Ryan Lloyd

Ryan Anthony Lloyd (born 1 February 1994) is an English football midfielder who plays for National League club Chester, on loan from EFL League One side Port Vale. He helped Port Vale to secure promotion out of League Two in 2012–13. He played on loan at Tamworth in September 2013 and Chester in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 campaigns.

Playing career

Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lloyd started his career in the youth ranks at Port Vale, starting in the club's under-nine side. 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. This came days before a week-long trial at Premier League side Fulham. He was identified as a technically gifted player. 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. He agreed a new two-year deal with the club in June 2012. 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. 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, and made his "Lambs" debut later that day in a 3–0 defeat to Cambridge United at Abbey Stadium. 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. He signed a new one-year contract in June 2014. 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.

He was tipped for a breakthrough season ahead of the 2015–16 campaign by youth team coach Mick Ede. He joined National League club Chester on a one-month loan beginning on 24 November. 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. Lloyd returned for a second loan spell at Chester in August 2016. He scored his first goal in senior football on 27 August, in a 4–0 victory over Sutton United at the Deva Stadium. Just two days later he scored again in a 3–1 defeat to Woking at Kingfield Stadium. 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. 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. Divisional rivals Southport had a bid of £10,000 accepted by Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite, but Lloyd rejected the move, and was allowed to rejoin Chester on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 campaign.

Style of play

Port Vale manager Rob Page described Lloyd as energetic and athletic, with good vision and timing; Lloyd is able to play in central midfield despite being a natural left-winger.

Statistics

As of match played 16 January 2017.

Honours

with Port Vale

• Football League Two third-place promotion: 2012–13
• Staffordshire Senior Cup runner-up: 2014

• Sherwin, Phil; Johnson, Dave (2013), Port Vale This Side Up: 2012–2013 Promotion Celebration, BGL, ISBN 978-0-9926579-0-1