Tommy: My last touch as a Darlo player was heading against the bar

By Ray Simpson

Tommy: My last touch as a Darlo player was heading against the bar

Former striker remembers the final

 

In our build up to the replay of Saturday's 2011 Trophy final against Mansfield, we're recalling the memories of players, fans and officials from that day.

Today, it's former striker and manager Tommy Wright, who talked about the game in the matchday programme soon after he was appointed in October 2017.

Under manager Mark Cooper he played 29 times in total, including that famous game at Wembley when his header hit the bar and Chris Senior headed in the rebound. Ironically, that was his last touch of the ball as a Darlo player.

“Mark Cooper came in as manager, but I don’t think he really took to me, and I was more out of the side than in it," he said. "I came on as sub in the first Trophy semi final against Gateshead when we came from behind to win 3-2, but I wasn’t even in the squad for the second leg at the International Stadium.

"I felt as if I was frozen out, there were a couple more players like me who stayed at home that day. I was well out of the picture, and was training with the youth team. I kept working hard by myself, and trying to convince myself that something was going to happen. I knew that I had to remain professional and not let the situation get to me.

“Then I was recalled to the team for a couple of league games because of injuries. One of the centre halves was injured, so Liam Hatch had to move from the forward line into defence. I scored against York City at home, and then against Rushden at home in the final league game. That was enough to keep me in the team for Wembley.

 “I could have had a hat trick in the final, it was my boyhood dream to score at Wembley. But I wasn’t sharp enough because I hadn’t played enough games. I thought I was going to score with the diving header near the end, I really thought it was going in. I was really high in the air, level with the ball, but it went wide! It was almost the last touch of the ninety minutes, it would have been brilliant to score the winner then.

“I left that honour to Chris Senior. I did the hard work for him, heading the ball against the bar! I’ve watched the video on You Tube a lot, because it was the only time I’ve played at Wembley, and I was lucky enough to finish on the winning side. I’ve still got my medal and loads of photos.”

Like many people who were that memorable day, Tommy will be watching the replay on Saturday, which begins at 3pm.

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