Watford’s longest serving player in recent history, Lloyd Doyley’s 443 outings for the Hornets rank him fifth in the club’s all-time appearance table and firmly established him as a true fan favourite.
Lloyd was just nine years old when he joined Watford’s academy in 1991 and, ten years on, he was making his debut as a substitute for Gianluca Vialli’s side in a 3-3 draw with Birmingham City – replacing the injured Pierre Issa, who was infamously dropped by the stretcher-bearers as he was carried around the pitch.
The defender’s Hornets’ career would go on to span 14 more years as he played all across the back line; this versatility proving to be an invaluable asset for the 12 managers he played under during his time at Vicarage Road. By 2004/05 Lloyd was a regular starter and the following season he made an exceptional 50 appearances in all competitions - culminating in the Golden Boys reaching the top flight with an emphatic play-off final victory against Leeds United at the Millennium Stadium in May 2006.
The Whitechapel-born defender was influential during that promotion campaign and gave a good account of himself in the Premier League the following year despite the team’s immediate relegation. Back in the second tier, Lloyd was once again a stalwart in the Watford side under Aidy Boothroyd, Brendan Rodgers and then Malky Mackay. Already progressing quickly towards cult hero status, in March 2009 the No.12 even donned the armband to lead the team out as captain.
By December that year Lloyd had made more than 250 senior appearances but incredibly was yet to score a goal. His extended dry spell had become something of a running joke and supporters often encouraged him to shoot on any rare foray into the opposition half.
So it was well overdue – albeit still a surprise – when the defender appeared at the back post on his 269th appearance to score a stunning diving header and level the scores against Queens Park Rangers in a game the Hornets would go on to win 3-1 at Vicarage Road. Naturally the effort was awarded ‘Goal of the Season’ and t-shirts were even printed to commemorate the occasion.
When Gianfranco Zola was appointed Head Coach in 2012 and investment under new ownership saw a host of fresh faces arrive in Hertfordshire, Lloyd’s future in the side was again in doubt – especially with a new system negating the need for full-backs in favour of more adventurous wing-backs.
Yet Lloyd adapted his game again to forge a new career as a wide centre-half in a back three, staving off fierce competition for the position and even managing to score his second and final Watford against Bolton Wanderers, lobbing the goalkeeper from range with what he later admitted was a misjudged attempt at a cross. The team were within touching distance of the top flight again, reaching another play-off final in 2013, although this trip to Wembley Stadium ended in disappointment.
In 2013 Lloyd made his bow on the international stage when he was called up to the Jamaica side with teammate Nyron Nosworthy – and his nine appearances for the Reggae Boyz would also see him play alongside close friend and former Hornet Adrian Mariappa.
Lloyd’s Watford career ended on another high in 2015 with automatic promotion to the Premier League. The defender turned out eight times that campaign and his final act on the pitch was – in contrast to his usual conservative style – a flamboyant backheeled nutmeg which almost set up an injury-time equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Unfortunately, Odion Ighalo could only rattle the bar.
After short spells elsewhere in league football with Rotherham United and Colchester United, Lloyd’s love of the game sees him continuing to play non-league football at Southern League Premier Division Kings Langley – just down the road from his north Watford home – while running one-to-one coaching workshops for aspiring local players.
Appearances (goals):
Football League: 367+35 (2)
FA Cup: 12+4 (0)
Football League Cup: 23+2 (0)
Total: 402+41 (2)
Profile written November 2020.
'Join date' refers to first-team debut for former players.
