Ryan Lloyd

Ryan Lloyd

Lloyd warming up for Port Vale before a match against Northampton Town on 20 April 2013.
Personal information
Full name	Ryan Anthony Lloyd [1]
Date of birth	(1994-02-01) 1 February 1994 (age 30) [2]
Place of birth	Newcastle-under-Lyme, England [2]
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [3]
Position(s)	Left-winger; central midfielder
Youth career
2002–2011	Port Vale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2017	Port Vale	17	(0)
2013	→ Tamworth (loan)	6	(0)
2015–2016	→ Chester (loan)	22	(0)
2016–2017	→ Chester (loan)	41	(3)
2017–2019	Macclesfield Town	40	(4)
2019–2020	Port Vale	6	(0)
2020–2023	Hereford	79	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:48, 16 February 2024 (UTC)

Ryan Anthony Lloyd (born 1 February 1994) is an English footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for National League North club Hereford. He is currently a free agent.

He began his career at Port Vale and helped the club to secure promotion out of League Two in 2012–13, and then played on loan at Tamworth in September 2013 and Chester in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 campaigns. He signed with Macclesfield Town in June 2017 on a two-year deal and helped the club to win promotion to the English Football League as champions of the National League in 2017–18. He rejoined Port Vale for one year in June 2019 and signed with Hereford in October 2020. He played for Hereford in the 2021 FA Trophy final.

Career

Port Vale

Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lloyd started his career in the youth team ranks at Port Vale, starting in the club's under-nine side. ^[4] His debut came on 30 April 2011, as he came off the bench at Vale Park to replace Rob Taylor seventy minutes into a 7–2 win over Morecambe; Joe Davis also made his debut at the same time. ^[5] This came days before a week-long trial at Premier League side Fulham. ^[4] He was identified as a technically gifted player. ^[6] Still a youth team player in 2011–12, he made his second senior appearance in a 2–0 defeat at Whaddon Road on 19 November, replacing Doug Loft after Cheltenham Town had already made the game safe. ^[7] He agreed a new two-year deal with the club in June 2012. ^[8] He started the 2012–13 season on the bench, and assistant manager Mark Grew said his performances as a substitute "proved he's good enough" for a first-team place, though he would only start a game due to suspensions or injuries to the highly impressive wing duo Ashley Vincent and Jennison Myrie-Williams. ^[9] Vale were promoted at the end of the season, with Lloyd largely restricted to reserve team football.

He joined Conference Premier club Tamworth on a one-month loan on 31 August 2013, ^[10] and made his "Lambs" debut later that day in a 3–0 defeat to Cambridge United at Abbey Stadium. ^[11] In total he made five starts and one substitute appearance during his spell at The Lamb Ground. At the end of the 2013–14 season he featured in Vale's Staffordshire Senior Cup final defeat to Rushall Olympic. ^[12] He signed a new one-year contract in June 2014. ^[13] He failed to make an appearance under new manager Rob Page in the 2014–15 season, but signed a new one-year contract in June 2015. ^[14]

He was tipped for a breakthrough season ahead of the 2015–16 campaign by youth team coach Mick Ede. ^[15] He joined National League club Chester on a one-month loan beginning on 24 November. ^[16] He found it difficult to adapt to the pace and physicality of the division, but impressed enough for Chester manager Steve Burr to extend his loan spell into until the end of the season. ^[17] Lloyd returned for a second loan spell at Chester in August 2016. ^[18] He scored his first goal in senior football on 27 August, in a 4–0 victory over Sutton United at the Deva Stadium. ^[19] Just two days later he scored again in a 3–1 defeat to Woking at Kingfield Stadium. ^[20] His performance in a 2–0 victory over Aldershot Town on 17 December was good enough to win him a place in the non-League Team of the Week. ^[21] Chester manager Jon McCarthy intended to keep Lloyd beyond the expiry of his loan spell in January 2017, but admitted that other clubs had also expressed an interest in the player. ^[22] Divisional rivals Southport had a bid of £10,000 accepted by Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite. However, Lloyd rejected the move and was allowed to rejoin Chester on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 campaign. ^[23] He was released by new Port Vale manager Michael Brown in May 2017. ^[24] Lloyd said it was "frustrating being overlooked" and that "I feel like they always looked at me like I was still a young kid, I never got given an opportunity in the first team". ^[25]

