalless draw against Denmark.

Lockyer has been a big part of the Pirates plans again this season, missing out on just one league appearance and featuring in twenty-eight games in total. Rovers are impressing in their first season back in the Football League, Darrell Clarke’s men are fourth place in League Two, just two points from the automatic promotion places.

With Tom Lockyer picking up such a wealth of experience at an early age and with the improvements he is making, it seems Cardiff could well regret releasing the young centre-back. In the modern game, size means very little, just ask 5ft 10″ Carles Puyol, one of the most decorated defenders to grace the game.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke said: “He (Tom Lockyer) epitomizes everything I want in a player. He’s a born winner, he can go as far as he wants to go for me. He’s got all the capabilities.”

The talented defender has a long way to go in the game but he’s turning a number of heads in League Two and now has the recognition of the Football League to support his talent. It’s difficult to say how far Tom Lockyer will go in the game but Welsh supporters may want to watch this space.

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Sums up our recruitment policy, shambles of a club.

Happens all the time to clubs up and down the country

I don't really know the boy. But hopefully he carries on his development which can only benefit the national team also

Another of these what ifs and maybes with a youngster? Still hasn't proved anything just a prospect like loads of other kids, if he achieves his potential then can say we missed out and not before!

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

A certain kevin Keegan was released by Scunthorpe as he was too small

it happens

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

Agree I was going to post the exact same thing.

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

Fair comment but why are we not seeing more players progress from our academy?

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

Couldn't agree more, it happens everywhere.
The young guy has done nothing yet but because he's not still with us we're are 'shambles' of a club.
FFS some people can't see the wood for trees.

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

Fair comment but why are we not seeing more players progress from our academy?

Personally think we are in no position to be seeing many youngsters in the line up, possibly one on the bench.. I think the only time which I would have welcomed the idea of seeing more youngsters from the academy come in is during Malky's first season.. since then I think we had way too much depth and not enough balance in positions to even come into the idea of blending youngsters in.

A certain kevin Keegan was released by Scunthorpe as he was too small

it happens

Yea Ray Clemence also a few years earlier from the some club apparently his hands were too big

The boy bird looking like a good prospect at academy level. Will we keep him?

Best thing that happened for him was to get released. Good luck to him

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

Who remembers these following examples?:

1. Roy Race: On the books with Arsenal's academy who dropped him as they thought his temperament was too nice. Melchester Rovers picked him up and the rest is history.

2. Billy Thomson (Billy The Fish): Overlooked by Everton on account of being half-human/half-fish. Went on to have a glittering career at Fulchester United and has played with the likes of Shakin' Stevens & Mick Hucknall out of Simply Red.

3. Hamish Balfour: Released by Rangers as a youngster due to perceived weakness as a youth. After some intensive strength work that involved caber-tossing and eating porridge, was spotted by Princes Park FC manager Ian McWhacker who put him straight into the first side. Renowned for having the hardest shot in the world, he would become to be known as 'Hot Shot Hamish' and would regularly break goal-posts with his lethal drives.

Maradonna Messi just 2 that spring to mind that are on the short side

A certain kevin Keegan was released by Scunthorpe as he was too small

it happens

Keegan was not kept on after a trial with Coventry then managed by Jimmy Hill.He also failed a trial with Doncaster Rovers.

He was signed by Scunthorpe ( I saw him play at Somerton Park once) and was transferred to Liverpool for £35,000 a tidy sum I. 1971.

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

Fair comment but why are we not seeing more players progress from our academy?

Personally think we are in no position to be seeing many youngsters in the line up, possibly one on the bench.. I think the only time which I would have welcomed the idea of seeing more youngsters from the academy come in is during Malky's first season.. since then I think we had way too much depth and not enough balance in positions to even come into the idea of blending youngsters in.

He played right back in the academy so surprised he was released due to size My son played with him in the academy He was a decent right back Was he anything special the answer is no Did he have the attitude to prove people wrong hell yes he always had a great attitude I know the academy did look at the size of the parents and both his mum and dad are six feet and more

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

DandoCCFC, 'wolfpac' apart, who was having a 'pop' at our club?

There was an article about the lad and it was put up for discussion

IMHO, the lad has achieved little to date, although the signs are promising and I wish him all the very best

However, as Tony William stated, it does raise the question of why more youngsters from the Academy aren't being given a chance at First Team level?

Is it because they are simply not good enough?

I doubt that in a number of cases!

Or is it because the Academy is not as 'prioritised' as it was only a couple of short years ago?

Others will know the answer to that better than me!

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

Who remembers these following examples?:

1. Roy Race: On the books with Arsenal's academy who dropped him as they thought his temperament was too nice. Melchester Rovers picked him up and the rest is history.

2. Billy Thomson (Billy The Fish): Overlooked by Everton on account of being half-human/half-fish. Went on to have a glittering career at Fulchester United and has played with the likes of Shakin' Stevens & Mick Hucknall out of Simply Red.

3. Hamish Balfour: Released by Rangers as a youngster due to perceived weakness as a youth. After some intensive strength work that involved caber-tossing and eating porridge, was spotted by Princes Park FC manager Ian McWhacker who put him straight into the first side. Renowned for having the hardest shot in the world, he would become to be known as 'Hot Shot Hamish' and would regularly break goal-posts with his lethal drives.

Quality

Kevin Mouse was my favourite player and of course Billy Dane

Really does bug me when this stuff actually gets brought up and you have very naive supporters at our club who just jump the gun and have a dig at the club..

Paul Pogba with United, Yaya Toure could have been at Arsenal if they persisted with the circumstances, Zlatan with Arsenal.. 2 of these being trials but they missed out as they went and furthered their careers elsewhere.. it's part and parcel of football.

