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.

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 being 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 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. 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. 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. He was again first-choice the following season. However, an injury in September 1979 led to Millington replacing Lloyd in the Chester goal. With Millington now the regular in goal and youngster Phil Harrington emerging from the youth ranks, Lloyd was allowed to join Port Vale on loan in February 1981. He played Vale's remaining 16 matches of the season. 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. having twice previously played for the Welsh under 23s.

Career statistics

Club statistics

International statistics

Honours Individual Wrexham A.F.C. Player of the Year: 1975–76 Chester City F.C. Player of the Year: 1977–78

Stockport County Football League Fourth Division: 1966–67