Obituary to former Leamington player

HERBERT LOXLEY

Born 2 February 1934 – died 09 October 2008.

Bert was born in Bonsall near Matlock Bath in Derbyshire

He joined Notts County in March 1952 after having trials with Coventry City and Derby County, staying twelve years at Meadow Lane making 245 league appearances and scoring nine goals playing mainly Second Division football until relegated at the end of 1957/58 and dropping into the Fourth Division the following season. This lasted a single season as promotion was secured as runners-up to Walsall. His final season at Meadow Lane ended in relegation again and Bert moved to Mansfield Town in July 1964 but left without pulling on a Stags shirt in a competitive match.

He dropped into non league football, being signed for Lockheed Leamington by manager Sid Ottewell in September 1965. Bert made his league debut in the game at Loughborough United which ended in a one all draw with Ray Holmes netting for the visitors and ex Brake Broadbent levelling on 79 minutes. It was a bad tempered match that saw Hancocks booked and Shorthose sent off before referee Mr. W.F. Payne gave a general warning to all players. The team was Crosby in goal; Lockton and Hancocks at full back; Haines, Connolley and Loxley; Parry, Davis, Holmes, Shorthose and Jones.

The following Saturday Herbert made his home debut in the FA cup second qualifying round match at the Windmill against Brierley Hill Alliance, still in his favoured left half position. Brakes, 2-0 up at the interval with efforts from Len Swindale and Holmes, finally lost as the Lions rammed in three second half goals.

Few people knew that Bert had played for Lockheed because his stay was not a long one. Although he was at the Windmill Ground for a few months, he did not make many appearances for the club.    

Bert joined Lincoln City as a coach in 1966 but, due to extraordinary injury problems, signed as a player in October making seven league and one cup appearance before retiring through a damaged elbow in the home cup defeat by Scunthorpe. Over the next twenty years Bert, also known as "the Rock", helped bring change to Sincil Bank as a trainer, coach, manager (1970/71), physiotherapist and back to being a coach before taking retirement when the Red Imps suffered relegation to the Conference. Lincoln managers have nothing but praise for the Rock and one young man starting out on his meteoric managerial rise to the top, 28 year old Graham Taylor, always called Bert “Mr. Lincoln” and he led the tributes to his friend recalling the day he joined City as a player, the Rock took him home for lunch with Sylvia. Graham said it was typical of the man.     

The funeral took place at All Saints church which was packed to the rafters with family and friends including Graham Taylor, George Kerr and members of the record-breaking squad of 1975/76, familiar faces from the Sixties plus Colin Murphy and some of the successful squad from the early Eighties, all to pay their respects to a man they said was a wonderful gentleman.

Herbert lived in North Hykeham and died aged 74 after a long battle with Alzheimers disease leaving his wife Sylvia, son Tony (who played one league game for the Imps), Julia and their family to mourn their loss. On behalf of everyone at the New Windmill Ground we offer our sincere condolences to the Loxleys’ and Bert’s many friends at this sad time.

With grateful thanks to Tony Kempster and John Treleven. Those Brakes fans old enough to remember Bert should check the Wikipedia site on Lincoln City to read the tributes to this great man who, for a few months, graced us with his presence at our humble abode, the old Windmill Ground.   

Back to previous page