Doug Loft

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Doug Loft
Doug Loft.png
Loft leading Port Vale out for the match against Northampton Town on 20 April 2013
Personal information
Full name Douglas James Loft[1]
Date of birth (1986-12-26) 26 December 1986 (age 37)[2]
Place of birth Maidstone, England[3]
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Left-back / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Gillingham
Number 7
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–2006 Hastings United
2006–2009 Brighton & Hove Albion 39 (2)
2009 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 11 (0)
2009–2014 Port Vale 174 (18)
2014– Gillingham 51 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 January 2016 (UTC)

Douglas James "Doug" Loft (born 26 December 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays for Gillingham. He can play as a left-back or as a central midfielder.

A non-league player at Hastings United, he won a move to Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2006. He remained on the fringes of the first team in 2006–07 and 2007–08, before he was loaned out to Dagenham & Redbridge in February 2009. He signed with Port Vale in June 2009, where he found regular first team football throughout 2009–10 and 2010–11. He was voted as the club's Player of the Year in 2012, and helped the club to secure promotion out of League Two in 2012–13. He signed with Gillingham in June 2014.

Career

Brighton & Hove Albion

Loft, an England Schoolboy international, signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2006 from non-league side Hastings United, where he was spotted by scout Dean White. After impressing manager Mark McGhee in a two-week trial, he then signed an 18-month contract with the club. He made three appearances for the first-team in the 2005–06 season, making his debut on 11 March 2006 at home to Preston North End. His first senior goal came in his third appearance, against Stoke City at Withdean, in the last game of the season; Loft came off the bench and scored Brighton's goal in the 5–1 reverse.[4][5] At the end of the season Brighton were relegated out of Championship and into League One.

Loft made eight substitute and five starting appearances for Brighton in the 2006–07 season, scoring a goal in the 4–1 home victory over Leyton Orient. None of these appearances were at his preferred position in central midfield. On the fringes of the first team, he was substituted after 31 minutes in a clash with Chesterfield as a tactical move in Dean Wilkins' first full game in charge.[6]

Loft signed a new one-year contract with the Seagulls in June 2007,[7] and made seventeen appearances in the 2007–08 season, scoring one goal. This goal was a dramatic last minute equaliser in an FA Cup tie with Cheltenham Town.[8] He was rewarded with a new one-year deal in May 2008,[9] surviving something of a cull at the club.[10]

He made thirteen appearances during the 2008–09 season, including a memorable performance in the League Cup victory over Manchester City.[11] In February 2009, Loft joined League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on loan for the remainder of the season.[12] After impressing in his loan spell,[13] Loft was recalled by Brighton at the beginning of April 2009 to aid the club in their battle against relegation.

Port Vale

In May 2009 Loft was informed that he would be leaving Brighton after the expiration of his contract the following month.[14] He was, though, able to find another club rapidly, as Loft quickly agreed a two-year contract with League Two side Port Vale, teaming up with former manager Micky Adams and former teammate Tommy Fraser.[15][16] He missed the opening two weeks of the 2009–10 pre-season with illness,[17] though started to hit his best form after settling into the side.[18] He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat.[19] After another battle with injury,[20] Loft returned to the first team with a "rasping half-volley into the top corner" in a 2–2 home draw with Torquay United in November.[21] He ended the campaign as a semi-regular, not quite making the 40 game mark.

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"Doug has got a bit of everything. He can get forward, he has a good range of passing with both feet, but it can take people time to settle."

— Brighton, then Vale manager Micky Adams assesses Loft's ability.[20]

Starting the 2010–11 in the first team, he lost his place in mid-August when it transpired that a suspected minor knock of two bruised ribs[22] was in fact a far more serious case of two broken ribs and a collapsed lung.[23] This kept him out of action for three weeks.[24] Vale's form suffered around the Christmas period, though Loft was a stand-out performer.[25] However a calf strain took him from full fitness back to the treatment room.[26][27] Upon recovering from his injury in February, he found himself aiming to impress new manager Jim Gannon and win a new contract in the summer.[28] On 29 March, his 'stunning 25 yard shot' past Lincoln City earned him his first goal of the season, and also won the "Valiants" three vital points in the hunt for promotion.[29] The next month he began contract talks on a new two-year deal,[30] also picking up a hamstring injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.[31] Nevertheless, his performances over the season were enough to win him a new two-year deal.[32]

