Brian Lloyd

Brian William Lloyd (born 18 March 1948) is a Welsh former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played 545 times in the Football League for five clubs and was capped three times by the Welsh national team.[3]

This article is about the Welsh footballer. For the British rower, see Brian Lloyd (rower).

Brian Lloyd
Personal information
Full name Brian William Lloyd[1]
Date of birth (1948-03-18) 18 March 1948[1]
Place of birth St Asaph, Wales[1]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1965–1967 Rhyl
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1969 Stockport County 32 (0)
1968 → Macclesfield Town 1 (0)
1969–1971 Southend United 46 (0)
1971–1977 Wrexham 266 (0)
1977–1981 Chester City 94 (0)
1981 → Port Vale (loan) 16 (0)
1981–1983 Stockport County 91 (1)
c.1983–1985 Bangor City
1985 Colwyn Bay
Rhyl
Lex XI
Total 546+ (1+)
National team
Wales under-23s 2 (0)
1975–1976 Wales 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his professional career at Stockport County in 1967, having signed from Rhyl. He transferred to Southend United two years later, before ending up at Wrexham in 1971. He spent six years as the Welsh club's first choice keeper, before he was sold to Chester City. In 1981, he was loaned out to Port Vale, before he re-signed for Stockport County. He left the Football League in 1983, and later spent some years in Welsh football with Bangor City, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, and Lex XI. He won Player of the Year awards at both Wrexham and Chester City.

Club career

Lloyd began his career playing non-league football with Rhyl, where he played a handful of games before joining Jimmy Meadows's Stockport County for £1,000[4] in March 1967. The "Hatters" won the Fourth Division title in 1966–67. The club maintained a secure mid-table position in the Third Division in 1967–68 and 1968–69. He also played one game on loan at Northern Premier League side Macclesfield Town in 1968. After 32 league appearances for Stockport he moved to Southend United in September 1969 for £10,000.[4] The "Shrimpers" finished 17th in the Fourth Division in 1969–70 and then 18th in 1970–71, hovering above the re-election zone under the stewardship of first Geoff Hudson and then Arthur Rowley.

Lloyd departed Roots Hall and returned to North Wales in August 1971, beginning a long stint with John Neal's Wrexham. Lloyd played 35 games in his first season at the Racecourse Ground and was then ever-present in league games in the next five years, as the club challenged for promotion from Third Division.[4] The "Dragons" finished 12th in 1972–73, before finishing one place and five points behind the promotion places in 1973–74. Wrexham dropped to 13th in 1974–75, before rising to sixth in 1975–76, just three places and four points outside of the promotion places. Lloyd was the club's first winner of the Jack Williams Player of the Season accolade in 1975–76.[5] The club again narrowly missed out on automatic promotion in 1976–77, finishing just one point behind third-placed Crystal Palace.

In September 1977, Lloyd made a surprise £6,000 move to local rivals Chester.[6] He quickly replaced fellow Welshman Grenville Millington as the regular Chester goalkeeper and helped Alan Oakes's "Seals" to finish fifth in the Third Division in 1977–78, with Lloyd being named as the club's player of the season for his efforts.[7] He was again first-choice the following season but an injury in September 1979 led to Millington replacing Lloyd in the Chester goal.[8] With Millington now the regular in goal and youngster Phil Harrington emerging from the youth ranks,[9] Lloyd was allowed to join Port Vale on loan in February 1981.[1] He played Vale's remaining sixteen matches of the season.[1] Vale supporters and players alike appealed to manager John McGrath to sign him on permanently at Vale Park, but to no avail, he returned to Sealand Road and was subsequently released.[1]

Ahead of the start of the following season Lloyd was back at Stockport County, who were now managed by Jimmy McGuigan. He missed just one game in two seasons back at Edgeley Park, and even managed to get on the scoresheet against Bradford City in 1982.[10] County hovered above the Fourth Division re-election zone in 1981–82 and 1982–83 under the stewardship of Eric Webster. Lloyd dropped into non-league football, having spells with North Wales sides Bangor City (Alliance Premier League and Northern Premier League), Colwyn Bay (North West Counties League), Rhyl and Lex XI.[4]

International career

Lloyd was capped three times by Wales in matches against Austria, England and Scotland,[11] having twice previously played for the Welsh under 23s.[4]

Post-retirement

After retiring as a footballer, Lloyd became a self-employed design consultant in Wrexham, a career he had initially begun after leaving school.[4] He has won awards for his architectural work.[12]

Statistics

Club statistics

Source:[13]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stockport County 1967–68 Third Division 80000080
1968–69 Third Division 2400030270
Total 3200030350
Southend United 1969–70 Fourth Division 2102000230
1970–71 Fourth Division 2503010290
Total 4605010520
Wrexham 1971–72 Third Division 3502010380
1972–73 Third Division 4603060550
1973–74 Third Division 4607020550
1974–75 Third Division 4601010480
1975–76 Third Division 4603090580
1976–77 Third Division 4606050570
1977–78 Third Division 10002030
Total 26602202603140
Chester City 1977–78 Third Division 3602000380
1978–79 Third Division 4103040480
1980–81 Third Division 1700040210
Total 94050801070
Port Vale (loan) 1980–81 Fourth Division 1600000160
Stockport County 1981–82 Fourth Division 4512020491
1982–83 Fourth Division 4601020490
Total 9113040981
Career total 54513504206221

International statistics
Wales national team[14]
YearAppsGoals
197510
197620
Total30

Honours
Individual
Stockport County

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 174. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 130. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. Brian Lloyd at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  4. 'Player Memories', Chester City v. Cambridge United matchday programme; 18 March 1995; pg. 15
  5. "The History of Supporters Clubs in Wrexham". Wrexham FC Official Website. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  6. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. p. 93. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  7. "Club Records – Player of the Season". chester-city.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  8. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. p. 95. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  9. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. p. 97. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  10. "Happy Valley". Stockport County Official Website. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  11. Rollin (2007). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–08. p. 930. ISBN 978-0-7553-1664-9.
  12. "Harvey Homes Developments (see first paragraph)". harveyhomes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  13. Brian Lloyd at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  14. "Brian Lloyd". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
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