Andrew Lyons
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Lyons, born 19 October 1966 in Blackpool
, Lancashire
is an English
former professional footballer.
He is currently a coach at Preston North End's Centre of Excellence.
club Fleetwood Town
in 1991. On 26 October 1992 he signed for Football League Third Division
club Crewe Alexandra
for a fee of £15,000. He then moved to fellow Third Division club Wigan Athletic
on 1 October 1993.
Lyons moved to Scotland on 1 March 1996 to play for Scottish Premier Division
club Partick Thistle
for a transfer fee of £35,000. However, they were relegated at the end of the season to the First Division
. He left the club at the end of the 1997–98 season when they were relegated to the Second Division
. He then signed for First Division club Ayr United
. He left Ayr at the end of the 1999–2000 season. He then returned to England, by which time he was playing semi-professionally while working as a postman
, and signed for Football Conference
club Morecambe
where he spent the 2000–01 season.
In August 2001 he moved to local rivals Lancaster City
in the Northern Premier League First Division
.
team in the 2007 North West Masters competition at the M.E.N. Arena
in Manchester
. He scored one goal in a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers
as Wigan reached the final where they lost 2-1 to Manchester United
. He also played for Wigan at the 2008 Mersey Masters
at the Liverpool Echo Arena
on 28 June 2008.
B coaching licence. He is currently the coach of the Under-12 team at his hometown club Blackpool
's Centre of Excellence.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer.
He is currently a coach at Preston North End's Centre of Excellence.
Playing career
Lyons started his career at Northern Premier LeagueNorthern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
club Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in 1991. On 26 October 1992 he signed for Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
club Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
for a fee of £15,000. He then moved to fellow Third Division club Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on 1 October 1993.
Lyons moved to Scotland on 1 March 1996 to play for Scottish Premier Division
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
for a transfer fee of £35,000. However, they were relegated at the end of the season to the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
. He left the club at the end of the 1997–98 season when they were relegated to the Second Division
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
. He then signed for First Division club Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
. He left Ayr at the end of the 1999–2000 season. He then returned to England, by which time he was playing semi-professionally while working as a postman
Mail carrier
A mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman , postman/postwoman , letter carrier or postie is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses...
, and signed for Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
club Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
where he spent the 2000–01 season.
In August 2001 he moved to local rivals Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
in the Northern Premier League First Division
Northern Premier League First Division
The Northern Premier League First Division was a football league covering the north of England. After the creation of Conference North/South in the 2004-05 season it sat at level 8 of the English football league system....
.
Masters Football
On 30 June 2007 Lyons played for Wigan Athletic Masters FootballMasters Football
Masters football is a 6 a-side indoor football competition in the United Kingdom, where players over the age of 35 are chosen by the Masters Football Selection Committee to represent a senior club which they played for. Regional heats are held, and the winners of each go forward to a national...
team in the 2007 North West Masters competition at the M.E.N. Arena
Manchester Evening News Arena
The Manchester Evening News Arena is an indoor arena situated in Manchester, England. It is adjacent to Manchester Victoria station near Corporation Street...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He scored one goal in a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
as Wigan reached the final where they lost 2-1 to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. He also played for Wigan at the 2008 Mersey Masters
2008 National Masters
The 2008 Screwfix National Masters Cup was an indoor football series for players who are over the age of 35. The 2008 tournament was the ninth running of the tournament, and was won by Wolves...
at the Liverpool Echo Arena
Liverpool Echo Arena
Echo Arena Liverpool is the arena half of ACC Liverpool located on the former King's Dock in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. The BT Convention Centre forms the other half of the complex...
on 28 June 2008.
Coaching career
Lyons is now a fully qualified coach, having obtained the UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
B coaching licence. He is currently the coach of the Under-12 team at his hometown club Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
's Centre of Excellence.