Tom Sparrow (Welsh footballer)

Tom Sparrow

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Lance Sparrow [1]
Date of birth	(2002-12-06) 6 December 2002 (age 21) [2]
Place of birth	Buckley, Flintshire, Wales
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Motherwell
Youth career
2015–2017	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2017–2022	Stoke City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2024	Stoke City	3	(0)
2021	→ AFC Telford United (loan)	6	(0)
2023	→ Hamilton Academical (loan)	12	(0)
2023–2024	→ Chester (loan)	8	(0)
2024–	Motherwell	0	(0)
International career‡
2018	Wales U17	3	(0)
2022–2023	Wales U21	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:47, 12 June 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:20, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

Thomas Lance Sparrow (born 6 December 2002) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell and the Wales under-21 national team.

Club career

Stoke City

Sparrow joined Stoke City from Wolverhampton Wanderers as a 14-year old. ^[3] In October 2021 Sparrow joined National League North side AFC Telford United on a one-month youth loan. ^[4] Sparrow made his professional debut on 7 May 2022 in a 1–1 draw against Coventry City. ^{[5] [6]}

On 7 January 2023, Sparrow joined Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season, making his debut the same day in a 1–0 defeat away at Ayr United. ^{[7] [8]} He helped Hamilton win the Scottish Challenge Cup after they beat Raith Rovers 1–0 in the final. ^[9] Sparrow made 17 appearances for Accies as they suffered relegation after losing on penalties to Airdrieonians in the playoffs. ^[10] On 5 September 2023, Sparrow joined National League North side Chester on a three-month loan. ^[11] Sparrow made twelve appearances for Chester before returning to Stoke in January 2024. ^[12] He was released by Stoke at the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[13]

Motherwell

Sparrow signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on 12 June 2024. ^[14]

International career

In September 2022 Sparrow made his debut for the Wales national under-21 football team in a 2–0 friendly match defeat against Austria under-21. ^{[15] [16]}

Career statistics

As of match played 23 December 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke City	2021–22 [17]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2022–23 [18]	Championship	2	0	0	0	1	0	—		3	0
	2023–24 [19]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	1	0	—		4	0
AFC Telford United (loan)	2021–22 [2]	National League North	6	0	0	0	—		—		6	0
Hamilton Academical (loan)	2022–23 [18]	Scottish Championship	12	0	1	0	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	0	17	0
Chester (loan)	2023–24 [2]	National League North	8	0	3	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	12	0
Motherwell	2024–25 [20]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Career total			29	0	4	0	1	0	5	0	39	0

1. Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup and two in Scottish Championship relegation play-offs
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Hamilton Academical

• Scottish Challenge Cup: 2022–23 ^[21]

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 15th May 2021: Stoke City" (PDF). English Football League. 15 May 2021. p. 35. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
2. Tom Sparrow at Soccerway
3. "Stoke City teenager on cusp of first team breakthrough in new position". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
4. "MIDFIELDER SIGNS ON A YOUTH LOAN FROM STOKE CITY". AFC Telford United. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
5. "Sparrow's debut delight". Stoke City. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
6. "Stoke City 1–1 Coventry City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
7. "Sparrow heads out on loan". Stoke City. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
8. "Ayr United 1-0 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
9. "Raith Rovers 0-1 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
10. "Hamilton Academical 2–1 Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
11. "Tom Sparrow joins Chester on loan". Stoke City. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
12. "Sparrow returns from loan spell". Stoke City. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
13. "Potters release contracts update". Stoke City. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
14. "Tom Sparrow is a Steelman". Motherwell. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
15. James Wales under 21 call up
16. Sparrow Wales under-21 debut
17. "Games played by Tom Sparrow in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
18. "Games played by Tom Sparrow in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
19. "Games played by Tom Sparrow in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
20. "Games played by Tom Sparrow in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
21. Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical, Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport, 26 March 2023