Wikipedia

Gavin Tomlin

Gavin Glenrick Tomlin (born 21 August 1983) is an English former professional footballer. He was a versatile player who could play as a striker, on both left and right wings and attacking midfield.

Gavin Tomlin
Personal information
Full name Gavin Glenrick Tomlin[1]
Date of birth (1983-08-21) 21 August 1983 (age 41)[2]
Place of birth Gillingham, Kent, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker; winger
Youth career
Gillingham
Tooting & Mitcham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 Ashford Town (Kent) 1 (1)
2002 Aylesbury United 1 (0)
2003–2005 Staines Town
2005 → St Albans City (loan) 7 (1)
2005–2006 Yeading 12 (0)
2006 Windsor & Eton
2006 Brentford 12 (0)
2007–2008 Fisher Athletic
2008–2010 Yeovil Town 77 (14)
2010–2012 Dagenham & Redbridge 36 (2)
2011 → Torquay United (loan) 12 (4)
2012 → Gillingham (loan) 10 (6)
2012–2013 Southend United 33 (13)
2013–2014 Port Vale 23 (5)
2014–2016 Crawley Town 51 (3)
2016–2019 Dulwich Hamlet 74 (12)
2019–2022 Cray Valley Paper Mills 38 (23)
Total 392+ (87+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A former Gillingham youth team player, he played non-League football for Ashford Town (Kent), Aylesbury United, Staines Town, St Albans City, Yeading and Windsor & Eton, before having a brief spell in the English Football League with Brentford in 2006. He returned to the non-League scene with Fisher Athletic before winning a contract at Yeovil Town in June 2008. Two years later, he switched to Dagenham & Redbridge, but was not a success at his new club and was loaned out to Torquay United and Gillingham. He signed with Southend United in July 2012 and played in the club's defeat in the 2013 Football League Trophy final. He joined Port Vale in June 2013 and stayed with the club for one season before moving on to Crawley Town. Following two seasons with Crawley, he joined Dulwich Hamlet in the summer of 2016. He went on to help the club win promotion out of the Isthmian League Premier Division via the play-offs in 2018 before moving on to Cray Valley Paper Mills in January 2019. Mills won the Southern Counties East League Premier Division title in the 2018–19 season and reached the 2019 FA Vase final.

Career

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Early career

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Tomlin was a youth team player at Gillingham.[3] He subsequently joined Tooting & Mitcham United and from there joined Southern League Eastern Division club Ashford Town (Kent) on 17 January 2002[4] and later day scored the winning goal in a 3–2 league victory over Tonbridge. Tomlin joined Aylesbury United the following season and on 26 November 2002 he scored a goal in a 4–0 win over Wokingham Town in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.[5] He then played one Isthmian League match on 14 December, in a 1–1 draw with Basingstoke Town.[6]

He signed with Staines Town in December 2003,[7] having spent some time out of the game after breaking his leg during a trial at Barnet.[8] He scored 11 minutes into his "Swans" debut.[9] He had a trial with Notts County in June 2004.[10] He scored 13 goals in the 2004–05 season,[11] but left Staines in March to go on trial at Exeter City.[12] The following month, he joined Conference South club St Albans City on loan.[13] He moved on to Conference South side Yeading, but made only five starts and eight substitute appearances in the 2005–06 season.[14] He went on to have a brief stay at Isthmian League side Windsor & Eton.[7][15]

Tomlin signed a one-year contract with Leroy Rosenior's Brentford in July 2006.[16] He failed to break into the "Bees" first-team (despite a man of the match performance against Northampton early in the 2006–07 season). His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 30 January 2007.[17] He joined Conference South club Fisher Athletic in February 2007.[18] He helped the "Fish" to secure a play-off place in the 2007–08 season with a fourth-place finish.[19]

Yeovil Town

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Tomlin joined League One club Yeovil Town on trial in June 2008.[20] His trial was successful as he impressed enough to win a two-year contract from Russell Slade; Tomlin stated that "this is my third chance at league football and I am not going to let it slip this time."[3] He finished the 2008–09 season as the "Glovers" leading goalscorer with nine goals. Included in this tally was a goal against Premier League side Middlesbrough in a 5–1 defeat at the Riverside Stadium.[21] He found the net seven times in 35 league games in the 2009–10 campaign. On 16 June 2010, he agreed to sign a new contract with Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton,[22] though he later changed his mind and left Huish Park on a free transfer.

