Ex-Hatters Lockyer and Gray released by Rovers and Vale
Former Town duo are now free agents this summer
Former Luton defender Tom Lockyer is now a free agent after being released by League Two Bristol Rovers following the end of the season.
The 31-year-old returned to the Memorial Stadium for his second spell with the Pirates back in October, having left the Hatters following five years at Kenilworth Road, where he featured 117 times as Town won promotion to the Premier League, including playing 14 times in the top flight. Lockyer then suffered an on-field cardiac arrest during the trip to AFC Bournemouth in December 2023, which despite making a full recovery, was his last time on the field for the Hatters, after suffering an ankle injury that led to two operations.
After joining the Gas earlier in the campaign, Lockyer, who came through the Rovers’ academy, achieving back-to-back promotions from the Conference to League One between 2014-16, featured 16 times under previous manager Darrell Clarke, who he played for earlier in his career, but only had five outings since February under new boss Steve Evans.
Overall, Lockyer made 303 appearances for Rovers, scoring seven times, as manager Evans told the club’s official website: “I want to thank every player and member of staff for their contributions since I joined The Gas in December. It has been a sterling effort by the group and now we look forward to the new season.”
» Ex-Hatters forward Andre Gray has left Port Vale after not being offered a new deal by the Valiants.
The 34-year-old, who scored 52 goals in 111 appearances for Town during 2012-14 when helping spearhead the club’s promotion back to the Football League, moved to Vale Park on a short-term deal in February after a stint in Turkey with Fatih Karagümrük. Gray went on to make 15 appearances for the club, including a substitute outing against the Hatters, but is now a free agent once more.