Time to say `Goodbye`
It’s always a sad time when a player who has totally immersed himself into a clubs culture has made the tough decision to retire from playing .

That player, Tom Gollop has decided that now is the right time to step away from the rigours of training and playing for the 1st XV

Tom joined the club in 2021 and after a rigorous training period then found himself in the Covid limbo in which we all found ourselves, but since the return to playing despite some serious injuries in this time, he has played just 80 games, and this past season recorded a hat trick of tries against Esher on the away fixture way back at the beginning of the last season. The first player to do that in Nat 1 in Dings colours.

Tom had already played a huge number of games for his boyhood club Cleve, and found he wanted and needed a fresh challenge, to which he continually applied himself. It was great to see Tom achieve a playing standard not only at Level 4 but also this last year at level 3. A good solid scrummager and an exponent of the lineout he found himself having to play most games all season, something I’m not sure he had prepared for.

Tom was no wall flower and suffered numerous injuries because he held no fear. A testament to his commitment all the time for the Club but on and off the field of play Tom was found to be a larger-than-life character.

Toms untimely end was marred slightly when a Smiths player decided to shoulder barge him and came off second best, yes ok, that’s not how the discipline officer saw it, but those who were there knew what had gone on.

I was often wary, as I had been taught that no one is really that nice deep down, but in Toms case I must make an exception, and with Tom & Olivia recently becoming proud, doting parents to Hudson Gollop, back in February, all that know Tom or who have spoken to him cannot dispute what a top bloke he has grown into.

I do hope that he still sees a place for himself and family to pop down and see old friends, but on the up side, it’s a financial blessing from the amount of tape and plasters we had to use over the years to patch him up for the games, he deserves a break, up the Gollops!

Steve Lloyd