Bill Lacey (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername= Bill Lacey


fullname = William Lacey
dateofbirth = birth date|1889|9|24
cityofbirth = Enniscorthy, Wexford
countryofbirth = Ireland
dateofdeath = death date and age|1969|5|30|1889|9|24
years = 1906–1909
1909–1912
1912–1915
1919–1924
1924–1925
1925–1927
1927–1931
position= Defender / Midfielder / Forward
clubs= Shelbourne
Everton
Liverpool
→ Belfast United (guest)
→ Linfield (guest)
Liverpool
New Brighton
Shelbourne
Cork Bohemians (player coach)
caps(goals) = 010 0(3)
037 (11)
099 (12)
131 0(6)
007 0(0)
066 (12)
nationalyears = 1909–1924
1927–1930
192x–19xx
nationalteam = Ireland (IFA)
Irish Free State (FAI)
League of Ireland XI
nationalcaps(goals) = 023 0(3)
003 0(1)
003 0(x)
manageryears = 1930s
1933–19xx
managerclubs = Irish Free State (FAI)
Bohemians

Bill Lacey (September 24, 1889, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland – May 30 1969), also referred to as Billy Lacey or William Lacey was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Liverpool, Everton, Shelbourne and Linfield. Lacey was a dual international and also played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI.

An extremely versatile and talented player, Lacey played in all eleven positions during his career. He was a prominent member of the Ireland team that won the 1914 British Home Championship and was also a member of the Liverpool team that won two successive English First Division titles in 1922 and 1923. He was also the first player to be capped at full international level while playing for both Everton and Liverpool. In 1927 at the age of 37, he became the oldest player ever to make their debut for an FAI XI and in 1930 at the age of 41 he became the their oldest ever player. After retiring as a player, Lacey became a coach, most notably with the FAI XI and Bohemians.

Club career

helbourne

Lacey first played senior football with Shelbourne in 1906 and in 1908, together with Val Harris and Joseph Ledwidge, he helped them reach the final of the Irish Cup. Lacey scored in the 1-1 draw against Bohemians at Dalymount Park and also played in the replay which Shelbourne lost 3-1. After a successful career in the English League, Lacey returned to Shelbourne for a second spell in May 1925 and, together with Harris, helped them win the League of Ireland title in 1926. During his second spell with Shelbourne, he also played three times for the League of Ireland XI. [ [http://planet_shels.tripod.com/history/performances/irishcupfinals.html#1905 Irish Cup finals] ]

Everton

Lacey followed Val Harris to Everton in February 1909 and made his club debut, leading the forward line, in April 1909 against Bradford City. During his time at Everton he also played as a half-back. While at the Blues he made 37 English League appearances and scored 11 goals. He also played a further 3 games in the FA Cup. Lacey helped Everton finish League runners-up twice and reach the semi-final stage of the 1910 FA Cup. Apart from Harris, his team mates at Everton also included another Irish international, Billy Scott. ["Who’s Who Of Everton" (2004): Tony Matthews [http://www.shop-com.co.uk/op/~Who's_Who_of_Everton_(Hardback)_Tony_Matthews-prod-25696581?sourceid=363] ]

Liverpool

In February 1912 Lacey joined Liverpool. He arrived, along with Tom Gracie, as part of swap that saw Harold Uren join Everton. Lacey made his Liverpool debut, as a left-winger, on March 2 1912 in a First Division match against Middlesbrough. The game finished as a 1-1 draw. He scored his first goal for the club on March 16 in a 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Lacey would eventually make 230 league appearances and scored 18 league goals for Liverpool. He also made a further 28 appearances and scored another 11 goals in the FA Cup. In 1914, playing as an inside forward, he scored 5 goals in 7 games as an he helped Liverpool reach their first ever FA Cup final. However Liverpool lost the match 1-0 to Burnley.

During the First World War, Lacey returned to Ireland and played as a guest in the Belfast and District League, first for the now defunct team, Belfast United, and then for Linfield. While with Linfield he helped them reach two successive Irish Cup finals in 1918 and 1919, finishing as runners-up and winners respectively. After returning to Liverpool, Lacey helped them win two successive First Division titles in 1922 and 1923. Among his team mates at Liverpool during this era where Ephraim Longworth and Elisha Scott. Lacey left Liverpool in June 1924 and briefly played with New Brighton before returning to Shelbourne. ["Who’s Who Of Liverpool" (2006): Tony Matthews [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1845961404] ] [ [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/lacey/ www.liverpoolfc.tv] ] [ [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=708 www.lfchistory.net] ]

Irish international

When Lacey began his international career in 1909, Ireland was represented by a single team, selected by the Belfast-based Irish Football Association. However during the 1920s, Ireland was partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. Amid these political upheavals, a rival association, the Football Association of Ireland, emerged in Dublin and from 1924 organised their own national team. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Lacey played for both teams – the IFA XI and the FAI XI.

