Tom Bolarinwa

Club career Bolarinwa was born in Greenwich, London. He started his football career in the Youth Alliance League with Barnet then went on to play senior football at Dulwich Hamlet making 6 appearances and scoring 4 goals. In 2008, he joined Croydon Athletic, as a right midfielder where he was in the winning team that won the Ryman Division 1 for the first time in their history. During his time with Croydon Athletic he made 40 appearances, scoring 13 goals. In September 2010 Bolarinwa spent a short spell at Billericay Town where he made 10 appearances, scoring 5 goals, before being released in November 2010. He then had a spell at Kingstonian where he made 10 appearances.

Thai Leagues After a trial period with Wycombe Wanderers, Bolarinwa joined Thai League 1 club, Muangthong United and was then loaned out to Suphanburi. In his first season, he made 15 appearances and scored 8 goals. In 2013, he played for Regional League Division 2 side Nakhon Nayok, he made 9 appearances and scored one goal. In 2014 Bolarinwa joined Udon Thani where he made 21 appearances and scored 7 goals, helping them finish in second place and qualification to the Champions League Round.

Sutton United Bolarinwa spent a few weeks with Isthmian League Division One North side Cray Wanderers. They won every game in which he played, making what had seemed an unlikely escape from relegation. Bolarinwa then signed a two-year contract with National League South side Sutton United on a free transfer. He made he debut for the club, coming off the bench in the 2–0 home defeat to Maidstone United. Bolarinwa scored his first goal for the club on 19 September 2015 in the 2–0 away win at Weston-super-Mare, scoring the second goal in the 30th minute, a pass fed into the path of Bolarinwa midway in the Weston half from Craig Eastmond, Bolarinwa ran forward dinking inside and outside to avoid two challenges before striking a 25-yard low shot, which curled away from the out-stretched dive of Purnell into the far bottom corner of the net.

Bolarinwa played a crucial role in Sutton United being promoted to the National League for the first time in sixteen years. His efforts over the season earned him a place in the 2015–16 National League team of the year.

Grimsby Town Bolarinwa joined League Two side Grimsby Town on 15 June 2016 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 6 August 2016 in the opening game of the 2016–17 season in Grimsby's 2–0 home victory against Morecambe.

In November 2017, Bolarinwa returned to Sutton United on loan. After two and a half seasons, he left the club on the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2020.

Bolarinwa joined Lewes in September 2020.

At the beginning of the 2021–22 season, Bolarinwa moved to Ashford United.

Style of play Bolarinwa primarily plays as a winger, but he can also play behind a striker as an attacking midfielder, as well as both flanks. A very direct type of player, he is able to dribble at pace and use feints to get past the opponents players, and he is able to hold the ball up to bring other players into play.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

37!!2!!1!!0!!2!!0!!5!!0!!45!!2

Bolarinwa was orphaned at the age of 15 when his mother died of malaria and from that age he lived alone with his younger brother.

Honours

Player Croydon Athletic Isthmian League Division One South champions: 2009–10

Udon Thani Division 2 North Eastern second-place(Q): 2014

Sutton United National League South champions: 2015–16

Individual National League South Team of the Year: 2015–16