Dagenham & Redbridge

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In June 2010, Tomlin signed a three-year deal with League One newcomers Dagenham & Redbridge.[23] However, he made only 16 starts in the 2010–11 season, scoring just two goals as John Still's "Daggers" were relegated in 21st-place. He joined Paul Buckle's League Two side Torquay United on a one-month loan in March 2011, which was later extended until the end of the season.[24][25] He played in the play-off final, as the "Gulls" were beaten 1–0 by Stevenage at Old Trafford.[26] He played 22 matches for Dagenham in the 2011–12 without scoring a goal at Victoria Road. In January 2012, he signed for Gillingham on loan until the end of the season.[27] He scored six goals in ten League two games for Andy Hessenthaler's "Gills", but was sidelined from March onwards after picking up a hamstring injury.[28]

Southend United

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In July 2012, Tomlin signed for Southend United on a one-year contract after being tracked by manager Paul Sturrock for five years.[29] He scored 16 goals in 42 games in the 2012–13 season for the "Shrimpers". He finished joint-top-scorer with strike partner Britt Assombalonga. He did, though, go 13 games without a goal and thanked Paul Sturrock for sticking by him during this spell before the start of the 2013 Football League Trophy final even though Sturrock had by then been replaced by Phil Brown. Southend were beaten 2–0 by Crewe Alexandra in the Wembley final.[30]

Port Vale

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He signed with newly-promoted League One club Port Vale in June 2013.[31] Upon joining the club he stated that he was expecting to play as a striker, rather than as a utility forward, though he admitted he faced a challenge in dislodging either of free-scoring duo Tom Pope and Lee Hughes.[32][33] He was dropped from the starting line-up after failing to find the net in his first few games, and then spent a month out injured with ankle, hamstring and toe troubles.[34] He returned to action in December, and scored in four consecutive games.[35] He finished the 2013–14 campaign with six goals in only 27 appearances; in the summer Southend United manager Phil Brown confirmed that he was attempting to re-sign Tomlin.[36] Tomlin decided to move back to his native London, and determined on a move South from the Midlands.[37]

Crawley Town

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Tomlin joined League One side Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee in June 2014 as "Reds" manager John Gregory stated "I have always admired Gavin".[38] He scored three goals in 40 appearances in the 2014–15 season as Crawley were relegated into League Two. He was released by new manager Dermot Drummy after making just 17 appearances in the 2015–16 campaign.[39]

Later career

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Tomlin joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Dulwich Hamlet in August 2016, following a successful trial ahead of the 2016–17 season.[40] He went on to score 19 goals in 60 appearances across all competitions in his first season at the club, and helped Hamlet to the play-off final, where they were beaten 2–1 by Bognor Regis Town.[41] The Hamlet again qualified for the play-offs with a second-place finish in the 2017–18 campaign, and Tomlin scored the equalising goal in the final against Hendon at Imperial Fields before Hamlet secured promotion with a victory in the penalty shoot-out.[42]

On 23 January 2019, Tomlin joined Southern Counties East League Premier Division club Cray Valley Paper Mills.[43] He scored on his debut for the club against Lordswood on 23 January 2019.[44] The "Millers" won the league title at the end of the 2018–19 season and reached the 2019 FA Vase final.[45] Tomlin scored in the final at Wembley Stadium, but Mills were beaten by 3–1 Chertsey Town after extra time.[46] The 2019–20 Isthmian League season was formally abandoned on 26 March, with all results from the season being expunged, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[47] He did not feature in the 2020–21 season, but scored one goal from twelve appearances in the 2021–22 campaign.[44]

Style of play

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In June 2010, Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still stated Tomlin to be "a clever striker with good movement who links play well. He's a hard worker who is equally adept playing as a forward or wide."[23] Speaking in March 2011, Torquay manager Paul Buckle described Tomlin as a player that was "big, strong and has plenty of pace".[24]

"One of the things I like about him is that if the ball goes astray he's still hungry and always wants it, and when he's on the ball things might happen. He has a confidence about him, and that's what you need. You can't go hiding in that position."