Macclesfield Town

Lloyd signed a two-year contract with National League club Macclesfield Town in June 2017. ^[26] On 25 November, he scored from within his own half in a 1–1 draw at Maidenhead United. ^[27] He scored four goals in 29 appearances in 2017–18 as John Askey's "Silkmen" won promotion back to the English Football League as champions of the National League. ^[28] However, he featured just 14 times in the 2018–19 season and was not retained by manager Sol Campbell. ^[29] He was a linked with a return to former club Port Vale, now managed by John Askey, who said "He has a feeling for the club, he lives locally, he has a good attitude and good ability. He'd be somebody I would be interested in." ^[30] Lloyd went on to become one of six players – the others being Shamir Mullings, Elliott Durrell, Rhys Taylor, Jamie Grimes and Keith Lowe – to issue the club with a winding-up petition over unpaid wages. ^[31]

Return to Port Vale

On 26 June 2019, following weeks of speculation, Lloyd rejoined Port Vale on a one-year deal. ^[32] His signing was criticised by Vale some fans as the club showing a lack of ambition. ^[33] Port Vale released him at the end of the 2019–20 season after making six league and six cup appearances. ^[34]

Hereford

On 2 October 2020, Lloyd joined National League North club Hereford and was described as a "big signing" by manager Josh Gowling. ^[35] He featured 19 times before the 2020–21 season was curtailed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in England. ^{[36] [37]} The FA Trophy continued however, and Hereford made it to the final against Hornchurch at Wembley Stadium, where they would lose 3–1. ^[38] Speaking in July 2021, he said that "I'd love to chip in with a few goals... I think that I will get a bit more of a licence to go forward a bit more this season now we've got the likes of James Vincent". ^[39] Speaking in February 2022, Gowling said that "Lloyd is one of those players whose work goes unnoticed" as he picked up a rare injury. ^[40] Lloyd featured 34 times in the 2021–22 campaign and was offered a new contract in the summer. ^{[36] [41]} He was released by new manager Paul Caddis at the end of the 2022–23 season. ^[42]

Style of play

Port Vale manager Rob Page described Lloyd as energetic and athletic, with good vision and timing; Lloyd can play in central midfield despite being a natural left-winger. ^[43] The Macclesfield Town website described him as "an exciting and tenacious midfielder, who has a clear natural talent and a fabulous eye for goal". ^[44]

Personal life

Lloyd is a keen angler and was featured in the Angling Times after catching a 44 pounds (20 kg) mirror carp named "Kev's Linear" from Oxfordshire's Linch Hill complex in 2014. ^[45]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 April 2023

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	2010–11 [46]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2011–12 [47]	League Two	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2012–13 [48]	League Two	6	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	7	0
	2013–14 [49]	League One	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2014–15 [50]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2015–16 [51]	League One	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	2016–17 [52]	EFL League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		17	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	18	0
Tamworth (loan)	2013–14 [49]	Conference Premier	6	0	0	0	—		0	0	6	0
Chester (loan)	2015–16 [36]	National League	22	0	0	0	—		4 [lower-alpha 2]	0	26	0
	2016–17 [36]	National League	41	3	1	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 3]	0	45	3
	Total		63	3	1	0	0	0	7	0	71	3
Macclesfield Town	2017–18 [36]	National League	27	4	2	0	—		0	0	29	4
	2018–19 [53]	EFL League Two	13	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
	Total		40	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	43	4
Port Vale	2019–20 [54]	League Two	6	0	0	0	1	0	5 [lower-alpha 4]	0	12	0
Hereford	2020–21 [36]	National League North	13	0	0	0	—		7 [lower-alpha 5]	0	20	0
	2021–22 [36]	National League North	32	2	1	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	34	2
	2022–23 [36]	National League North	34	2	0	0	—		0	0	34	2
	Total		79	4	1	0	0	0	8	0	88	4
Career total			211	11	5	0	1	0	21	0	238	11

1. Appearance/s in Football League Trophy
2. Three appearances in FA Trophy and one appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup
3. Appearance/s in FA Trophy
4. Appearance/s in EFL Trophy
5. Appearance/s in FA Trophy
6. Appearance/s in FA Trophy

Honours

Port Vale

• League Two third-place promotion: 2012–13 ^[55]

Macclesfield Town

• National League: 2017–18 ^[28]

Hereford

• FA Trophy runner-up: 2021 ^[38]

