Rovers had a very special fly past and visitor on Thursday 29th August when a Lynx helicopter landed as a special tribute to Rovers fan Tom O’Malley.
As a surprise Tom’s family greeted him outside the Keepmoat Stadium where his helicopter landed on the Batercard Stand (east) side grass.
Captain Darren (Tom) O’Malley DFC AAC, is leaving the Army after 27 years service, he started out in 1986 as a driver in the Royal Corps of Transport which then became the Royal Logistic Corps.
In 1992 as a Corporal he became a helicopter pilot with the Army Air Corps where he spent the rest of his career flying Gazelle, Lynx and Apache helicopters, during that time he became a qualified helicopter instructor and rose through the ranks to commission and become a Captain.
He is also one of the Army Air Corps most decorated soldiers having been awarded the distinguished Flying Cross on operations.
Tom is a Doncaster lad (he was in the Army cadets and TA in Doncaster) and an avid Rovers fan; he is going to be settling down back in Doncaster on completion of his service in September, where he still has family & friends
As a fitting tribute for the service Tom has given his country, Doncaster Rovers very kindly agreed to a presentation at the Keepmoat Stadium, as he planned to be in the area on a routine training sortie on the 29th August.
Club Director Stuart Highfield, on behalf of Rovers, presented Tom with a signed shirt with O’Malley 27 on the back, a Chris Brown signed training top, the new history book and a special photo. The club has also invited Tom to meet the players and be a guest at one of the club’s games.