— Yeovil Town boss Russell Slade speaking in July 2008.[48]

Personal life

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As a boy he supported Newcastle United and looked up to Andy Cole.[49]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[a]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ashford Town (Kent) 2001–02[50] Southern League Eastern Division 1 1 0 0 — 1[b] 0 2 1
Aylesbury United 2002–03[6] Isthmian League Premier Division 1 0 0 0 — 1[c] 1 2 1
St Albans City (loan) 2004–05[51] Conference South 7 1 — — 1[d] 0 8 1
Yeading 2005–06[6] Conference South 12 0 0 0 — 1[e] 0 13 0
Windsor & Eton 2005–06[52] Isthmian League Premier Division 7 3 — — — 7 3
Brentford 2006–07[53] League One 12 0 0 0 1 0 2[f] 0 15 0
Yeovil Town 2008–09[54] League One 42 7 2 0 2 1 1[f] 1 47 9
2009–10[55] League One 35 7 0 0 1 0 1[f] 0 37 7
Total 77 14 2 0 3 1 2 1 84 16
Dagenham & Redbridge 2010–11[56] League One 19 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 2
2011–12[57] League Two 17 0 2 0 1 0 2[f] 0 22 0
Total 36 2 3 0 1 0 2 0 42 2
Torquay United (loan) 2010–11[56] League Two 12 4 0 0 0 0 3[g] 0 15 4
Gillingham (loan) 2011–12[57] League Two 10 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 6
Southend United 2012–13[58] League Two 33 13 5 2 0 0 4[f] 1 42 16
Port Vale 2013–14[59] League One 23 5 3 1 1 0 0 0 27 6
Crawley Town 2014–15[60] League One 35 3 1 0 1 0 3[f] 0 40 3
2015–16[61] League Two 16 0 0 0 0 0 1[f] 0 17 0
Total 51 3 1 0 1 0 4 0 57 3
Dulwich Hamlet 2016–17[62] Isthmian League Premier Division 40 11 3 2 — 18[h] 6 61 19
2017–18[63] Isthmian League Premier Division 17 0 0 0 — 4[i] 2 21 2
2018–19[64] National League South 17 1 0 0 — 1[e] 0 18 1
Total 74 12 3 2 — 23 8 100 22
Cray Valley Paper Mills 2018–19[65] Southern Counties East League Premier Division 17 13 — — 4[j] 3 21 16
2019–20[66] Isthmian League South East Division 13 9 0 0 — 1[k] 0 14 9
2020–21[67] Isthmian League South East Division 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2021–22[68] Isthmian League South East Division 8 1 1 0 — 3[l] 0 12 1
Total 38 23 1 0 — 8 3 47 26
Career total 392 87 18 5 7 1 51 14 470 107
  1. ^ Statistics for Staines Town, Windsor & Eton and Fisher Athletic unavailable.
  2. ^ Appearance in Kent Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearance in Herts Senior Cup
  5. ^ a b Appearances in FA Trophy
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Appearances in Football League Trophy
  7. ^ Three appearances in League Two play-offs
  8. ^ Nine appearances and three goals in FA Trophy, four appearances and two goals in Alan Turvey Trophy, two appearances in London Senior Cup, three appearances and one goal in Isthmian League play-offs
  9. ^ 2 appearances and 1 goal in Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup
  10. ^ Appearances in FA Vase
  11. ^ Appearance in the London Challenge Cup
  12. ^ 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in the London Challenge Cup

