Eddie Lyons (footballer) explained

Eddie Lyons
Fullname:Albert Edward Lyons
Birth Date:20 May 1920
Birth Place:Rochdale, England
Death Place:Bracknell, England
Position:Full back
Youthyears1:–1941
Youthclubs1:Stockport County
Years1:1941–1944
Clubs1:Stockport County
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1944–1950
Clubs2:Bury
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:1950–1952
Clubs3:Millwall
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:1952–1953
Clubs4:Crewe Alexandra
Caps4:23
Goals4:0
Years5:1953–1954
Clubs5:Rochdale
Caps5:19
Goals5:1
Clubs6:Dartford
Clubs7:Gravesend & Northfleet
Manageryears1:1976
Managerclubs1:Brentford (caretaker)

Albert Edward Lyons (20 May 1920 – November 1996) was an English professional football full back who played in the Football League for Bury, Millwall, Crewe Alexandra and Rochdale. After his retirement as a player, Lyons served Brentford in a number of backroom roles for over 30 years.

Playing career

A full back, Lyons began his career in wartime football with Stockport County and after the war,[1] he played in the Football League for Bury, Millwall, Crewe Alexandra and Rochdale.[2] He ended his career in non-league football with Southern League clubs Dartford and Gravesend & Northfleet and won the league title with the latter club in the 1957–58 season.[3]

Physiotherapy and coaching career

After retiring from football, Lyons became assistant trainer at Brentford. He also helped Ted Gaskell with the running of the club's short-lived 'A' team in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Lyons progressed to become the club physiotherapist in the 1970s and took caretaker charge for one match in September 1976 after the departure of John Docherty.[4] Lyons was awarded a testimonial for his service in May 1984 and at age 63, he played the final 15 minutes of the match against Chelsea. He earned £8,000 from the match (equivalent to £ in),[5] was given a gold watch and was presented with a Canon League Loyalty Award by Brentford chairman Martin Lange. In September 1990, he came out of retirement to serve as a physiotherapist for the officials at an England international match at Wembley Stadium.[6]

Personal life

After leaving league football, Lyons settled in Ealing and purchased a newsagents, which he ran with his wife Iris. Lyons suffered from health problems in later life, including bladder cancer, a stroke and having a triple heart bypass operation. As of August 1996, he was living in Bracknell.

Honours

Gravesend & Northfleet

Individual

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall1949–50[7] Third Division South4040
1950–51[8] 100010
1951–52[9] 101020
Career total601070

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player profile HattersMatters . 8 October 2019.
  2. Web site: ROCHDALE AFC – Up The Dale – Index . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160806115542/http://upthedale.nl/playerhistoryL.php . 6 August 2016 . 24 June 2020.
  3. Book: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Luton Town . 24 August 1996 . 19.
  4. Book: Official Brentford Programme 2006/2007 versus Leyton Orient . 31 January 2007 . Dunwoody Sports Publishing . 38–39.
  5. Book: Griffin Gazette: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Crewe Alexandra . 6 April 1996 . Quay Design of Poole . 20.
  6. Book: Croxford, Mark . The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties . Lane . David . Waterman . Greville . Legends Publishing . 2013 . 9781906796723 . Sunbury, Middlesex . 41.
  7. Web site: Millwall Season 49/50 Stats . 17 June 2017 . www.millwall-history.org.uk.
  8. Web site: Millwall Season 50/51 Stats . 17 June 2017 . www.millwall-history.org.uk.
  9. Web site: Millwall Season 51/52 Stats . 17 June 2017 . www.millwall-history.org.uk.