References

1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
2. "FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2019/2020". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
3. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 513. ISBN   978-0-7553-6356-8.
4. "Port Vale: Grew warns Fulham over young star Lloyd". The Sentinel . 22 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
5. Steve Shaw. "Port Vale: Vale hit seven, but promotion heaven remains another glut of goals away". The Sentinel . Retrieved 2 May 2011.
6. Shaw, Steve (14 October 2010). "Port Vale: Youth team manager Mick Ede excited by Vale's future". The Sentinel . Retrieved 30 April 2011.
7. "Cheltenham 2 – 0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
8. "Pope and Lloyd sign". port-vale.co.uk. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
9. "Ryan Lloyd in frame for Valiants start". The Sentinel . 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
10. Parsons, Chris. "Lloyd leaves on loan". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
11. "Cambridge 3 – 0 Tamworth". BBC Sport. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
12. Baggaley, Michael (30 April 2014). "Port Vale lose Staffs Senior Cup final to Rushall". The Sentinel . Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
13. Baggaley, Mike (19 June 2014). "Ryan Lloyd signs new Port Vale deal". The Sentinel . Retrieved 28 June 2014.
14. Baggaley, Mike (11 June 2015). "Midfielder Ryan Lloyd signs new contract". The Sentinel . Retrieved 11 June 2015.
15. "Ryan Lloyd tipped for breakthrough season at Vale". The Sentinel . 21 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
16. "Chester: Alex Whitmore and Ryan Lloyd join on loan". BBC Sport. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
17. Baggaley, Mike (29 January 2016). "Ryan Lloyd extends deal at Chester". The Sentinel. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
18. Powell, Dave (12 August 2016). "Chester FC: Ryan Lloyd rejoins Blues on loan from Port Vale". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
19. "Chester 4-0 Sutton United". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
20. "Woking 3-1 Chester". BBC Sport. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
21. Mac, Rob. "Loan Watch". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
22. Baggaley, Mike (3 January 2017). "Transfer battle looms for Port Vale midfielder". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
23. Wheelock, Paul (6 January 2017). "Chester FC sign Ryan Lloyd on loan until end of season". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
24. "Port Vale: Thirteen senior players leave club after relegation to League Two". BBC Sport. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
25. Baggaley, Mike (13 June 2017). "Ryan Lloyd would have liked more opportunity at Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
26. "Ryan Lloyd: Macclesfield Town sign ex-Port Vale winger on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
27. Baggaley, Michael (27 November 2017). "Watch former Port Vale midfielder Ryan Lloyd score stunner for Macclesfield Town". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
28. Brewin, John (21 April 2018). "Wigan and Luton promoted as Macclesfield return to Football League". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
29. "Silkmen Announce Retained List". mtfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
30. Baggaley, Michael (21 May 2019). "'He fits the bill for Port Vale' – Askey interested in free agent midfielder". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
31. "Macclesfield Town: Ex-players defend winding-up petition after criticism". BBC Sport. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
32. "Mark Cullen and Ryan Lloyd: Port Vale bring in duo on one-year deals". BBC Sport. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
33. Baggaley, Michael (9 June 2020). "Every Port Vale player reviewed and rated for 2019/20 season". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
34. Baggaley, Michael (18 May 2020). "Port Vale release six players and offer seven new contracts in retained list". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
35. Goddard, Ben (2 October 2020). "Bulls add former Football League midfielder to squad". Hereford Times. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
36. Ryan Lloyd at Soccerway
37. Osborn, Oliver (18 February 2021). "National League Statement | Outcome of Written Resolutions". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
38. Association, The Football (22 May 2021). "Urchins clinch dramatic FA Trophy triumph". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
39. Goddard, Ben (26 July 2021). "Lloyd hopes to 'chip in' with Bulls goals". Hereford Times. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
40. Goddard, Ben (24 February 2022). "Hereford FC boss: We've missed Lloyd". Hereford Times. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
41. Goddard, Ben (20 May 2022). "Hereford FC boss: "Players are weighing up options for next season."". Hereford Times. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
42. "Football Update Following Talks Between Current Squad And New Manager Paul Caddis". herefordfc.co.uk. 29 April 2023.
43. "Rob Page impressed with Ryan Lloyd's after Stoke City game". The Sentinel . 10 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
44. "Ryan Lloyd – Midfielder – First Team – Macclesfield Town". mtfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
45. "Port Vale footballer banks 44lb mirror carp". Angling Times. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
46. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
47. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
48. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
49. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
50. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
51. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
52. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
53. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
54. "Games played by Ryan Lloyd in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
55. Sherwin, Phil; Johnson, Dave (2013), Port Vale This Side Up: 2012–2013 Promotion Celebration, BGL, ISBN   978-0-9926579-0-1