A FORMER Bradford footballer made a shock entry into the Love Island villa last night.

The winter series of the popular ITV2 dating programme, set in South Africa, began yesterday.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Tom Clare, left, during his playing days for Bradford (Park Avenue)Tom Clare, left, during his playing days for Bradford (Park Avenue) (Image: Newsquest)

Tom Clare, 23, who played for Park Avenue during the 2019-20 season and was on the books at Bradford City, appeared as a 'bombshell' at the end of episode one.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Clare on last night's episodeClare on last night's episode (Image: ITV)

This was after all 10 contestants had already been paired up.

It means the Macclesfield FC striker will have free rein to couple up with one of the girls in the next 24 hours.

Viewers were able to vote for either Clare or Ellie, 25, from Norwich, to be the first bombshell before the new series kicked off.

In previous years, the public had to wait with the islanders to see who would make their shock entrance.

In his VT, the Barnsley-born sportsman made his intentions clear that he was "definitely going to score some goals in the villa".

Clare also admitted he had been single for three months and that his DM's are a "scary place".

According to him, girls seem to love his 6'5' height - while some guys can be intimidated by it.