Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | [a] | 15 February 1970||
Place of birth | Solihull, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [3] | ||
Position(s) | Left back | ||
Youth career | |||
Silhill | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
198?–1987 | Moor Green | ||
1987–1992 | Kidderminster Harriers | 65 | (4) |
1992–1995 | West Bromwich Albion | 73 | (0) |
1995–1997 | Rushden & Diamonds | 11 | (0) |
1997–???? | Kidderminster Harriers | 7 | (0) |
Moor Green | |||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Stephen Lilwall (born 15 February 1970 [a]) is an English former professional footballer who made 73 appearances in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion. He also played non-league football for Moor Green, Kidderminster Harriers and Rushden & Diamonds. He played as a left back.
Lilwall was born in Solihull. [5] His uncle, Denis Thwaites, played professional football for Birmingham City in the 1960s. [7] Lilwall played youth football for Silhill [8] before joining Moor Green during the 1985–66 season. [3] In 1987, he moved on to Kidderminster Harriers. [2] Lilwall made his Conference debut in the 1989–90 season, and became a first-team regular during the following campaign. [9] He helped Kidderminster reach the final of the 1990–91 FA Trophy, in which he created two chances for team-mates – both missed – and drew a good save from Wycombe Wanderers' goalkeeper as Kidderminster lost 2–1. [10] Lilwall remained with Kidderminster for a further season, taking his Conference appearance total to 65, [9] and then became Osvaldo Ardiles' first signing as manager of Second Division (third-tier) club West Bromwich Albion for a fee of around £70,000. [1] [3]
He went straight into the Albion first team, and by September 1992 Premier League club Liverpool were reported to be "monitoring [his] progress". [11] He was ever-present during his first season, [2] and was a member of the team that gained promotion to the First Division via the play-offs, beating Port Vale 3–0 in the final after Vale had a man sent off. [12] After Alan Buckley became manager and Lilwall fell victim to a succession of injuries, he drifted out of first-team consideration. He left Albion at the end of the 1994–95 season, having made 73 appearances in Football League competition, and signed for Rushden & Diamonds of the Southern League. [2]
Injury also disrupted his time with Rushden & Diamonds. He contributed only seven Southern League games as his team won the 1995–96 Southern League title, and the following season played just four times in the 1996–97 Conference. [2] In 1997, he rejoined Kidderminster Harriers, but appeared only infrequently for the first team, and ended his senior career back at Moor Green. [2]
Lilwall took a degree in Physical Education and Social Psychology at Coventry University, and also earned a diploma in Sports Psychology and the UEFA A Licence football coaching qualification. [2] [1] He trained as a teacher, and taught physical education at Ninestiles School in Acocks Green, Birmingham, [13] as well as running a soccer school in the Solihull area. [1]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | [a] | 15 February 1970||
Place of birth | Solihull, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [3] | ||
Position(s) | Left back | ||
Youth career | |||
Silhill | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
198?–1987 | Moor Green | ||
1987–1992 | Kidderminster Harriers | 65 | (4) |
1992–1995 | West Bromwich Albion | 73 | (0) |
1995–1997 | Rushden & Diamonds | 11 | (0) |
1997–???? | Kidderminster Harriers | 7 | (0) |
Moor Green | |||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Stephen Lilwall (born 15 February 1970 [a]) is an English former professional footballer who made 73 appearances in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion. He also played non-league football for Moor Green, Kidderminster Harriers and Rushden & Diamonds. He played as a left back.
Lilwall was born in Solihull. [5] His uncle, Denis Thwaites, played professional football for Birmingham City in the 1960s. [7] Lilwall played youth football for Silhill [8] before joining Moor Green during the 1985–66 season. [3] In 1987, he moved on to Kidderminster Harriers. [2] Lilwall made his Conference debut in the 1989–90 season, and became a first-team regular during the following campaign. [9] He helped Kidderminster reach the final of the 1990–91 FA Trophy, in which he created two chances for team-mates – both missed – and drew a good save from Wycombe Wanderers' goalkeeper as Kidderminster lost 2–1. [10] Lilwall remained with Kidderminster for a further season, taking his Conference appearance total to 65, [9] and then became Osvaldo Ardiles' first signing as manager of Second Division (third-tier) club West Bromwich Albion for a fee of around £70,000. [1] [3]
He went straight into the Albion first team, and by September 1992 Premier League club Liverpool were reported to be "monitoring [his] progress". [11] He was ever-present during his first season, [2] and was a member of the team that gained promotion to the First Division via the play-offs, beating Port Vale 3–0 in the final after Vale had a man sent off. [12] After Alan Buckley became manager and Lilwall fell victim to a succession of injuries, he drifted out of first-team consideration. He left Albion at the end of the 1994–95 season, having made 73 appearances in Football League competition, and signed for Rushden & Diamonds of the Southern League. [2]
Injury also disrupted his time with Rushden & Diamonds. He contributed only seven Southern League games as his team won the 1995–96 Southern League title, and the following season played just four times in the 1996–97 Conference. [2] In 1997, he rejoined Kidderminster Harriers, but appeared only infrequently for the first team, and ended his senior career back at Moor Green. [2]
Lilwall took a degree in Physical Education and Social Psychology at Coventry University, and also earned a diploma in Sports Psychology and the UEFA A Licence football coaching qualification. [2] [1] He trained as a teacher, and taught physical education at Ninestiles School in Acocks Green, Birmingham, [13] as well as running a soccer school in the Solihull area. [1]