Graham Lovett facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graham John Lovett | ||
| Date of birth | 5 August 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Sheldon, England | ||
| Date of death | 10 May 2018 (aged 70) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cockshut Hill | |||
| Sheldon Heath | |||
| Sheldon | |||
| 1964 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964–1972 | West Bromwich Albion | 114 | (8) |
| 1971 | → Southampton (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 1972–19?? | Worcester City | ||
| Solihull Borough | |||
| 19??–1977 | Greaves | ||
|
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Graham John Lovett (born August 5, 1947 – died May 10, 2018) was an English football player. He spent most of his career as a midfielder for West Bromwich Albion. He helped his team win the League Cup in 1966 and the FA Cup in 1968. Sadly, he had to stop playing football at age 26 due to serious car accidents.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Graham Lovett was born in Sheldon, England. He went to Cockshut Hill and Sheldon Heath schools. He played football for his schools and for the Birmingham & County Schools team.
At first, Graham wanted to work in accountancy. But his plans changed after his father passed away. In February 1964, he accepted an offer to join West Bromwich Albion as a young player.
Football Career Highlights
Graham Lovett became a professional football player in November 1964. He played his first game for the main team just three weeks later. His manager, Jimmy Hagan, even compared him to Duncan Edwards. Duncan Edwards was a famous player for Manchester United and England.
Winning the League Cup
Graham quickly became an important player for West Bromwich Albion. In March 1966, he played in the first game of the League Cup Final against West Ham United. Even though Albion lost that first game, they won the second game. This meant they won the cup overall!
Overcoming Challenges
Graham was a strong player who could pass the ball well. But his career faced a big challenge on Christmas Eve 1966. He was in a car accident and broke his neck. Doctors performed an operation that helped him start to recover and play football again.
By the end of 1967, he was back in training. He returned to the main team in January 1968. On January 27, he became the first Albion player to come on as a substitute in an FA Cup match. His return helped the team play with "new precision."
FA Cup Victory
In the 1968 FA Cup, Albion played against Southampton. In one game, their goalkeeper had to leave due to injury. Graham Lovett came on as a substitute. His shot hit the post, leading to a goal that helped Albion win the game.
After winning several more matches, Albion reached the final. They played against Everton at Wembley. In the final, Graham had a chance to score early on. West Bromwich Albion won the cup for the fifth time, with Jeff Astle scoring the only goal.
European Matches and Another Setback
After winning the FA Cup, Albion played in the Cup Winners' Cup. They played against Dinamo Bucharest from Romania. Graham Lovett scored a goal in their 4–0 win. However, they were later defeated by a Scottish team.
By the end of the 1968–69 season, Graham was a regular player for Albion. But on May 31, 1969, he was in another serious car accident. He broke his thighbone, had a collapsed lung, and broken ribs. This accident kept him from playing football for almost two years. He was never able to fully return to top-level football after this.
Loan and Retirement
In November 1971, Graham tried to restart his career. He was loaned to Southampton for a month. He played three games for Southampton. However, the team decided not to sign him permanently, and he went back to West Bromwich Albion.
Graham was released from his contract in 1972. He played for some non-league teams like Worcester City and Solihull Borough. After that, he stopped playing football completely.
Life After Football
After retiring from football, Graham Lovett worked in advertising for a newspaper. Later, he moved to southern Spain and then settled in Thailand. In 2008, he returned to England to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the FA Cup victory.
In 2017, he moved back to England with his wife, Kate. Graham Lovett passed away on May 10, 2018, at the age of 70. At a West Bromwich Albion home match in August 2018, his family received a special cap to honor his service to the club.
Honours and Achievements
West Bromwich Albion
- Football League Cup winners: 1966
- FA Cup winners: 1968
