Albert Lyness

Name: Albert Lyness (Lynas)

Born: 8 June 1912, Lisburn

Died: 7 July 1990, Lisburn

Height:

Weight:

Position: Inside-Forward / Left-Half

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Amateur Caps / 2 Goals (1936-1937); Army International.

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Dunmurry	-	-	-	(Intermediate League)
Cliftonville	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-
Rangers	37/38-38/39	c/s-37	-	6/3	2/2	-
Linfield	39/40	-	-	-	-	-
Distillery	40/41-44/45	c/s-40	-	*114/42	-	-
Crusaders	-	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS		£0		-	-	-

* all games

Biography:

Albert Lyness played the game at junior level in his native Lisburn before joining Intermediate League side, Dunmurry. It was after joining the army that Corporal Lyness became a surprise inclusion for Amateur Ireland, and he did not disappoint, being "one of the stars of the side". Possessor of "perfect ball control" and a side step that enabled him to carry the ball past defenders with ease, he was also a "deadly shot", able to place the ball "where the goalkeeper cannot get even his fingers to them." During his time in the army he also played in representative fixtures against France and Belgium.

After leaving the army, Lyness' signature was widely sought by several clubs, but his destination always seemed certain to be Ibrox. He made his Rangers début in a 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock on 12th March 1938, and scored his first goal eleven days later with a penalty against Arbroath. Those were his only games that season and he did not return to the team until the following January when he scored in consecutive wins over Partick and Arbroath as the Bears marched to the Scottish League title. He made his final firstteam appearance, scoring from the penalty spot, in a shock 4-1 defeat by eventual winners Clyde in a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox.

After playing a season with Linfield, Lyness joined Distillery in the summer of 1940. He marked his Whites début with a goal in a 1-1 draw with Glentoran on 20th August on his way to 25 goals for the season. In five seasons he played 114 games and scored 42 goals but claimed only one medal, as runner-up in the 1940/41 Co. Antrim Shield. Later Lyness coached Distillery IIs.

Among Lyness' footballing family were his father Charles (Old Wesley, Junior International); brothers Charlie (RUC, Lambeg and Dunmurry), Tommy (Queen's Island and Coleraine), Willie (RUC, Cliftonville and Newry Town, Amateur International), Bobbie (Dunmurry, Coleraine and Larne, Junior International), Jim (Lambeg Rangers), Victor (Dunmurry and Bangor) and Johnny (Saffron Waldon Town (Herts)); and nephews Henry Orr (Distillery, Youth and Amateur International) and Leonard Reid (Oldham Athletic).

Ireland Amateur Cap Details:

22-04-1936 Scotland H L 3-5

13-02-1937 England. H W 5-1 2 Goals

21-04-1937 Scotland A L 0-3

Summary: 3/2. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 2.

Credits/Sources:

Ireland's Saturday Night (15 May 1937) (kindly supplied by Jim Murphy)

The Whites 1880-2004 (by Dawson Simpson)

Scottish League Players' Records 1890/91-1938/39 (by Steve Emms & Richard Wells)

Rangers History