HE IS the Rory Delap of the National League — and can hurl a football further than most can kick it.
Tom Tonks intends to put Huddersfield through hell with his long-throws in the FA Cup at The Lamb tonight.
Tamworth’s not-so-secret weapon has also earned a reputation for scoring spectacular long-range goals which have made him a huge hit on social media.
So Terriers’ Aussie goalkeeper Jacob Chapman is sure to be tested whenever Tonks picks up the ball.
Former Stoke midfielder Delap made long-throws fashionable under boss Tony Pulis during their promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and their run to the FA Cup final in 2011.
Tonks, 33, said: “I’ve been hurling in throw-ins since primary school.
“My headteacher at primary school said to me: ‘You never threw that in,’ because he had his back to me and assumed I’d kicked it.
“So I asked him if he wanted me to do it again and he couldn’t believe the distance.
“I’ve had a lot of joy with it since and get called the Rory Delap of the National League but I wouldn’t mind his wages from a few years ago! I’ve never actually measured how far I can throw the ball, I just launch it as far as I can.
“The lads sometimes ask me to take something off it and keep it between the goalposts, because I can deliver it well beyond the back post if I want.
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“I can see it in the faces of opposing defenders and goalies — they absolutely hate it.”
Teams are obviously now planning for Tonks’ arrival and Huddersfield will no doubt be well aware of it on the artifical surface at The Lamb.
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And since a 7-0 defeat at Barnet in August, the National League North champions have shown they have what it takes to compete at a higher level.
Tonks added: “When we played Barnet, we got a bit of a turning over.
“But they are full-time and spent a day of analysis on us.
“Their players were actually told NOT to give away any throw-ins in their half. Fair play to them I don’t think I took one in the 90 minutes!”
While Jurgen Klopp famously employed a throw-in coach at Liverpool, Tonks has never been taught how to perfect his technique.
He said: “It’s just natural to me. I just do the same weights as the other lads.
“I’m not chucking medicine balls around the gym or anything like that.
“I’d probably get banned for putting the ball through the wall if I did!
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“It’s more to do with timing. Someone asked me the other day how many assists I’ve had but I’ve never kept count.”
As one of the few part-time teams in the National League, 5am gym sessions before work are not uncommon for Tonks and his team-mates.
But, as well as the throws, Tonks is more than useful with his feet.
A David Beckham-esque goal from the halfway line he scored for Stourbridge against Peterborough Sports in the FA Cup went viral.
He revealed: “That got a million views in a week and my phone didn’t stop ringing for two weeks.
“You can hear team-mate Luke Benbow’s mum screaming on the audio. That’s a funny listen on Youtube, well worth 20 seconds of anyone’s time!”
Tonks also scored a screamer for Tamworth earlier this season to seal a stoppage-time win at Braintree.
He charged into a tackle on the right touchline and, when his opponent pulled out of the challenge, Tonks sent the ball sailing over the goalie’s head from 40 yards and found the top corner.
Hopefully big Dave is looking down and I can get another goal for him on Friday night
Tom Tonks
Tonks added: “My phone blew up after that as well!
“I had a tweet from some Italian sports news station and someone in Kuwait too. Mad.
“I’ve watched it a few times since and I’m still asking myself how it actually went in!
“It was also special because it was my first goal after my grandad passed away.
“He used to love coming to watch me. He’s been to so many cold parks in step six of non-league and used to be instantly noticeable in his white vest!
“Hopefully big Dave is looking down and I can get another goal for him on Friday night.”
Tonks is a Wolves fan and has a score to settle with Huddersfield.
He went to a Premier League game at Molineux when Town’s Aaron Mooy put two free-kicks past Rui Patricio in 2018.
Part-time Tonks, who also sells sandwiches and sausage rolls from a food truck, added: “I’ll never forget that so I owe them one.
“It’s going to be very tough but we’ve had some good results at home and fancy ourselves against anyone at The Lamb.”
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