He played professionally for Crystal Palace, Stockport County, Millwall, Swansea City, Gillingham and AFC Bournemouth and made over 450 Football League appearances.
Born in Swansea, Wales, Lovell began his career as an apprentice with Crystal Palace in 1977, winning the FA Youth Cup with the South London side in 1977 and 1978,[13] before making his league debut in a 2–0 defeat away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 August 1980.
[20] In 1986 Lovell was injured whilst playing for Wales and was unable to regain a place in the Millwall team and, after a short loan spell with his hometown club Swansea City, was sold to Gillingham for £20,000.
[24] Lovell was first called up to the Wales national side ahead of a World Cup qualifier against the Soviet Union in November 1981, making his debut as a 86th minute substitute for Joey Jones in a 3–0 loss.
[20] After a spell as Football in the Community Officer for Gillingham (which overlapped the end of his playing career) Lovell returned to management with Hastings United in 2003 but left the club in 2004 after a drop in form.
[10] In 2005, he returned for a second spell managing Sittingbourne,[11] a post he held until October 2007,[30] when he left to take over at Ashford Town,[31] where he remained until the club's demise in August 2010.
[32] In December 2014 he was appointed co-caretaker manager of Gillingham alongside Andy Hessenthaler, Darren Hare and Mark Patterson following the sacking of Peter Taylor.
[34] In June 2016, he was appointed as assistant manager of National League side Bromley, where he would work alongside former Gillingham teammate Neil Smith.
[50] In May 2023, he was appointed manager of recently relegated Isthmian League South East Division club Herne Bay on a two-year deal.