Rhys Lovett
FullnameRhys Lovett[1]
Birth date15 June 1997 (age 29)[2]
Birth placeBirmingham, England
Height1.88m[2]
PositionGoalkeeper
CurrentclubKidderminster Harriers
Youthyears 12007–2014
Youthclubs 1Walsall
Youthyears 22014
Youthclubs 2→ Aston Villa (loan)
Youthyears 32014
Youthclubs 3→ Coventry City (loan)
Youthyears 42014–2015
Youthclubs 4Rochdale
Years 12015–2020
Clubs 1Cheltenham Town
Caps 12
Goals 10
Years 22015
Clubs 2→ Tiverton Town (loan)
Caps 24
Goals 20
Years 32015–2016
Clubs 3→ Shepton Mallet (loan)
Caps 32
Goals 30
Years 42016–2017
Clubs 4→ Shortwood United (loan)
Caps 427
Goals 40
Years 52020
Clubs 5→ Tiverton Town (loan)
Caps 53
Goals 50
Years 62020–2021
Clubs 6Gloucester City
Caps 611
Goals 60
Years 72021
Clubs 7Maidenhead United
Caps 715
Goals 71
Years 82021–2022
Clubs 8Billericay Town
Caps 812
Goals 80
Years 92022–2024
Clubs 9Torquay United
Caps 913
Goals 90
Years 102024–2025
Clubs 10Welling United
Caps 1036
Goals 100
Years 112025–2026
Clubs 11Boston United
Caps 1126
Goals 110
Years 122026
Clubs 12Kidderminster Harriers
Caps 127
Goals 120
Club-update13:44, 27 March 2026 (UTC)

Rhys Lovett (born 15 June 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Kidderminster Harriers.

He spent seven years in the academy at Walsall, from where he was loaned out to the youth teams at Aston Villa and Coventry City. He spent a season with Rochdale's youth-team, before signing with Cheltenham Town in August 2015. From there was loaned out to Tiverton Town, Shepton Mallet and Shortwood United, being named as Shortwood's Player of the Year for the 2016–17 season. He made his first-team debut for Cheltenham in August 2017, but only made a total of seven appearances for the club before he left in June 2020.

Club career

Lovett spent seven years in Walsall's academy, where he had loan spells at Aston Villa and Coventry City, before joining Rochdale permanently in 2014.[3] He played a pre-season game for Gloucester City in July 2015.[4] Lovett moved on to join Cheltenham Town in August 2015, ahead of their National League campaign.[5] Following this, Lovett immediately joined Southern League Division One South & West club Tiverton Town on a short-term loan deal.[6] He made his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 season, a 2–0 defeat at North Leigh.[6] He played the next three games for Martyn Rogers's "Yellows".[6] He joined Shepton Mallet on a one-month loan on 19 December 2015.[7] He remained Gary Johnson's third choice goalkeeper at Cheltenham for the title winning season of 2015–16, behind Dillon Phillips/Jonathan Flatt and Calum Kitscha.[8] He spent the 2016–17 season on loan at Southern League Division One South & West side Shortwood United, where he was named as the club's Player of the Year.[9] He signed a new contract at Cheltenham in April 2018.[10]

He made his first-team debut for Cheltenham on 15 August 2017, in am EFL Trophy tie against Swansea City U23s at Whaddon Road, which resulted in a 2–1 defeat.[11] With regular custodian Scott Flinders undergoing surgery, Lovett made his League Two debut for Cheltenham on the final day of the 2017–18 season, a 2–1 defeat at Crewe Alexandra.[8] He featured in one EFL Trophy game in the 2018–19 campaign and signed a new one-year contract in May 2019.[12] He played four times during the 2019–20 season, replacing Flinders 62 minutes into a 3–0 victory over Oldham Athletic.[8] He then returned on loan to Tiverton Town following the signing of loanee Owen Evans.[8][13] He left at the end of his contract in June 2020.[14] He thanked goalkeeping coach Steve Book but said that "Robins" boss Michael Duff told him that he was unable him offer him the first-team games he needed at that point in his career.[8] He had a trial at Port Vale in August 2020.[15]

Lovett signed for Gloucester City in October 2020.[16] He played 14 times in all competitions before leaving the club in March 2021 to seek first-team football after the National League North season was declared null and void.[17] He signed for Maidenhead United on 26 March 2021.[18] He made his debut on 1 May against King's Lynn Town, deputising for the injured Taye Ashby-Hammond. On the final day of the season, he came on as substitute against Boreham Wood to play as a forward, and scored in the 93rd minute.[19] Lovett left Maidenhead on 17 December 2021,[20] before signing for Billericay Town the same day.[21]

