Tom Lockyer has hailed the Hatters “family” after he was at the forefront of Luton’s promotion party despite lying in a hospital bed after collapsing at Wembley.
The defender’s Championship play-off final lasted only eight minutes before being taken to hospital where he had an operation to correct an atrial fibrillation which had inexplicably made his heart beat four times faster than normal.
The Wales international has since left hospital after being given the all-clear, but he missed the celebrations that began with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Coventry.
That sealed Town’s place in the Premier League as the first-ever club to go from the non-league to the top flight, and as captain on the day, Lockyer should have been the man to lift the trophy.
Instead, he was able to watch on as team-mates lifted his number four jersey during the celebrations, while manager Rob Edwards admitted he felt numb until he knew his player was well.
Confirmation of that came during his post-match interview with Sky Sports when they were able to show him a now viral photo tweeted by Lockyer’s dad Steve of 28-year-old celebrating from his hospital bed with family surrounding him.
Edwards gave an emotional tribute to the defender live on television and Lockyer said: “We were watching the interview with Rob at the time, and it made my mum cry saying what a lovely bloke he is.
“I just said to her, ‘Yes, he is amazing, he’s been amazing and you can see what a genuine person he is as well.’ He’s not just an unbelievable manager, but you can tell the ethos he has about family first always, and we have created a family. Luton Town is a family now. It was amazing to see.”
After his shirt was held aloft, Carlton Morris wore the shirt of his close pal with Town’s top scorer first finding out the prognosis on the phone before getting involved in the celebrations at Wembley.
“It was the best I’ve looked!” Lockyer told lutontown.co.uk, adding: “It was really nice to see all the lads having such a good time, which they all thoroughly deserved because it’s been a long hard season.
“When I was watching that, I was obviously delighted but so sad at the same time that after 50-odd games in a season, it all comes down to this one massive game and I don’t play a part in it, and I don’t get to enjoy the celebrations afterwards.
“So it was a hard watch if I’m being honest, but so delighted that the lads could get the job done. It made it so much better for me.”
Lockyer was well-served by television coverage during his five-day stay at the Cleveland Clinic in London, as two days later an estimated 20,000 fans lined the streets of Luton, with many chanting his name as the victory day parade was broadcast live.
“I watched the parade on BBC News from my hospital bed and that was really touching as well, and what a turnout they had. It was incredible and amazing to see so many fans turn up for the boys, because we have created that special bond between the fans and the players, and that has definitely helped us all season. The supporters have been our 12th man when we’ve needed them, so it was incredible to see, and I am so grateful for all the support and lovely messages I’ve had since.
“Reading them all on social media kept me going in hospital, so thank you to everyone, it’s been amazing.”
With his Town team-mates living it up in Las Vegas, Lockyer will now head off for a quiet, relaxing break with his partner, on doctor’s orders not to raise is heart rate.
But before he jetted off, the defender was able to meet up with chief recruitment officer and club legend Mick Harford, who was already back at the Brache, the club’s training facility, planning for next season’s first campaign in the top flight for 31 years.
Lockyer said: “My car was still at the training ground from when we travelled down to Wembley, so I went to go and get it and I saw Big Mick’s car in there, so I went in and they were having a recruitment meeting upstairs. I went up and saw him, and it was a really nice moment, a special moment that we shared.
“He said he was really surprised at how well I was doing, and obviously when people mention hearts and have seen what happened, and I said I’d had a little operation, people think the worst, don’t they? But I said I was fine, and he said it was so great to see me doing so well and it reassured him.
“I think it was worse for everyone else not knowing, but when he saw me he said it put all his nerves at ease.
“I’ve had my full heart checked and double-checked with all the scans and tests they can do on a heart, and they’ve all come back positive.
“Now I’ve had the all-clear, I just want to draw a line under it, and get back to normal, but having been through this unexplained experience and all the tests, I would recommend to everyone that if you suffer any rapid irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath, that you seek medical advice and get checked out.”
