Let's enlighten ourselves about Tom Lawrence, a proud export of Wales, born on the frosty morning of 13th January 1994, hence making him 31 years tucked under the belt. This sprightly bloke is a creative midfielder, notorious for wreaking havoc from the central attacking position for the Rangers. Bulging at 11st 11lb (75kg) and stretching to 5ft 10in (1.8m), Lawrence adds an imposing presence in the heart of the pitch, blessing himself with jersey number 11. Of course, this man is no stranger to the enchantress that is international football, having donned the colours of the Wales national team.
Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Out first stop brings us to November 2013, where Lawrence bid adieu to the Premier League giant Manchester United to rub shoulders with Carlisle United. Nine games and three goals later, he made the switch to Yeovil Town in January 2014, concluding the season with 19 appearances and two ends met.
September 2014 marked Lawrence's return to the Premier League, this time inking his name alongside Leicester City for a jaw-clenching sum close to £1.2m. His stint, however, was about as enjoyably long as a tooth extraction, lasting only three games before Rotherham United came knocking for a loan deal.
Then began fifteen months of extended vacation, starting at Blackburn Rovers in August 2015, a mere 21 games with two goals; followed by Cardiff City, a total of 14 matches. At this point, I could have sworn he was conducting a tour of England's leagues, a suspicion confirmed when he found himself in Ipswich Town in August 2016 where he enjoyed a moderately successful spell with 34 games and nine goals.
A cursory glance at his CV would then direct your attention to his most 'consistent' stint yet, at Derby County from August 2017. For a sum close to £5m, Lawrence pulled on the County's white shirt for numerous seasons, amassing 172 first team appearances and 36 goals. While we're at it, let's raise a glass to the 2021-2022 season where he topped the charts at 38 appearances with 11 goals.
Then in July 2022, Lawrence tipped his hat to England and set his course northwards, towards Rangers in Scotland. A total of 42 appearances, seven goals, various stints in the Europa League, and a token appearance in the Champions League Qualifiers later, we arrive at our current timeline, where he's banging in goals in the season 2024-2025.
So there you have it, the life and times of Tom Lawrence, as varied as a British weather forecast and just as unpredictable. If anything, the man is not shy of a good game of musical chairs between clubs, and we can only hope that his future is half as entertaining as his past.
