14 goals in 20 games: Player released by Bolton Wanderers in 2023 starring overseas after surprise transfer
09/17/2024 10:48 AM
Bolton Wanderers had Lloyd Isgrove on the books for three years, but it’s now been over a year since he departed the club.
Bolton Wanderers became the latest addition to the long list of clubs Isgrove has represented when they moved to bring him in on a free transfer in the summer of 2020.
The Welshman came through the esteemed academy at Southampton and made his first-team breakthrough with the club. The winger was renowned for his pace from a young age and after an impressive time with the Saints’ U23s, senior opportunities arose.
Isgrove first gained experience out on loan with Peterborough United. Similar Football League loans with Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley followed before a permanent move to the latter in summer 2017.
He managed two goals and five assists in his 58 games across two spells at Oakwell and after a Portsmouth loan, a switch to Swindon Town followed. One year with the Robins saw Igsrove return five assists in 32 outings, earning a move to Bolton Wanderers.
Isgrove’s time at Bolton Wanderers
Yeovil-born Isgrove managed the most appearances he has notched for a single club’s first-team during his time at Bolton Wanderers. Over three years, the winger managed 64 appearances for the Trotters, netting four goals and providing six assists along the way.
He spent a chunk of the 2021/22 season sidelined through a thigh injury and at the end of the following campaign, it was confirmed that Isgrove would be among the players to leave.
A spell out the game followed before a surprise move to non-league side FC Sholing, who are based in Southampton.
However, it wasn’t long before Isgrove made another surprise switch. It was a brave one, and it certainly looks to have paid off for him thus far.
Starring in Australia
After a short spell playing in the lower levels of English football after his Bolton Wanderers departure, Isgrove decided to embark on a new challenge and joined Hume City FC in Australia.
A semi-professional side based in the suburbs of Melbourne, the Anadolu play in the National Premier Leagues Victoria – the equivalent of Australia’s second-tier made up of teams solely based within metropolitan Melbourne.
And, Isgrove has starred there. In the 2024 campaign, he has managed 14 goals and two assists in 20 games. He’s been playing off the left-wing after spending much of his time on these shores on the right.
The season came to an end with Hume City sat 5th out of 14 teams and their Australia Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals against South Melbourne just last week.
Isgrove, now 31, has certainly made a positive impact overseas. The challenge is a very different one to the one embarked on with Bolton Wanderers but his talent has shone through and should he remain, he’ll be out to find more joy with Hume City when the new campaign comes around.
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