Tom Bonner
FullnameThomas Ernest Bonner[1]
Birth date6 February 1988 (age 38)
Birth placeCamden, England
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
PositionDefender
Youthclubs 1Queens Park Rangers
Years 12005–2007
Clubs 1Northampton Town
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22005
Clubs 2Bedford Town (loan)
Caps 29
Goals 21
Years 32006
Clubs 3Nuneaton Borough (loan)
Caps 311
Goals 30
Years 42007
Clubs 4Rushden & Diamonds
Caps 40
Goals 40
Years 52007
Clubs 5Bedford Town (loan)
Caps 56
Goals 50
Years 62007
Clubs 6Heybridge Swifts (loan)
Caps 67
Goals 60
Years 72007–2009
Clubs 7Hinckley United
Caps 749
Goals 71
Years 82009–2010
Clubs 8Ilkeston Town
Caps 830
Goals 81
Years 92010–2013
Clubs 9Dartford
Caps 9125
Goals 93
Years 102013–2015
Clubs 10Cambridge United
Caps 1013
Goals 100
Years 112014–2015
Clubs 11Dover Athletic (loan)
Caps 1122
Goals 111
Years 122015–2016
Clubs 12Ebbsfleet United
Caps 1237
Goals 122
Years 132016–2023
Clubs 13Dartford
Caps 13242
Goals 138
Years 142023
Clubs 14Havant & Waterlooville
Caps 145
Goals 140
Years 152023–2026
Clubs 15Cray Wanderers
Caps 1578
Goals 156
Totalcaps634
Totalgoals23
Nationalyears 12007
Nationalteam 1Scotland U19
Club-update17:10, 25 April 2026 (UTC)

Thomas Ernest Bonner (born 6 February 1988) is a retired, former Scottish footballer.

Career

Bonner began his career in the Queens Park Rangers Academy before he signed a professional contract with Northampton Town in 2005. He went on loan to Bedford Town and Nuneaton Borough before he signed with Rushden & Diamonds in January 2007.[2] At Rushden he went out on loan to Bedford Town and Heybridge Swifts. During his spell with Bedford Town he notably scored the winning goal in a play off final against Chippenham Town to secure Bedford's promotion to the Conference South. He was released by Rushden in May 2007 and went on to play non-league football with Hinckley United and Ilkeston Town. In 2010 Bonner joined Conference Premier side Dartford and after spending three seasons at Princes Park he signed with Cambridge United in May 2013.[3] He made his Football League debut on 9 August 2014 in a 1–0 win at home against Plymouth Argyle.[4]

In September 2014, Bonner joined Conference Premier side Dover Athletic on loan, helping the club to record nine clean sheets in his first twenty-four appearances, including in two FA Cup shock wins over Football League sides Morecambe and Cheltenham Town as the club reached the FA Cup third round against Premier League side Crystal Palace, where they lost to a strong Palace squad.

Bonner signed for Ebbsfleet United on an 18-month contract on 15 January 2015.[5]

On 1 June 2016, Bonner rejoined former side Dartford for the 2016–17 National League South season.[6]

On 2 June 2018, Bonner was sent off representing Hackney pub The Gun in the BT Sport Pub Cup final at Leicester City's King Power Stadium.[7]

On 22 June 2023, Bonner announced his retirement from football.[8]

Bonner came out of retirement just four months later by joining Havant & Waterlooville.[9]

However, after only five first-team appearances, Bonner left Havant & Waterlooville in November 2023 and joined Cray Wanderers, making his debut for the club on 25 November 2023 during a 1–1 draw against Dulwich Hamlet.[10]

On 24 April 2026, Bonner announced his retirement following the conclusion of the 2025–26 season.[11]

Honours

Cambridge United

Dartford

Individual

  • National League South Team of the Year: 2016–17,[14] 2017–18,[15] 2021–22[16]

References

  1. ^ "List of Temporary Transfers of Players under Written Contract Between 01/08/2014 and 31/08/2014" (PDF). p. 19. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Diamonds net Northampton's Bonner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Cambridge United sign Dartford duo Tom Bonner and Tom Champion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Cambridge 1-0 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  5. ^ Tervet, Steve (2015-01-15). "Ebbsfleet United confirm they are to sign defender Tom Bonner on an 18-month contract from Cambridge United". Kent Online. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  6. ^ "Defender Tom Bonner agrees deal to return to Dartford". The Non-League Football Paper. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  7. ^ "The gun finds the target in dramatic pub cup final shootout". btsportbusiness.com. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  8. ^ "TOM BONNER RETIRES". dartfordfc.co.uk. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  9. ^ "NEW SIGNING: BONNER IS A HAWK". havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  10. ^ "Isthmian League round-up: Chatham beat Enfield Town, Andy Drury loses first game in charge of Folkestone, Ramsgate draw at Cray Valley, Sevenoaks hit five". kentonline.co.uk. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  11. ^ "Burgess Hill Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 25th April, 3 pm – Match Preview & Admission/Directions + a tribute to Tom Bonner". cray-wanderers.com. 2026-04-24. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
  12. ^ "DONALDSON AT THE DOUBLE FOR CAMBRIDGE IN FA TROPHY FINAL". FA. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  13. ^ Tucker, Craig (2022-05-18). "Dartford captain Tom Bonner reacts to Kent Senior Cup final victory over Folkestone Invicta". Kent Online. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  14. ^ Mason, Aaron (2017-05-18). "Ex Cambridge United duo earn places in National League team of the year". CambridgeshireLive. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  15. ^ Elliot, Sam (11 May 2018). "National League South Team Of The Season". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  16. ^ "Meet Your National League South Season's Big Winners! - The Vanarama National League". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-22.