IFA XI

Between 1909 and 1924 Lacey won 23 caps and scored 3 goals for the IFA XI. He won the first 10 caps while at Everton, the next 12 at Liverpool and his last with New Brighton. He made his international debut on February 13 1909 in a 4-0 defeat to England and then on March 20 he scored his first international goal in a 3-2 defeat against Wales.

Although Lacey only scored two more goals for the IFA XI, they would prove significant. Along with Val Harris, Patrick O’Connell and Billy Gillespie, Lacey helped Ireland win the 1914 British Home Championship. On February 14 he scored twice as Ireland beat England 3-0 at Ayresome Park. In a game which saw Lacey play in three different positions, including in goal, Ireland then clinched the title following a 1-1 draw with Scotland at Windsor Park in Belfast. He made his last appearance for the IFA XI on October 22 1924 in 3-1 defeat against England. [ [http://planet_shels.tripod.com/history/clubhistory.html#_A_NEW_LEAGUE Shelbourne fansite] ] ["The Boys In Green - The FAI International Story" (1997): Sean Ryan [http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1851589392] ]

FAI XI

After returning to Shelbourne, Lacey also made 3 appearances and scored 1 goal for the FAI XI. On April 23 1927, at the age of 37, he became the oldest player to ever make his debut for the FAI XI when he was selected to play against Italy B. On February 12 1928 he inspired the FAI XI to a comeback. 2-0 down at half-time, Lacey scored the FAI XI’s opening goal in a 4-2 away win against Belgium. On May 11 1930, at the age of 41, he became the oldest player ever to play for the FAI XI when he played against Belgium again. In his three appearances for the FAI XI, he played as outside-right, inside-right and right-back. [ [http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/player.php?sort=season_name&id=214 Irish Free State Stats] ] [ [http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=47 www.fai.ie] ] ["The Boys In Green - The FAI International Story" (1997): Sean Ryan [http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1851589392] ] [cite book|title=Football Asssociation of Ireland: 75 years|first=Peter|last=Byrne|year=1996|location=Dublin|publisher=Sportsworld|id = ISBN 1-900110-06-7|pages=31 & 211] [ [http://planet_shels.tripod.com/history/internationalcaps.html Shelbourne internationals] ] [ [http://planet_shels.tripod.com/history/trivia.html Shelbourne Trivia] ]

Coaching career

FAI XI

During the 1930s Lacey also coached the FAI XI on several occasions. At the time the team was selected by a committee of selectors and coaches were appointed on a game by game basis. Lacey took charge of the FAI XI on at least four occasions. On December 13 1931 he was in charge of the FAI XI that lost 5-0 to Spain. He had little chance to influence the result as he was unable to get in touch with all the players until the morning of the game. On February 25 1934 Lacey was also in charge of the first FAI XI to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. The team, featuring Paddy Moore, Jimmy Kelly and Joe Kendrick, drew 4-4 with Belgium with Moore scoring all four goals for the FAI XI. Lacey also coached the FAI XI that played the Netherlands on December 5 1935. In terms of preparation, the team did better than usual, with Lacey organising three coaching sessions the week before the game. Despite this the FAI XI still lost 5-2. However on October 17 1936, Lacey coached the FAI XI to one of their best results of the pre-Second World War era when a team featuring Paddy Moore and Tom Davis, beat Germany 5-2 at Dalymount Park. ["The Boys In Green - The FAI International Story" (1997): Sean Ryan [http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1851589392] ]

Bohemians

Lacey was appointed coach of Bohemians at the start of the 1933-34 season and with a team that included Fred Horlacher and Billy Jordan he subsequently guided them to a League of Ireland and League of Ireland Shield double. He also guided them to an FAI Cup win in 1935. [ [http://www.bohemians.ie/images/stories/hist/blaceycoach33-4.jpgwww.bohemians.ie] ] [ [http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/legends/billy-jordan.htm www.bohemians.ie] ] [ [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/paddy-farrell.html Northern Ireland Footballing Greats] ]

Honours

"Player"

Shelbourne

*Irish Cup
**"Runners Up" 1907-08: 1
*League of Ireland
**"Winners" 1925-26: 1
*League of Ireland Shield
**"Winners" 1926: 1

Everton

*First Division
**"Runners Up" 1908-09, 1911-12: 2

Ireland

*British Champions
**1914: 1

Liverpool

*English Champions
**1921-22, 1922-23: 2
*FA Cup
**"Runners Up" 1914: 1

Linfield

*Irish Cup
**"Winners" 1918-19: 1
**"Runners Up" 1917-18: 1

"Manager"

Bohemians

*League of Ireland
**1933-34: 1
*FAI Cup
**1935: 1
*League of Ireland Shield
**1934: 1

References

External links

* [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/10/billy-lacey.html Northern Ireland Footballing Greats]