Liam Antony Trotter (born 24 August 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Ipswich Town, Grimsby Town, Scunthorpe United, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, AFC Wimbledon, Orange County SC, Bromley, and Chelmsford City.
Club career Ipswich Town Trotter started out in the Felixstowe and District youth league, where he played for numerous clubs (including Witnesham Wasps, Ransomes Sports, Achilles, Bury Town F.C., and Woodbridge) before being scouted for Ipswich Town and signed for the side at sixteen years old. Trotter was one of the players to appear in the FA Youth Cup victory in 2005, where they beat Southampton 3–2 over two legs. His progress in the club's academy earned a first team call-up on two occasions throughout the 2005–06 season.
He made his league debut in Joe Royle's last game in charge against Plymouth Argyle, at Home Park on 30 April 2006, coming on for Ian Westlake with ten minutes to go. He signed his first professional contract with Ipswich Town on 30 August 2006. Since returning from the loan at Millwall, Trotter made his first appearance of the 2006–07 season, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute for Jaime Peters in the 1–0 FA Cup Fifth Round defeat at Watford, on 17 February 2007. Following this, Trotter spent the rest of the 2006–07 season, playing for the reserve side.
In the 2007–08 season, Trotter was expected to be loaned out to gain first team experience. But he stayed at Ipswich Town instead throughout the summer. He made his second league appearance against Colchester at Portman Road on 24 October 2007, coming on for Billy Clarke, with the score at 1–1. He then went on to score, as Ipswich Town won 3–1. After the match, he said: "It was a dream home debut for me. I was hoping before the game that I could come on and score and it was amazing." However, in his first start of the season against Sheffield United on 6 November 2007, Trotter gave away a penalty, which saw the side lost 3–1. Following this, Trotter found himself out of the first team and continued to play for the club's reserve side throughout the 2007–08 season. He also faced with his own injury concern. Despite this, Trotter was featured in the FA Cup match against Portsmouth but was sent–off for a professional foul on Pedro Mendes, in a 1–0 loss. As a result, he served a three match suspension for the side. On 26 February 2008, Trotter then signed a one–year contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2009. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he went on to make seven appearances and scoring once for the side.
Trotter scored his second goal for Ipswich against Burnley in the second league game of the 2008–09 season-the first in a 3–0 win. For his performance, he was named Championship Team of the Week. However, Trotter soon lost his first team place to Alan Quinn. He then made four more appearances for the side by the time he was loaned out, which three of them were starts.
In the 2009–10 season, Trotter was back in the first team under the new manager of Roy Keane and expected to fight for his first team place in the club's midfield competition. After impressing in the pre–season, Trotter was given a first team return and started the whole game, in a 2–1 loss against Coventry City in the opening game of the season. Since returning to the first team, he then established himself in the starting eleven for the side, playing in the midfield position. However, following Ipswich Town's winning form at the start of November, Trotter was dropped from the first team by Manager Keane. It came after when his performance was subjected of criticism by local newspaper, Ipswich Star, in a number of matches. By the time he was loaned out, Trotter made twelve appearances for the side in the 2009–10 season. At the end of the season, he was offered a new contract by the club.
Grimsby Town (loan) Trotter signed on loan for Grimsby Town on 18 September 2008, with Grimsby caretaker manager Stuart Watkiss bringing Trotter to the club for an initial month, which was extended to a three-month stay as the loan progressed. He made his debut on 19 September 2008 against Morecambe, starting the match before being substituted in the 63rd minute, as they drew 1–1. Trotter then scored his first goal for the club on 24 October 2008, in a 3–1 loss against Bradford City. After holding down a place in the first team, Trotter helped Grimsby by scoring in the club's 2–0 win over Bury, which was Grimsby's first league win of the 2008–09 campaign. He settled down as well under new Grimsby boss Mike Newell and was regularly played in the centre of midfield along with Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala. He returned to Ipswich on 22 December after playing his final game for the Mariners against Aldershot Town two days previously.
Scunthorpe United (loan) On 5 February 2009, Trotter joined Scunthorpe United on trial with a view to a loan deal. The loan was confirmed on 23 February. Trotter made his debut for the Iron the following day, coming on as sub for Sam Togwell in the defeat at Southend United. Despite being restricted to the substitute bench, he continued to remain in the first team and had his loan spell with Scunthorpe United extended until the end of the season. His first goal for the Iron came against Northampton Town a header from a corner, as they drew 3–3 on 21 April 2009. He made the bench for the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final, against Milton Keynes Dons, he did not however make an appearance, he played all of the match and extra time however at stadium:MK in the second leg, scoring a penalty in the shootout which Scunthorpe won 7–6. Trotter played at Wembley when he came on as a substitute for Sam Togwell in the 55th minute, as the "Iron" defeated Millwall 3–2 in the play-off final. In the summer transfer window following this, he was subject to a bid from Scunthorpe but chose to stay with Ipswich Town signing a new one-year contract.