Agree I was going to post the exact same thing.

Didn't man Utd release John terry?

Sven my point is whenever these sort of articles brought up we have incredibly naive fans who just use stories like these to have a dig at our club. There is always one.

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

Who remembers these following examples?:

1. Roy Race: On the books with Arsenal's academy who dropped him as they thought his temperament was too nice. Melchester Rovers picked him up and the rest is history.

2. Billy Thomson (Billy The Fish): Overlooked by Everton on account of being half-human/half-fish. Went on to have a glittering career at Fulchester United and has played with the likes of Shakin' Stevens & Mick Hucknall out of Simply Red.

3. Hamish Balfour: Released by Rangers as a youngster due to perceived weakness as a youth. After some intensive strength work that involved caber-tossing and eating porridge, was spotted by Princes Park FC manager Ian McWhacker who put him straight into the first side. Renowned for having the hardest shot in the world, he would become to be known as 'Hot Shot Hamish' and would regularly break goal-posts with his lethal drives.

Quality

Kevin Mouse was my favourite player and of course Billy Dane

I've just read that there was a Dutch version of Billys Boots which concluded in Billy finally getting a professional contract after many years of playing despite having no natural talent. Just like Stephen Bywater.

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

Who remembers these following examples?:

1. Roy Race: On the books with Arsenal's academy who dropped him as they thought his temperament was too nice. Melchester Rovers picked him up and the rest is history.

2. Billy Thomson (Billy The Fish): Overlooked by Everton on account of being half-human/half-fish. Went on to have a glittering career at Fulchester United and has played with the likes of Shakin' Stevens & Mick Hucknall out of Simply Red.

3. Hamish Balfour: Released by Rangers as a youngster due to perceived weakness as a youth. After some intensive strength work that involved caber-tossing and eating porridge, was spotted by Princes Park FC manager Ian McWhacker who put him straight into the first side. Renowned for having the hardest shot in the world, he would become to be known as 'Hot Shot Hamish' and would regularly break goal-posts with his lethal drives.

Quality

Kevin Mouse was my favourite player and of course Billy Dane

I've just read that there was a Dutch version of Billys Boots which concluded in Billy finally getting a professional contract after many years of playing despite having no natural talent. Just like Stephen Bywater.

Sure Racey signed Hotshot and Mouse for Melchester.

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

Who remembers these following examples?:

1. Roy Race: On the books with Arsenal's academy who dropped him as they thought his temperament was too nice. Melchester Rovers picked him up and the rest is history.

2. Billy Thomson (Billy The Fish): Overlooked by Everton on account of being half-human/half-fish. Went on to have a glittering career at Fulchester United and has played with the likes of Shakin' Stevens & Mick Hucknall out of Simply Red.

3. Hamish Balfour: Released by Rangers as a youngster due to perceived weakness as a youth. After some intensive strength work that involved caber-tossing and eating porridge, was spotted by Princes Park FC manager Ian McWhacker who put him straight into the first side. Renowned for having the hardest shot in the world, he would become to be known as 'Hot Shot Hamish' and would regularly break goal-posts with his lethal drives.

Quality

Kevin Mouse was my favourite player and of course Billy Dane

I've just read that there was a Dutch version of Billys Boots which concluded in Billy finally getting a professional contract after many years of playing despite having no natural talent. Just like Stephen Bywater.

Sure Racey signed Hotshot and Mouse for Melchester.

Yep, Racey was an inspired manager, always looking for players with new techniques to give Melchester an edge. Just read that In 1992, Racey took a risk and signed brilliant young goalkeeper Nick "Rapper" Hardisty, who had a propensity for rapping very loudly at opponents and team-mates during matches. To most football fans he would have been known as "Rapper" but to a certain young Swansealad, he would be known as Knickerless Dentistry.

Unfortunately it happens a lot.

Who remembers these following examples?:

1. Roy Race: On the books with Arsenal's academy who dropped him as they thought his temperament was too nice. Melchester Rovers picked him up and the rest is history.

2. Billy Thomson (Billy The Fish): Overlooked by Everton on account of being half-human/half-fish. Went on to have a glittering career at Fulchester United and has played with the likes of Shakin' Stevens & Mick Hucknall out of Simply Red.

3. Hamish Balfour: Released by Rangers as a youngster due to perceived weakness as a youth. After some intensive strength work that involved caber-tossing and eating porridge, was spotted by Princes Park FC manager Ian McWhacker who put him straight into the first side. Renowned for having the hardest shot in the world, he would become to be known as 'Hot Shot Hamish' and would regularly break goal-posts with his lethal drives.

Quality

Kevin Mouse was my favourite player and of course Billy Dane

I've just read that there was a Dutch version of Billys Boots which concluded in Billy finally getting a professional contract after many years of playing despite having no natural talent. Just like Stephen Bywater.

Sure Racey signed Hotshot and Mouse for Melchester.

Yep, Racey was an inspired manager, always looking for players with new techniques to give Melchester an edge. Just read that In 1992, Racey took a risk and signed brilliant young goalkeeper Nick "Rapper" Hardisty, who had a propensity for rapping very loudly at opponents and team-mates during matches. To most football fans he would have been known as "Rapper" but to a certain young Swansealad, he would be known as Knickerless Dentistry.

Too funny

Sven my point is whenever these sort of articles brought up we have incredibly naive fans who just use stories like these to have a dig at our club. There is always one.

That's a fair point well received, fella

Slade out for that!
Joke of course

It happens unfortunately! Just Regan Poole too!


As for the mention above for the boy bird! He does look good! I watched him in a game before Xmas and he looked very composed on the ball! Always found time and space! Nice player!

Every club will have a " the one that got away" story. I don't think we'll have many coming through the system unless we hit rock bottom financially and in league position.