Louis Bartholomew Dodds (born 8 October 1986) is an English former footballer who played either as a midfielder or as a striker who is now a coach at Northern Premier League Division One West club Congleton Town.

[4] He joined Leicester after being spotted by a talent scout while playing for Ratby & Groby, and whilst there earned himself a call-up to the England under-18 squad.

On 9 October 2006, he was allowed to join Conference side Northwich Victoria on loan to gain some first-team experience.

[5] This loan deal was extended in November,[6] before he was recalled by the "Foxes" at the end of the month due to an injury crisis.

[10] He was offered a new contract at parent club Leicester,[11] but instead joined League Two's Port Vale on 21 July 2008, penning a two-year deal.

[23] Yet he managed to force himself back into contention with an impressive strike to seal a 2–1 win over Macclesfield Town on 5 March, after coming into the match as a late substitute.

[28][29] Having started just three league games by the half-way stage, Dodds admitted that his versatility was preventing him from nailing down a specialized role in the first eleven.

[30] His third goal of the season came on 14 February, when he scored a "sensational" 15 yards (14 m) volley past Bradford City at Valley Parade.

[37] Combined with wingers Jennison Myrie-Williams and Ashley Vincent, the four-man strike force fired Vale into second place in the league over the first quarter of the campaign.

[38] On 18 September, he converted a "stunning strike with the outside of his foot" in a 5–2 victory over Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium – later this was voted the club's goal of the season.

[46] He passed the 300 career league game mark during the campaign,[47] but admitted he was worried about his future at the club as his contract was due to expire in the summer and chairman Norman Smurthwaite was in no hurry to negotiate new deals with any of the playing squad.

[54] His first goal for the club was a 77th-minute winner in a first-round EFL Cup tie against Championship side Huddersfield Town on 9 August.

[59] He initially failed to secure a first-team spot for Jack Lester's "Spireites" after a series of niggling injuries caused his form to dip.

[61] On 21 June 2018, Dodds secured a return to the Football League after joining former club Port Vale on loan for the 2018–19 season.

[63] Despite a good pre-season, he was on the bench for the opening game of the campaign after Aspin decided to stick with his preferred formation and starting eleven.

[66] On 1 August 2019, Dodds signed with National League club Chorley after impressing manager Jamie Vermiglio on trial.

[67] He made 20 appearances for the "Magpies" in the 2019–20 season, which was permanently suspended on 26 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, with Chorley bottom of the table.

[69] On 1 July 2020, Dodds signed for Southern League Premier Division Central side Hednesford Town.

[71] On 6 May 2021, Dodds returned to Stoke-on-Trent to join ambitious North West Counties League Premier Division Central club Hanley Town, who were managed by his former Port Vale teammate Carl Dickinson.