He went on to double his 2010–11 goal tally within the opening four games of the 2011–12 season.[33] Micky Adams described his performance against Burton Albion as "outstanding".[34] His four goals in six games earned him a nomination for the League Two Player of the Month award for August,[35] though the award was instead given to Dagenham defender Mark Arber.[36] Loft explained the cause of his good form as "[being] given the licence to get on the ball a lot more and do what I want".[37] An injury crisis in January left Loft filling in at left-back for a number of games.[38] It was in this role that he was named in the League Two Team of the Week for his performance in the 1–0 win over Rotherham United at the Don Valley Stadium on 21 January,[39] where he "showcased his phenomenal stamina and mobility by making a huge impact at both ends".[40] At the end of the campaign he was voted as the club's Player of the Year, and also picked up the Away Travel Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Season awards.[41]

Loft was appointed club captain in July 2012, following the departure of Marc Richards.[42] He started the first 13 games of the 2012–13 season, mostly at left-back, before a calf injury sustained in a 2–0 win over Exeter City at St James Park on 6 October forced him out of action for a month.[43] After returning to fitness he built an impressive partnership with Ryan Burge in the centre of midfield.[44] He opened his account for the season on 2 March, netting a "superb 25-yard drive" for Vale's consolation goal in a 2–1 defeat to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.[45] However three days later he received a red card for 'violent conduct' in a goalless home draw with Bradford City.[46] Vale secured promotion with a third-place finish at the end of the season, with Loft featuring 36 times. He signed a new one-year contract in the summer after protracted negotiations.[47]

He started the 2013–14 season strongly, and recovered from a calf injury which kept him out injured for five weeks to make a man-of-the-match winning performance on his return during a 2–1 victory over Notts County on Boxing Day.[48] Assistant manager Mark Grew said that "[this season he has] played wide left, wide right, in the middle and at left full-back, and he never looks out of place".[49] He was ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a "facial injury" following a training ground altercation with teammate Daniel Jones in mid-April.[49] Adams was keen to stress that Loft was the innocent party in the confrontation and Jones was sacked following a club investigation.[50][51]

Gillingham

In June 2014 Loft turned down a new contract with Port Vale and signed for League One rivals Gillingham; manager Peter Taylor said that "he's a player I have looked at for a very long time... we are delighted to get him".[52] He chose to sign with Gillingham so that he could take his young family back to their home county of Kent.[53] During the 2014–15 season he was a first team regular under manager Peter Taylor and his successor Justin Edinburgh.

Style of play

Loft is a versatile player, and in November 2010 was described by Port Vale teammate Gareth Owen as "...one of the fittest at the club but he's got a lot of skill with it... I've been surprised by how strong he is. He's got a good footballing brain and I like having him outside me (at wing back) because he always wants the ball and I know he'll do his defensive duties as well."[54]

He is able to play with both feet, and likes to attack from the central midfield position.[2] He can also play in other positions if necessary, and has received praise for his performances as a left-back.[55] He has also found success as a right-back, setting up two goals from the position in a 2–1 win over Gillingham in February 2012.[56]

Personal life

Loft attended St Simon Stock Catholic School in Maidstone. As a boy, he attended Gillingham matches with his father.[57] His wife, Laura, gave birth to his first child in summer 2011.[58]

Statistics

As of 5 May 2015.
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[59] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2005–06[60] Brighton & Hove Albion Championship 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
2006–07[61] League One 11 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 13 1
2007–08[62] 13 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 17 1
2008–09[63] 12 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 16 0
2008–09[63] Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) League Two 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Total 39 2 3 1 3 0 4 0 49 3
2009–10[64] Port Vale League Two 32 3 2 0 3 0 0 0 37 3
2010–11[65] 29 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 34 1
2011–12[66] 44 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 46 5
2012–13[67] 32 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 36 1
2013–14[68] League One 37 9 3 0 1 0 2 0 43 9
Total 174 18 10 0 7 1 5 0 196 19
2014–15[69] Gillingham League One 36 1 1 0 1 0 4 1 42 2
2015–16[70] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 36 1 1 0 1 0 4 1 42 2
Career total 260 21 14 1 11 1 13 1 256 24

Honours

Individual
with Port Vale

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Doug Loft career statistics at Soccerbase
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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