Happy birthday to the great Joel “Skip” Lloyd – Llandudno Albion’s finest

Whichever opposition the Albion have destroyed
They’ve come up against the giant, the awesome Skip Lloyd
Although a centre-half, a colossus at the back
This magic performer is also ruthless in attack
From day one to the present, he’s an Albion star
To watch him play, they come from near and far
Leading the troops, the captain of the ship
Irresistible force when he’s got you in his grip
More than 50 goals since the team got going
Flies through the air like a brand new Boeing
Tough in the tackle, spot on in the pass
Goes in with the striker and leaves him on his ass
When Albion have a set-piece, he often finds the goal
And oh did I mention, his real name is JOEL!

As official poet for Llandudno Albion, I felt a 14-line ditty in honour of the skipper on his birthday was the way to go with this tribute article.

Happy birthday Joel “Skip” Lloyd, born on July 1, 1992.

Since Llandudno Albion formed in 2014, he has been a key figure in the team’s rise to prominence.

Despite being a defender, he is fourth in the club’s all-time goalscorers list on 53.

He netted 29 times across the club’s first two seasons and has been a steady marksman ever since.

Although a fair few of his goals have come via penalties, I think more than ever these days we have learned to appreciate that scoring from the spot is an art in itself.

Too many have been missed or saved to label pens a “sure goal”.

And Joel’s conversion rate is awesome – perhaps one of the best North Wales has seen.

In his first season at Albion, Skip won the NWCFA Junior Cup and scored in the final, as well as lifting the REM Jones Cup and gaining promotion from Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One.

The 2015-16 campaign saw Albion land the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Premier Division title at the first attempt.

They followed that up by winning the Welsh Alliance Division Two title at the first time of asking in 2016-17, completing a rapid rise from tier 6 to tier 3.

Picking up the Mawddach Cup along the way and reaching the FAW Trophy Final, Albion more than held their own over three seasons in Welsh Alliance Division One and in 2021-22 will compete in tier 3 Ardal North West.

Skip has continued to put in great performances and score goals in the current pre-season and looks set to be a major force once more in what will his seventh successive campaign with the club.

Appearance stats is one thing I do not have a record of with the Albion, but they have played 208 competitive matches since 2014, so Skip has probably featured in well over 150 of those (happy to be corrected).

In the meantime, happy birthday to the awesome Skip Lloyd – have a smashing time!

SKIP STAT

Has Skip ever scored a hat-trick for the Albion?

Yes, two. Three penalties v Llansannan (5-1 win, 2015-16) and v Rhyl Rovers, 7-2 win Premier Cup semi-final, 2015-16)