'Lived my dream' - Ex-Town keeper retires after winning promotion to Championship

Former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Scott Loach announced his retirement from football last week.

The 36-year-old grew up as a Blues supporter and was an academy schoolboy at Portman Road before moving on to Lincoln City,  but he never made a senior appearance for the Imps.

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Loach went on to join Watford in 2006, where he made his breakthrough, featuring over 150 times for the Hornets, before returning to Ipswich in July 2012.

He was signed by Paul Jewell for £150,000, making 33 appearances during his spell at Town, but left the club to join Rotherham United in the summer of 2014.

Since then he had spells with Bury (loan), Peterborough (loan), Yeovil (loan), Notts County, York City (loan), Hartlepool, Barnet and Chesterfield.

Scott Loach celebrates winning promotion with Derby County. (Image: PA)

The keeper has spent the last two season as a back-up keeper at Derby County but has now called time on his playing days after the Rams gained automatic promotion to the Championship in 2023/24.

On hanging up his gloves, Loach said on Twitter (X): "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"

During his career he was called up to the England squad on more than one occasion, but remained uncapped, although he did represent the Three Lions at under-21 and C levels.