LOMAS: I’LL MISS MY PALS
NON-LEAGUE stalwart Andy Lomas says it’s the ‘camaraderie and friendships’ he will miss most after deciding to call time on his playing career.
Over 16 years, the defender, who turned 33 last Sunday, served Oxhey Jets, Walton & Hersham, Northwood, Harrow Brorough and Potters Bar Town with distinction.
Lomas rejoined Northwood as player-coach in November 2021 but has now decided to hang up his boots. It was a decision partly taken due to being diagnosed with a debilitating bowel condition, ulcerative colitis, in November.
The left-back told The NLP: “I hadn’t planned to give up that early even though you get to the age where your legs slow down a bit and family takes over.
“Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after having symptoms the year before probably tipped me over the edge. It’s quite a tough thing to manage day to day.”
The combination of factors made up Lomas’ mind, though he can be proud of his achievements down the years. Among them were being Walton & Hersham’s Player of the Year, helping Northwood win the Middlesex Senior Cup and winning promotion with Potters Bar Town.
Asked what he will miss the most, he said: “I think it’s more the camaraderie with the team and friendships over the years.
“Looking back, my nucleus of friends has revolved around football for the last 15 to 16 years. It’s spending time with your friends in the changing room environment. There are so many good people at all the clubs.
Incredible
“I won’t miss travelling to training two or three times a week – that’s the tough bit.”
As for a few highlights from his playing days, he said: “One of them was definitely wining the Middlesex Senior Cup with Northwood (in 2016). We beat Enfield Town in the final and it was the first trophy in a long time for the club. We had a really good side that year.
“At Potters Bar, we won promotion to the Isthmian Premier (in 2018). We finished second and luckily two teams went up automatically that year.
“We weren’t fancied and we were a bit of a surprise package. It went to the final day and we won 3-0 at Barking to clinch promotion.
“That was an incredible experience and was great for the club. They had never been a Step 3 team before.”
Lomas helped Harrow Borough reach the FA Cup first round but missed out through injury, though he did have his five minutes of fame when he scored a last-gasp equaliser for Potters Bar against Barnet in a fourth qualifying round tie in 2019.
“It meant we were in the draw for the first round and that was on TV,” he said. “(The BBC’s) Mark Chapman interviewed me and got me to talk through my goal. That was a great experience, though, unfortunately, we went on to lose the replay.”
Having been player-coach at Northwood – who reached the Isthmian South Central play-offs this season – for the last year and a half, Lomas has had the chance to see if coaching could be for him.
“It’s something I’ve been interested in and I think I would have something to add,” added Lomas, who works as a regional officer for England Golf. “It’s finding the right club and time in your life.
“Non-League managing and coaching is a big commitment – it’s virtually a full-time job. I’m sure I will do it at some point in the future, but maybe a year or two down the line.”