Doug Loft

Gillingham In June 2014, Loft turned down a new deal to remain with Port Vale, instead choosing to sign for Gillingham on a free transfer. He chose to sign for Gillingham in order to return to his home county of Kent with his young family. He was made club captain, and made his club debut on 9 August 2014 in a 4–2 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons. He was sent off in a 3–0 League One defeat to Scunthorpe United in October 2014, before scoring his first goal for the club in a Football League Trophy win over Crawley Town on 11 November. He ended the season with two goals in 42 appearances. and suffering an Achilles injury which restricted his number of games to just four between mid-February and May 2016. He scored four goals in 28 games, He made his debut for the club in the EFL Cup during Colchester's 4–0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion. His problematic hamstring and Achilles injuries recurred in late August 2016, keeping him out of first-team action. It was reported on 9 September that Loft would remain out of action for two to three months. He finally made a return to competitive action as a late substitute in Colchester's 1–1 draw with Doncaster Rovers on 14 April 2017, completing the season with nine first-team appearances to his name. He was struck down by a shoulder injury after a bad fall in November 2017. He was released by Colchester at the end of the 2017–18 season after manager John McGreal admitted that "we only ever saw glimpses of him because of his injury problems and it just hasn't worked out for him here".

Shrewsbury Town On 21 July 2018, Loft signed a one-year deal with Shrewsbury Town after impressing manager John Askey on a trial basis in pre-season friendlies. However, he failed to break into the "Shrews" first-team, playing just 66 minutes of League One football at the New Meadow. He appeared more frequently in the EFL Trophy and scored his only goal for the club in that competition against Walsall. On 21 January 2019, he returned to Dagenham & Redbridge, who were now playing in the National League, on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season. Manager Peter Taylor said that "he is a very experienced midfield player that I felt we needed". He was released by Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts in May 2019.

Later career On 17 July 2019, Loft joined National League South club Billericay Town. He scored two goals in 24 appearances in the 2019–20 season, which was permanently suspended on 26 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, with Billericay in 18th-place. He played eight games in the 2020–21 season, which was also curtailed early due to the pandemic.

On 3 June 2021, Loft joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Margate; manager Jay Saunders described him as a "key signing". However, eight days later he was revealed as a Tonbridge Angels signing after he walked out on Margate to remain in the National League South with Tonbridge. He played 27 games in the 2021–22 season and was retained in the summer. However, he played just one game of the 2022–23 campaign before suffering a season-ending ruptured Achilles injury at the end of August.

Style of play Loft was a versatile midfield player, and in November 2010, was described by Port Vale teammate Gareth Owen as "...one of the fittest at the club, but he's got a lot of skill with it... I've been surprised by how strong he is. He's got a good footballing brain and I like having him outside me (at wing-back) because he always wants the ball and I know he'll do his defensive duties as well. He could play in other positions, and received praise for his performances at left-back and his "excellent attitude" from Port Vale manager Micky Adams.

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

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

2005–06 Championship

2006–07 League One

2007–08 League One

2008–09 League One

39!!2!!3!!1!!3!!0!!4!!0!!49!!3 Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2008–09 League Two

2010–11 League Two

2011–12 League Two

2012–13 League Two

2013–14 League One

174!!18!!10!!0!!7!!1!!5!!0!!196!!19

2014–15 League One

2015–16 League One

62!!5!!2!!0!!1!!0!!5!!1!!70!!6

2016–17 League Two

20!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!22!!0 Shrewsbury Town 2018–19 League One

Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2018–19 National League

2019–20

Individual Port Vale Player of the Year: 2011–12