Steve Lovell (Welsh footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Stephen John Lovell | ||
Date of birth | 16 July 1960 | ||
Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) |
Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Herne Bay (manager) | ||
Youth career | |||
1977–1980 | Crystal Palace | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1980–1983 | Crystal Palace[2] | 74 | (3) |
1979 | → Memphis Rogues (loan) | 18 | (0) |
1979 | → Stockport County (loan)[4] | 12 | (0) |
1983–1987 | Millwall[5] | 146 | (43) |
1987 | → Swansea City (loan)[6] | 2 | (1) |
1987–1992 | Gillingham[7] | 233 | (94) |
1992 | → AFC Bournemouth (loan)[8] | 3 | (0) |
1992–1993 | Sittingbourne | ||
1993–1994 | Braintree Town | ||
1994 | Barnet[9] | 1 | (0) |
1994 | St Albans City | ||
1994–1995 |
Hastings Town | ||
1995–1996 | Sittingbourne | ||
1996–1997 | Gravesend & Northfleet | ||
1997 | Weymouth | ||
1997–1999 | Tonbridge Angels | ||
1999–2000 | Deal Town | ||
2000–2001 |
Ashford Town (Kent) | 16 | (3) |
2001 | Sittingbourne | ||
International career | |||
1981–1986 | Wales[3] | 6 | (1) |
Managerial career | |||
1995–1996 | Sittingbourne | ||
1996–1997 | Gravesend & Northfleet | ||
2003–2004 | Hastings United[10] | ||
2005–2007[11] | Sittingbourne | ||
2007–2010 |
Ashford Town (Kent) | ||
2014–2015 | Gillingham (co-caretaker)[12] | ||
2016–2017 | Bromley (assistant manager) | ||
2017–2019 | Gillingham | ||
2021 | Welling United | ||
2022 | Gillingham (caretaker) | ||
2022–2023 | Ramsgate | ||
2023– | Herne Bay | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Stephen Lovell (born 16 July 1960) is a Welsh former professional footballer and manager. He is currently manager of Herne Bay.
He played professionally for
Playing career
Born in
In 1986 Lovell was injured whilst playing for
After a brief loan spell with
International career
Lovell was first called up to the Wales national side ahead of a World Cup qualifier against the Soviet Union in November 1981, making his debut as a 86th minute substitute for Joey Jones in a 3–0 loss.[25] Then Wales manager Mike England commented in February 1981 that he had attempted to call Lovell up previously but that it had been refused by Crystal Palace.[26] Lovell scored his only goal for his country in a 4–2 away loss in a friendly to Norway in June 1985.[27] His last appearance for Wales ended early through injury, with Lovell substituted just 8 minutes into a 3–0 friendly win in Vancouver against Canada in May 1986.[28]
Managerial career
Lovell's first managerial job came at Sittingbourne, where he was player-manager from February 1995 until September 1996, during which he led the team to the Southern League Southern Division championship.[29] He then moved on to Gravesend & Northfleet where he was manager for a year.[20]
After a spell as Football in the Community Officer for Gillingham (which overlapped the end of his playing career) Lovell returned to management with
In December 2014 he was appointed co-caretaker manager of Gillingham alongside Andy Hessenthaler, Darren Hare and Mark Patterson following the sacking of Peter Taylor. The "Gang of Four", as they came to be known, remained in charge of the club until Justin Edinburgh was appointed as manager in February 2015. Lovell remained at the club in the role of first team coach.[33] In May 2016 it was announced that he had left the club.[34]
In June 2016, he was appointed as assistant manager of National League side Bromley, where he would work alongside former Gillingham teammate Neil Smith.[35]
Lovell returned to Gillingham as a coach in January 2017 under
In January 2019 Lovell led Gillingham to victory over Premier League side Cardiff City in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, earning a 4th round draw against his home town club Swansea City, who eventually knocked the Gills out of the tournament.[41]
With two matches remaining in the season, and the team effectively safe from relegation in 13th place, Lovell was sacked from the role in April 2019, with a year of his contract remaining.[42]
Lovell was appointed as Director of Football at National League side Ebbsfleet United in January 2020, but left the role after just 9 months.[43][44]
On 13 January 2021, Lovell was appointed as manager of National League South side Welling United.[45] Following the early curtailment of the season shortly after his appointment, Lovell continued with the club into the following season however on 20 September 2021, Lovell was announced to have resigned from his position.[46]
In January 2022, he became caretaker manager again at Gillingham after the dismissal of Steve Evans.[47] On 31 January 2022, following the appointment of Neil Harris, Lovell again departed the club.[48] In April 2022 he was appointed as manager of Isthmian League South East Division Ramsgate.[49] Lovell departed the club on 30 January 2023 with Ramsgate sitting in second place in the division.[50]
In May 2023, he was appointed manager of recently relegated Isthmian League South East Division club Herne Bay on a two-year deal.[51]
Personal life
Lovell's father Alan was also a footballer, although he only managed a single professional appearance for
Managerial statistics
- As of 18 October 2022
Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||||
Ashford Town (Kent)
|
1 November 2007 | 31 May 2010 | 126 | 42 | 33 | 51 | 33.33 | |||
Gillingham (joint caretaker*) | 31 December 2014 | 7 February 2015 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.50 | |||
Gillingham | 12 October 2017 | 26 April 2019 | 92 | 32 | 26 | 34 | 34.78 | |||
Welling United | 13 January 2021 | 21 September 2021 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 22.22 | |||
Ramsgate | 4 April 2022 | Present | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 61.54 | |||
Total | 248 | 87 | 65 | 96 | 35.08 |
Lovell's first spell in management at Gillingham was as part of a team of four joint caretaker managers, along with Andy Hessenthaler, Darren Hare, and Mark Patterson.
