Loan signings from Premier League and Championship academies often prove to be hit-or-miss for teams in League One and Two.
Unfortunately for former Scotland Under-21 striker Tom Dickson-Peters, his 2023 stint with Grimsby Town was decidedly a miss, despite the Norwich City prospect scoring on his debut.
Dickson-Peters, a product of Norwich’s academy, joined Paul Hurst’s Mariners for the latter part of their 2022/23 League Two season—Grimsby’s first campaign back in the EFL following a brief drop to non-league football. Brought in alongside fellow loanees Mikey O’Neill (Preston North End) and George Lloyd (Cheltenham Town), as well as short-term signings Josh Emmanuel (Hull City) and Owen Gallacher (Crawley Town), the hope was that Dickson-Peters would add depth to a squad balancing league duties with a historic FA Cup run.
While the Norwich forward showed early promise, his impact was fleeting. After scoring in a 3-0 win at Crewe Alexandra on his debut, Dickson-Peters struggled to adapt to the physical demands of League Two football and failed to make a significant impression. Limited to sporadic appearances, the 20-year-old often looked out of his depth, lacking the application and presence needed to secure a regular role under Hurst.
In contrast, George Lloyd, who also scored on his Grimsby debut, became a key figure, earning the admiration of fans for his tireless work ethic, pace, and knack for scoring crucial goals. Meanwhile, O’Neill’s determination ensured he stayed involved with the first team, even if his contributions were limited. Dickson-Peters, however, faded into the background and was omitted from matchday squads entirely as Hurst grew dissatisfied with his performances.
Following his underwhelming spell at Grimsby, Dickson-Peters’ career trajectory has been a difficult one. A brief loan at National League side Woking in 2023 also failed to yield success, and by late 2023, his Norwich contract was terminated by mutual consent. After several months without a club, he joined Isthmian Premier Division side Whitehawk in mid-2024, but his time there was short-lived, and he departed by September.
Now 22 and without a club, Dickson-Peters’ career has yet to recover. Despite showing promise at youth levels and earning caps for Scotland’s age-group teams, he has struggled to make the leap to senior football. Whether he can rebuild his career in the lower leagues remains uncertain, but his time at Grimsby serves as a reflection of the challenges he has faced thus far.