Honours

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St Albans City

Southend United

Dulwich Hamlet

Cray Valley Paper Mills

References

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  1. ^ "Gavin Tomlin". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Profile". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Striker Tomlin agrees Yeovil deal". BBC Sport. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  4. ^ "New boy Tomlin nets late winner". Kent Messenger, Kent Online.co.uk. 17 January 2002. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Aylesbury United 4–0 Wokingham Town". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Profile". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  7. ^ a b Flood, Tony. "Timely strike seals Gavin's Bees future". yourlocalguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Great debut for Tomlin". Non League Daily. 29 December 2003. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "Born in Gillingham, Gavin Tomlin..." hyufc.com. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  10. ^ "County Interest in Tomlin". nonleaguedaily.com. 2 June 2004. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Double Blow for Swans". nonleaguedaily.com. 28 March 2005. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Two in – one out at Saints". Non League Daily. 1 April 2005. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ "Yeading Football Club". www.yeadingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Brentford continue squad-building". BBC Sport. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  17. ^ "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | GAVIN LEAVES THE BEES". world.brentfordfc.co.uk. 30 January 2007. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Signing frenzy by Fish". Non League Daily. 6 February 2007. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^ "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Quintet offered trials by Yeovil". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Middlesbrough 5–1 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  22. ^ "Bowditch, Tomlin and Smith pen new deals at Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Striker Gavin Tomlin signs for Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Torquay sign Dagenham striker Gavin Tomlin on loan". BBC Sport. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  25. ^ "Torquay United set to extend Gavin Tomlin's loan spell". BBC Sport. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  26. ^ Begley, Emlyn (28 May 2011). "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Gillingham sign up striker Tomlin". BBC News.
  28. ^ "Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler hails Ashley Miller". BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  29. ^ "Southend United sign Anthony Straker and Gavin Tomlin". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  30. ^ Osborne, Chris (7 April 2013). "Crewe 2 – 0 Southend". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Port Vale complete Chris Robertson and Gavin Tomlin deals". BBC Sport. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  32. ^ "New boy Tomlin sets out his Vale goals". The Sentinel. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Gavin Tomlin eyes first-team impact". The Sentinel. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  34. ^ "Gavin Tomlin can become fans' favourite, says Micky Adams". The Sentinel. 19 October 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  35. ^ "Tomlin could equal Vale ace Mark Bright's scoring run". The Sentinel. 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  36. ^ Baggaley, Mike (13 June 2014). "Southend boss Phil Brown confirms interest in Port Vale's Gavin Tomlin". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  37. ^ "Port Vale boss Micky Adams steps up hunt for goalscorers". The Sentinel. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  38. ^ "Gavin Tomlin: Crawley Town sign Port Vale striker". BBC Sport. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  39. ^ "Former Brighton striker and former Port Vale frontman released by Crawley Town". Crawley News. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  40. ^ "Gavin Tomlin – signing confirmed". Dulwich Hamlet F.C. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  41. ^ Hickey, Liam (2 May 2017). "Bognor Regis Town 2–1 Dulwich Hamlet – News – Dulwich Hamlet Football Club". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  42. ^ Hickey, Liam (8 May 2018). "Dulwich Hamlet 1–1 Hendon AET – Dulwich win 4–3 on Penalties – News – Dulwich Hamlet Football Club". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  43. ^ FC, Cray Valley PM (23 January 2019). "#TheMillers are delighted to announce the arrival of Gavin Tomlin to #Badgers!The attacking midfielder joins us from @DulwichHamletFC and lists Brentford, Yeovil Town, Southend United and Crawley Town among his previous clubs.#WelcomeGavin #100thSeason #COYMpic.twitter.com/mdKEfpx7Rw". @CrayValleyPM. Twitter. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  44. ^ a b "Gavin Tomlin - Cray Valley (PM) FC First Team". www.crayvalleypmfc.com. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  45. ^ a b Cray Valley PM at the Football Club History Database
  46. ^ Association, The Football (19 May 2019). "Chertsey Town lift the Buildbase FA Vase after extra-time victory over Cray Valley". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  47. ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  48. ^ "Now Tomlin leaves Fish for League football". nonleaguedaily.com. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ "I looked up to Cole says Tomlin". thisissomerset.co.uk. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  50. ^ "Nuts and Bolts Archive". www.nutsandboltsarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  51. ^ a b "St Albans City F.C. Statistics". saintsstatistics.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  52. ^ "mitoo.co.uk". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  53. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. ^ a b "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. ^ a b "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  58. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  59. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  60. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  61. ^ "Games played by Gavin Tomlin in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  62. ^ "Gavin Tomlin – First XI – Dulwich Hamlet Football Club". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  63. ^ "Dulwich Hamlet | Appearances | Gavin Tomlin | 2017–2018 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  64. ^ Gavin Tomlin at Soccerway
  65. ^ a b "Gavin Tomlin player stats | Southern Counties East Football League". fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  66. ^ "Cray Valley PM | Appearances | Gavin Tomlin | 2019–2020". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  67. ^ "Cray Valley PM | Appearances | Gavin Tomlin | 2020–2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  68. ^ "Cray Valley PM | Appearances | Gavin Tomlin | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  69. ^ "Starting Lineups - Crewe vs Southend". Sky Sports. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  70. ^ "Dulwich Hamlet v Hendon". Football Web Pages.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
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