https://twitter.com/PaulDollery/status/1427220267105988609?s=19 Such a shame as he looked a player with such promise all those years ago.
Genuinely gutting. Can't imagine what it must be like for him after the last few years to get to that point where you have to call it a day. Reading that story about his last injury and his on-pitch reaction was hard enough.
Poor Tommie - must have been so frustrating for him over the years. Hopefully he goes on to a good career after this whether in the game or elsewhere.
Such a shame. Was a highly promising player and is a very decent guy to boot. Deserved to get far more from the game and seemed to be making his way back to a fitting level for his ability. Hopefully he finds that there is another role for him within the game - and his retirement is just due to his body and not because of anything psychological due to his injuries.
He was a real modern centre half. Pace to burn which set him apart which I can only assume completely went away with all the injuries. Think Arsenal released him knowing he was made of glass and unfortunately they were proved correct
Crewe Alexandra can confirm that Tommie Hoban has decided to retire from professional football. The central defender informed David Artell of his decision three days before our Sky Bet League One opening game against Cheltenham. London-born, Hoban, joined the Alex in the summer after his contract expired with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen. Earlier this morning, Artell said: "I had a text off Tommie on the Wednesday before the Cheltenham game, he said he didn't feel quite right, but it was a pleasant message. I gave him a ring and he just told me that he was retiring over the phone and I haven't seen him since. "That's the long and the short of it. The contract situation has been getting sorted over this last week and unfortunately, Tommie has decided to retire." We would like to wish Tommie all the best in his new venture away from football. - Sounds like he already has something lined up away from the game.
Probably the most talented of our recent academy graduates, who knows, he might have become a regular for us in the Prem had he not suffered so many injuries. Gutted to hear this, assumed he'd got over his injuries seeing as he played almost every game for Aberdeen last season. Hope he's in a good place mentally, he must have gone through the ringer being absent for so long
I suppose so. I don't think he went a season without seriously injuring himself with us, I guess physically some players are just prone to injuries despite being highly tuned athletes
Desperately sad. He had the ability to have had a successful career at prem level. Sadly not the body to cope with it.
Always seemed a thoroughly nice bloke too. Quietly spoken and modest. With the timing of injuries, he probably never had that one big contract that could've set him up for life either.
On the awards night in the Slav promotion year I returned his Young Player of the Season award to him, he'd left it on a table. He was so thankful and polite. Seemed a lovely young chap. Very great shame indeed.
Had made a decent start but not sure how far he would have progressed if he hadn't been made of biscuits
Such a shame it looks like injury has forced Tommy to retire, I think he could have gone on to have a decent career had he not been so plagued by injury . All the best in whatever career path you take from now on Tommy and I hope you make a real success of whatever you go on to do, hopefully there may be something you could do within football, if that is what you want to do. Good Luck for the future Tommy.
He looked a fantastic prospect when he was coming through. Under Zola in the first Pozzo season I think he was only 18 and he was utterly brilliant every game he played. It's such a shame he never got the chance to prove he could sustain that level and kick on because I was always confident was going to be PL quality.
Was an excellent prospect and I am certain he would have become a first team fixture but for the injuries. I hope he has a career lined up either outside of football or in it. He could take his badges and become a manager. Many a player cut in their prime has become a terrific manager. Our own GT for example. Wish him all the best for the future and he is always welcome at the Vic.
Apparently he's going to be a financial adviser? I'm guessing he's decided it's just doesn't want to risk another injury and rehab for the...limited money on offer at the likes of Crewe. Real shame though, he looked a baller back in the day.
A real shame. For a while, it looked as though he’d go on and lead our back line for years, with all the tools to be a really good player. Must have been devastating to go through so many failed comebacks and rehab attempts, but such levels of mental toughness will surely serve him well wherever his working life takes him now.
He had the worse case of "muscle imbalance" I have ever seen. https://www.instagram.com/p/Zn0l_Pn_4S/ Good luck Tommie.
Would have had a very decent career without the injuries. Was brilliant in our promotion season, particularly during the final run in. Hope his old friends Ben Watson and Munari are planning on throwing him a lovely retirement party.
Why didn’t he play in the 2015/16 season? Was he out due to a long-term injury or was he at the bottom of the pecking order with the excellent central defenders we had at the time (Cathcart, Britos, Prodl)? I notice Soccerbase don’t even have entries for him in 2015/16 and 2017/18 - an improved Hoban based on the promise he showed in the Championship with us might have done wonders for our leaky defence in the Silva season.
Hoban explains why he quit the game . https://www.the42.ie/tommie-hoban-e...8299-Sep2021/?amp=1&__twitter_impression=true
Fair play to him. Comes across as very grounded. I always liked him as a Watford player, but injuries messed his time up here and he never bounced back. It takes a strong person to walk away from something he wanted to do all his life. He will be fine.
All the best Tommie. Great player in his short term, and it's a shame he was never allowed to reach his peak in the game. I would love for him to come back as a coach in some role. Grit and determination, fire in the belly. A little of Holebas and the Prodl in his prime. Best of luck to whatever he decides to do next.
