Steve Lilwall

Stephen Lilwall (born 15 February 1970[lower-alpha 1]) 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.

Steve Lilwall
Personal information
Date of birth (1970-02-15)15 February 1970[lower-alpha 1]
Place of birth Solihull, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Playing 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
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

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 Ardiles was replaced by Alan Buckley soon afterwards 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]

Notes
  1. Club-based sources including those of West Bromwich Albion Former Players Association and Rushden & Diamonds F.C.,[1][2] a contemporary match programme,[3] and Barry Hugman's PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–1998[4] all state 15 February 1970 as Lilwall's date of birth. It would appear that the date of 5 February, as given by Hugman's website and Neil Brown's UK A–Z Transfers,[5][6] stems from a typographical error.
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References
  1. "Steve Lilwall". Old Baggies. West Bromwich Albion Former Players Association. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  2. "Steve Lilwall". RDFC1992. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. Jones, Colin (16 May 1993). "Today's visitors: Pen pix". In Walton, Ron (ed.). The Swan (PDF). Swansea City A.F.C. p. 8 – via Swans100.
  4. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1998). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–1998. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 329. ISBN 978-1-85291-585-8.
  5. "Steve Lilwall". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  6. "Steve Lilwall". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  7. Shaw, Phil (2 July 2015). "Denis Thwaites: Fast and skilful footballer who played for Birmingham City and was murdered in a terrorist attack in Tunisia". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. "Historical team pictures: Silhill FC – the first 75 years: 1908 to 1983". A View from the Touchline: Silhill Football Club Fanzine. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. Harman, John, ed. (2005). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years. Tony Williams. pp. 393, 401. ISBN 978-1-869833-52-7.
  10. "Wanderers' Magic Moment at Wembley 1991". Chairboys.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  11. White, Clive (11 September 1992). "Saunders signs for Villa after compromise deal". The Times. London. p. 32 – via Gale: Academic OneFile.
  12. Shaw, Phil (31 May 1993). "Football / Play-Off: Albion exploit Vale's misfortune: Swan's dismissal opens the door to the First Division for Ardiles' men". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  13. Evans, Gregg (14 November 2010). "Former PE teacher reveals when he realised Aston Villa's Nathan Delfouneso would make it big". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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