On 15 July 2022, Lovett returned to the National League to join Torquay United.[22]

In July 2024, Lovett made his move to National League South club Welling United on a one-year deal. In his first few months with the club, he impressively won two Player of the Month awards, showcasing his exceptional performance and contribution to the team. Lovett helped Welling United win the Kent Senior Cup by keeping a clean sheet in the final against Ebbsfleet United on the 2nd of April 2025. He finished the season gaining Team of the Half Season, winning three Player of the Month awards, and receiving the Manager's Player of the Year, Supporters' Player of the Year, and Players' Player of the Year accolades.

On 27 May 2025, Lovett joined National League side Boston United on an initial one-year deal with the option for a further season.[23] In March 2026, he joined National League North club Kidderminster Harriers.[24]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cheltenham Town2015–16[25]National League0000—0000
2016–17[26]League Two0000000000
2017–18[27]League Two1000001[a]020
2018–19[28]League Two0000001[a]010
2019–20[29]League Two1000003[a]040
Total2000005070
Tiverton Town (loan)2015–16[6]Southern League Division One South & West4000—0040
Shepton Mallet (loan)2015–16[6]Western Football League Premier Division2000—0020
Shortwood United (loan)2016–17[6]Southern League Division One South & West27010—3[b]0310
Tiverton Town (loan)2019–20[6]Southern League Premier Division South3000—0030
Gloucester City2020–21[25]National League North11000—3[c]0140
Maidenhead United2020–21[25]National League5100—0051
2021–22[25]National League10010—00110
Total15110—00161
Billericay Town2021–22[25]National League South12000—00120
Torquay United2022–23[25]National League7010—0080
2023–24[25]National League South6000—2[c]080
Total13010—20160
Welling United2024–25[25]National League South36000—00360
Career total124130001301401
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances in Southern League Cup, one in FA Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Cheltenham Town

Kidderminster Harriers

Individual

References

  1. ^ "EFL Released and Retained List 2017-18". English Football League. p. 73. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Rhys Lovett". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Rhys Lovett: Cheltenham Town announce 14th new signing". BBC Sport. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Tiger Roar - Rhys Lovett". www.tigerroar.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  5. ^ "VIDEO: Goalkeeper Rhys Lovett signs and is set for loan move". Cheltenham Town Official Site. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Rhys Lovett". Aylesbury United Official Site. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Shepton Mallet Borrow Robins' Keeper". Pitchero Non-League. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  8. ^ Palmer, Jon (24 June 2020). ""I know I'm good enough to play at League Two level"". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  9. ^ Palmer, Jon (20 May 2017). "Loan goalkeeper is named Shortwood United player of the year". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Contract: Goalkeeper Lovett signs new deal at Robins". www.ctfc.com. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Cheltenham Town vs. Swansea City U21". Soccerway. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Lovett pens a new contract". www.ctfc.com. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. ^ Palmer, Jon (10 January 2020). "Cheltenham Town's longest serving player loaned out". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. ^ "2019/20 retained and released list". Cheltenham Town F.C.. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  15. ^ Fielding, Rob (14 August 2020). "Manager reveals identities of two more trialists training with Port Vale". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Rhys Lovett joins". Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  17. ^ "We can confirm Rhys Lovett has left the club to seek first team football for the remainder of the season.Good luc…". No. 1373344866617458693. 20 March 2021.
  18. ^ NEW SIGNING | RHYS REGISTERS AS A MAGPIE
  19. ^ Boreham Wood 1–4 Maidenhead United
  20. ^ "Maidenhead United can confirm that Rhys Lovett has been released.We wish Rhys all the best for the future and tha…". No. 1471888062632374275. 17 December 2021.
  21. ^ "𝙎𝙌𝙐𝘼𝘿 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀❗️We're pleased to announce the signing of goalkeeper Rhys Lovett!🧤Rhys joins us after recently pla…". No. 1471954521077211148. 17 December 2021.
  22. ^ "United Sign Keeper Lovett". torquayunited.com. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Goalkeeper Lovett is Pilgrims' first summer signing". www.bostonunited.co.uk. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Lovett boosts Reds ranks". harriers.co.uk. 27 March 2026. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  25. ^ "R. Lovett". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  26. ^
  27. ^
  28. ^
  29. ^
  30. ^ "Cheltenham players mobbed by fans". BBC Sport
  31. ^ Pilnick, Brent (9 May 2026). "South Shields 0–2 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2026.