Scott Loach, former Ipswich Town goalkeeper, announced his retirement from football last week.
The 36-year-old grew up a Blues fan and attended Portman Road Academy before going on to Lincoln City, but he never made a senior appearance for the Imps.
Loach moved on to join Watford in 2006, where he made his breakthrough, appearing over 150 times before returning to Ipswich in July 2012.
Paul Jewell recruited him for £150,000, and he made 33 appearances for Town before leaving to join Rotherham United in the summer of 2014.
Since then, he has had loan spells with Bury, Peterborough, Yeovil, Notts County, York City, Hartlepool, Barnet, and Chesterfield.
The goalie has spent the last two seasons as a back-up keeper at Derby County, but he has decided to retire after the Rams were promoted to the Championship automatically in 2023/24.
After putting up his gloves, Loach tweeted (X): “And just like that.
“I lived my dream and loved every moment of it; thank you to everyone who supported me and gave me the opportunity! I now have a new love, coaching, and I am excited to tackle it straight on! Much love! Up the goalkeepers. Loachy “x”
Throughout his career, he was called up to the England squad several times but never received a cap, although representing the Three Lions at the under-21 and C levels.
And just like that
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!
Much love! Up the goalies
Loachy x pic.twitter.com/rXaOdJFHQV— Scott Loach (@S1goalkeeping) June 18, 2024