Former Chesterfield and Lincoln City goalkeeper Scott Loach has announced his retirement from the sport after 20 years of senior football.
Loach was a journeyman across his career, playing for a grand total of 22 clubs. The 36-year-old started out at the Imps in 2004 after coming through their academy and made various loans across Lincolnshire for the next two years.
He was then scooped up by Watford after the Sincil Bank club failed to offer him professional terms. More loan spells came for the Nottingham-born keeper, including at Bradford City and Morecambe in his first taste of EFL football.
The Hornets was where he made a name for himself with 163 appearances in all competitions and saw him be recognised by the England setup, making six appearances in the U21 squad.
He travelled with the Young Lions to Sweden as a member of the 2009 U21 European Championships, playing alongside Sunderland icon Lee Cattermole and Bolton Wanderers‘ Fabrice Muamba. Loach started the final, where England came up short against Germany in a 4-0 defeat.
Ipswich Town then moved to buy him, after previously being on their books before moving to Southwell United and later to Lincoln. He made 33 appearances for the Tractor Boys across two seasons and then moved north to Rotherham United, but barely played.
Bury, Peterborough United and Yeovil Town would all loan in Loach, but yet again he would barely gain any meaningful minutes in League One from these sides.
After a stint at Notts County in 2017, the shot-stopper would become a mainstay in the National League, playing for York, Hartlepool United, Barnet and finally Chesterfield.
He would take on a more supportive role after Derby County signed Loach, and made three appearances last season in the EFL Trophy in 2022/23.
Loach took to social media to announce his retirement from the sport, saying: “Lived my dream, and loved every second of it, thank you to everyone who’s been there supported me and gave me the opportunity! I have a new passion now which is coaching and I look forward to attacking that head on!”
Writer’s View
Scott Loach has had a storied career, making just over 500 appearances in his time in the sport. He’s earned a well-deserved rest but it seems that he will be embarking on a new chapter in his life becoming a coach. Everyone at The Real EFL wishes him the best in his new ventures going forward.
Football journalist with The Real EFL since 2023. A 2024 Multimedia Journalism graduate from the University of Salford, Lewis specialises in Salford City FC and EFL coverage.
