CLUB LEGEND ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT-EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT!

Carlton Town coach and promotion winning legend Darryl Thomas has today announced the end of his playing career.

The signing of Darryl Thomas is one of the reasons Carlton play at the level they do, it was back in the 2006-2007 season when the 20 year old joined the club and scored a hatrick on his home debut.

Mick Garton remembers the impact he made well !

“He has to go down as one of the greatest goal scorers at our level of football over many years and I remember his signing well, I thought he was a vey confident lad when I first met him, but that’s no bad thing when you are signed to score goals and I have always got on well with him and his family, who were regular attendees in the early days”

“He helped get us over the line in that season and was part of the team on that fantastic day when we won promotion at Garforth, a day that I will never forget, it was an amazing day and I know Darryl has it up there as one of his best memories too”

Thomas went on to score 29 goals for the Milers in the 2007-2008 season and his 32 goals in the 2008-2009 season helped see Carlton make the playoffs before going down to Stoksbridge Park Steels and a certain Jamie Vardy who helped them to victory that night.

Joint manager who was in charge at the time Tommy Brookbanks takes up the story

“We had signed Phil Bignall , but to take us to the next level , we needed to bring Darryl in and the Chairman backing me on that one was one of the best decisions he has ever made” said Brookbanks

“Carlton have maintained their presence at this level since that 2007 which is an achievement in itself, but you have to get to this level in the first place and Darryl helped us do that and then set the bar with over 60 goals in two seasons which ultimately led us to the playoffs”

“He is now back with us as a coach and his infectious personality very much remains, he’s doing well and will make a good manager in the future, it’s probably the right decision, only he will know that , but he has had a fantastic career and a significant spell of that has been with us and I am delighted we signed him”

Thomas left the club to sign for Retford for the 2009-2010 season and returned as a player coach under Tommy and Mark Harvey at the start of the 2019-2020 season.

He will remain on a form until the end of the season on an emergency basis , but believes he has played his last game, though he wouldn’t let Tommy and Mark down in a crisis !

Darryl has given us an exclusive statement following his retirement announcement.

Sadly I have taken the decision to retire from football, I have agreed with Tommy and Mark to stay registered until the end of the season just incase I am needed but after that I will be hanging them up! It’s something I have been thinking about for a few weeks as I still have a desire to play but with our current squad I don’t want to get in the way of the younger strikers development. I have had a great career in non league with probably 85% of my time being spent playing at this level or the league above which I am proud of. I had a reputation of being abit cocky when I was young which I was but that was because I backed myself to score in every game I played in no matter who we played but for people that actually got to know me as a person know that I am a decent human being.
My first stint at Carlton Town hands down is the most enjoyable 2 an half years of my career where we were not only successful but I have brothers for life from that squad.. fast forward 12 years and i was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to return to the club by Tommy and Mark they bought me back in at this level when nobody else would and they got my love for football back I’ll be forever grateful to both of them. I still believe I have loads to offer playing wise but the direction the team and club are going I don’t want to get in the way – I would love nothing more than for us to end the season with a promotion or senior cup trophy I’ll be doing everything i can to help the squad achieve that. To the millers faithfully and supporters for clubs I’ve played for thank you for having me DT

Carlton Town Tv will endeavour to catch up with the charismatic Darryl in the near future to look back on his excellent career and in particular those 3 brilliant seasons he was at Carlton early on.

It should be a great interview!