He is one of only three referees (alongside Steve Baines and Bob Matthewson) who have made League appearances as a player.
In 1982, he gained a place as a Football League linesman and three years later moved up to the referees list.
In common with all Welsh referees who attained this level Lloyd was also an international official and was soon in action in Europe.
His first match in the middle in Iceland in September 1996 saw visitors Sporting CP achieve an emphatic 9-0 victory over Akranes in a UEFA Cup tie.
He retained this status for the following season (1993–1994), including a match at runners-up Blackburn (against Ipswich Town) on the penultimate weekend.