| Steve Lilwall | |
| Birth Date: | 15 February 1970 |
| Birth Place: | Solihull, England |
| Position: | Left back |
| Youthclubs1: | Silhill |
| Years1: | 198?–1987 |
| Clubs1: | Moor Green |
| Years2: | 1987–1992 |
| Caps2: | 65 |
| Goals2: | 4 |
| Years3: | 1992–1995 |
| Caps3: | 73 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 1995–1997 |
| Caps4: | 11 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1997–???? |
| Caps5: | 7 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Clubs6: | Moor Green |
Stephen Lilwall (born 15 February 1970) is an English former professional footballer who made 73 appearances in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion. He also played non-league football for Moor Green, Kidderminster Harriers and Rushden & Diamonds. He played as a left back.
Lilwall was born in Solihull. His uncle, Denis Thwaites, played professional football for Birmingham City in the 1960s.[1] Lilwall played youth football for Silhill[2] before joining Moor Green during the 1985–66 season.[3] In 1987, he moved on to Kidderminster Harriers.[4] Lilwall made his Conference debut in the 1989–90 season, and became a first-team regular during the following campaign.[5] He helped Kidderminster reach the final of the 1990–91 FA Trophy, in which he created two chances for team-matesboth missedand drew a good save from Wycombe Wanderers' goalkeeper as Kidderminster lost 2–1.[6] Lilwall remained with Kidderminster for a further season, taking his Conference appearance total to 65,[5] and then became Osvaldo Ardiles' first signing as manager of Second Division (third-tier) club West Bromwich Albion for a fee of around £70,000.[7] [3]
He went straight into the Albion first team, and by September 1992 Premier League club Liverpool were reported to be "monitoring [his] progress".[8] He was ever-present during his first season,[4] and was a member of the team that gained promotion to the First Division via the play-offs, beating Port Vale 3–0 in the final after Vale had a man sent off.[9] After Alan Buckley became manager and Lilwall fell victim to a succession of injuries, he drifted out of first-team consideration. He left Albion at the end of the 1994–95 season, having made 73 appearances in Football League competition, and signed for Rushden & Diamonds of the Southern League.[4]
Injury also disrupted his time with Rushden & Diamonds. He contributed only seven Southern League games as his team won the 1995–96 Southern League title, and the following season played just four times in the 1996–97 Conference.[4] In 1997, he rejoined Kidderminster Harriers, but appeared only infrequently for the first team, and ended his senior career back at Moor Green.[4]
Lilwall took a degree in Physical Education and Social Psychology at Coventry University, and also earned a diploma in Sports Psychology and the UEFA A Licence football coaching qualification.[4] [7] He trained as a teacher, and taught physical education at Ninestiles School in Acocks Green, Birmingham,[10] as well as running a soccer school in the Solihull area.[7]