Honours
As a player
Crystal Palace
- FA Youth Cup: 1976–77, 1977–78[13]
Deal Town
Individual
- Gillingham Player of the Season: 1987–88[52]
As a manager
Sittingbourne
- Southern League Southern Division Champions: 1995–96[29]
As an individual
- League One Manager of the Month: January 2018[39]
References
- ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
- ISBN 0-85543-188-1.
- ^ a b Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ a b Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ Tony Thornton, The Club That Wouldn't die, Tiger 1994
- ^ a b "Home - Hastings United Football Club". www.hastingsunited.com.
- ^ a b Official Sittingbourne F.C. website Archived 8 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cawdell, Luke (5 January 2015). "Gillingham are being led by a team of coaches, consisting of Steve Lovell, Andy Hessenthaler, Darren Hare and Mark Patterson". Kent Online. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0907969542.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
- ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
- ^ Foster, Richard (2017). The Agony & The Ecstasy: A Comprehensive History of the Football League Play-Offs. Ockley Books.
- ^ "Steve J. LOVELL - League appearances. - Crystal Palace FC". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ a b Green, Mike (9 May 2020). "Lovell proud of Deal Town win". Kent Sports News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Sittingbourne at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Sittingbourne F.C. website
- ^ Kent Messenger online: Shock as Lovell takes over as Ashford boss
- ^ "Ashford Town website".
- ^ "Edinburgh appointed Gillingham manager". Kent Sports News. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Gillingham have parted company with coach Steve Lovell". Kent Online. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Steve Lovell: Former Gillingham coach appointed as Bromley assistant manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Ady Pennock: Gillingham appoint new head coach to replace Justin Edinburgh". BBC Sport. 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Gillingham caretaker boss and director of football Peter Taylor has left the club". Kent Online. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Gillingham appoint Steve Lovell as manager". Kent Online. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Lovell lands monthly award". Kent Online. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Steve Lovell: Gillingham manager signs new contract until 2020". BBC Sport. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ "FA Cup: Swansea City 4 Gillingham 1 - match report". Kent Online. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- ^ "Steve Lovell: Gillingham sack manager after 18 months in charge". BBC Sport. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ "Lovell joins the Fleet as director of football". Ebbsfleet United Football Club | Official Website of the Fleet. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Club Update: September". Ebbsfleet United Football Club | Official Website of the Fleet. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Lovell takes Wings manager post". Welling United FC. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: Steve Lovell & Tristan Lewis". www.wellingunited.com. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "club-update---10.01.22". Gillingham FC. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Gills appoint Neil Harris as first-team manager". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 31 January 2022.
- ^ Bruce, Andrew (4 April 2022). "Lovell appointed Ramsgate manager". Kent Sports News. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ @RamsgateFC (30 January 2023). "The club can confirm that we have parted company with manager Steve Lovell. We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Steve and his assistant Mark for their hard work during their time with us" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 January 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ @HerneBayFC (13 May 2023). "Herne Bay FC are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Lovell as the new first-team manager. Steve has signed a 2-year contract and will be assisted by Mark Lovell. Welcome to The Bay! 💙 There will be more from Steve and our Chairman in the coming days! #WeAreTheBay" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "CHOOSE YOUR GREATEST STRIKER". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.