Non-league football legend hangs up his boots

By James Fletcher

Brett Lovell played his final game for the Church on Saturday having made over 300 appearances for the club and over 200 for Park Steels.

The towering centre-back nicknamed ‘big un’ was signed for Penistone Church FC in 2014 by Ian Richards from Stocksbridge. Lovell scored nine goals in total for the Steels and played alongside Premier League and FA Cup winner Jamie Vardy whilst at Bracken Moor.

Lovell was close to saying goodbye to the game altogether after being released by the Rotherham Boys, in his formative years. Lovell admitted falling out of love with the game and turned his hand instead to cricket. Playing the sport up to about 20 before an old friend convinced him to play football again.

Brett played for Swinton before signing for Grantham Town and then moved with the manager to Stockbridge where he went on to have eight successful seasons at Bracken Moor.

It’s been great to play at two fantastic clubs with fantastic volunteers, I could’ve moved from either club a couple of times, but you become affectionate with a place, and I’ve been lucky enough to play all this time for Church. If you would’ve asked me at 20 if I would still be playing at the age of 40, I would’ve snapped your hand off, so I’ve been very lucky with my longevity at playing at this level.

Before and after the game both sides joined in celebrating his non-league career, being awarded a ‘300 appearances t-shirt’ before kick-off and after the game, he was given a guard of honour on leaving the field of play for the final time at the age of 39.

And his career was capped off with an absolute gem of a goal. He picked up the ball on the halfway line with one glance to see the Thackley keeper off his line and looped the ball over his head, the keeper could only parry the ball into his net for Brett Lovell’s 66th career goal for Penistone, as he explained,

He probably should’ve saved it, looking back on the pitch, now it’s a fair distance to get it on target. I was expecting the ref to blow for a foul, I saw the keeper off his line, and I thought if catch this right then there’s half a chance.

And it soared into the back of the net, a lot of fans agreed and said, ‘you just couldn’t write it.’ It’s an excellent way to see out your career for anybody and I’m sure even Vardy would’ve been proud of that one if that was scored in any major league it would’ve gone viral right now, but I’m sure the club and Brett will find a way to get the footage online.

This won’t be the last the club will see of Mr Lovell already he’s claimed to stick around as part of the coaching team to help in any way he can.

I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my career. It’s been nice to end my career on my terms and not be forced out of it, it’s not the end of my footballing journey in terms of what I can offer this club as we constantly try to stride forward.