Millwall (loan) Just days after signing his first professional contract for Ipswich Town, Trotter immediately moved to Millwall on a three-month loan deal until December 2006 to gain first team experience. He made his Millwall debut, coming on as a substitute for Neal Ardley in the 73rd minute, in a 0–0 draw against Blackpool on 2 September 2006 Whilst with Millwall, Trotter made two league appearances, but scored in neither.
On 5 January 2010, he re-joined Millwall for a second loan period on an initial month deal. Trotter scored his first Millwall in his second Millwall debut, as they drew 1–1 with Southampton on 16 January 2010. His performance at the club saw his loan spell extended until the end of the season. Trotter started every match for the side until he suffered an injury during a 1–1 draw against Yeovil Town on 13 April 2010. This led local newspaper Ipswich Star to bring up the curse of the Ipswich Town's players, who suffered an injury whilst on loan. It was not until 1 May 2010 when Trotter returned from injury, starting the whole game, in a 1–0 loss against Tranmere Rovers. He later helped play a big part in earning Millwall promotion later in the 2009–10 season. Trotter started the match in the play-off final, as Millwall beat Swindon Town 1–0 to send Millwall promoted to the Championship. At the end of the 2009–10 season, he went on to make twenty appearances and scoring once for the side in all competitions.
Millwall (permanent move)
On 24 June 2010, Trotter officially signed his two-year contract with Millwall, after initially being at the club for his second loan spell.
Trotter's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season, starting the whole game, in a 3–0 win over Bristol City. In a follow-up match against Hull City, he scored his first goal since joining the club permanently, in a 4–0 win. Trotter added two more goals for the side later in August, scoring against Middlesbrough in the League Cup and Coventry. After missing out two matches due to injury, he scored on his return, in a 6–1 loss against Watford on 18 September 2010. However, his return was short–lived when he was sent off for a high studs on Darcy Blake, as Millwall lost 2–1 against Cardiff City in a follow–up match. Following the match, Manager Kenny Jackett said: "I don't want to comment on the referee's performance – it will get me into trouble. Liam feels dejected at the moment and that he's let us down. But I feel he's been harshly treated. I haven't seen any malice in him whatsoever." After serving a three match suspension, Trotter returned to the starting line-up on 19 October 2010, coming on as a second–half substitute, in a 1–0 loss against Portsmouth. Two months later on 26 December 2010, he started against Portsmouth for the second time this season and scored his fifth goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw. Trotter later three more goals later in the season, scoring against Queens Park Rangers, Cardiff City and Leeds United. Despite suffering from injuries during the 2010–11 season, he remained in the first team for the side throughout the season. Trotter made thirty–eight appearances and scored eight goals in Millwall's return to the Championship.
At the start of the 2011–12 season, Trotter started the season well when he set up the club's first goal in a 2–2 draw against Reading in the opening game of the season. In the next two matches, Trotter scored two goals against Nottingham Forest and Peterborough United. His performance saw him being linked to clubs, such as, Reading, Everton and Bolton Wanderers but he stayed at the club throughout summer. Trotter continued to establish himself in the starting eleven for the side, playing in the midfield position. His third goal of the season came on 15 October 2011 came in a 1–1 draw against Middlesbrough. Two weeks later on 1 November 2011, Trotter provided a hat–trick assists, including two goals from Darius Henderson, in a 3–0 win over Coventry City. Three weeks later on 29 November 2011, he scored a brace, in a 3–2 win against Doncaster Rovers at home. Trotter then captained the side for the first time in his Millwall career and set up a goal for Darius Henderson, who scored a hat–trick, in a 3–0 win over Barnsley on 21 January 2012. Trotter captained the next three matches and scored two goals, including one in the major rivalry between Millwall and West Ham United at The Boleyn Ground. He also scored a goal at Portman Road against his former club Ipswich Town on 21 April 2012. Following the match, he was named Championship team of the week. Despite many injuries, Trotter finished the 2011–12 season, Trotter went on to make forty appearances and scoring eight times in all competitions; following this, the club began talks with Abdou over a new contract.