Former Watford and Ipswich Town goalkeeper Scott Loach signs for Newark Town
Newark Town have pulled off a major new signing with the capture of ex-Football League goalkeeper Scott Loach.
The former Watford and Ipswich number one, who earned 14 England under-21 caps, is on board for the Blues’ 2025/26 United Counties League Premier Division North campaign.
Manager Luke Parsons made an experienced keeper his priority in the transfer market after youngsters Josh Wilson and Jake West were targeted at set-pieces this season.
Loach, 36, who lives in nearby Southwell, fits the bill after a career that also took in the likes of Rotherham, Notts County and Chesterfield before retiring from professional football last year following a spell as back-up keeper at Derby.
“It’s a big signing for us,” said Parsons.
“I made it my number one target to get some experience between the sticks and lead from the back.
“We had a conversation at the back end of the season.
“I invited him down to watch the Newark derby and he was pretty much sold by the set-up and the atmosphere the fans generate and he could see it was a good club.
“He was also looking to get his coaching school up and running in a more local location as well, so we’ve managed to kill two birds with one stone and get him a place for that.
“It’s worked out well for both parties.
“We’re buzzing to get him.
“Experience-wise, I don’t think we could have got anyone better in.
“He’s a top keeper and it kind of shows where we’ve come from and where we’re at.
“We’ve had Julian Joachim (ex-Leicester and Aston Villa) before but as ex-pros and ex-England under-21 internationals go, it’s a great coup for the club.
“We needed that bit of experience, because we weren’t a million miles away from the play-offs last year.
“He lives in Southwell, 10 minutes away, which is a bonus.
“I met him and his wife and his kids the other day when he came down to do an interview.
“They’re a great family and that’s what he’s sold by, somewhere to play where his family can come down and watch him.
“When he was a pro he was on the road for hours on end and his family didn’t get to see him play much.”
Newark finished seventh in their first year at Step 5, seven points outside the play-offs.
They spent much of the campaign in the top five but fell away in the final weeks.
The Blues provided plenty of entertainment, scoring 79 goals in 38 league games, but conceded 62.
Parsons wants to tighten up defensively and Loach will be key as they look to reach the play-offs.
“I spoke to Scott about last season,” said the Town boss.
“We did outscore a lot of teams but we conceded a lot of goals and only had five clean sheets.
“We conceded a lot from set-pieces, balls on the goalkeeper, and we’ve gone into how we set up at set-pieces and what suits him.
“We’ve had a couple of long conversations on how to be a bit more structured and disciplined in those areas.
“I feel like next season, you can probably chalk off at least 15-20 goals, which makes a big difference.
“Teams last season were learning just to put the corner straight on our keeper.
“We had two young lads, both got caught playing out as well, and both made a few mistakes.
“I’m not saying Scott’s going to be mistake-free - he’s not because all keepers make mistakes - but he’s got that experience and knowhow we need.
“He’s a good talker, which is something we didn’t have behind our defence last season, that person who tells you if the ball’s got to go away, or if you’ve got a bit of time.
“He’ll be that leader at the back and he’s very good at commanding his area.
“He’s not a keeper who’s going to get caught doing Cruyff turns in his own box, so as a whole he’s going to improve the backline and improve the number of clean sheets we get.”
