Lyon Billy Image 1 Preston North End 1905

Description

Inverness born wing half Billy Lyon started his football career with Highland League Inverness Clachnacuddin in 1897. He had a a brief spell at Dundee in 1898 before returning to Inverness Clachnacuddin and spent part of 1898-99 on the books at Sunderland without making a first team appearance. He joined Second Division Walsall later the same season, making his Football League debut at Glossop in March 1899, and although that proved his only appearance for The Saddlers before the end of the season, he was a regular in 1899-1900 scoring once in 37 appearances.

After a brief return to Inverness Clachnacuddin in 1900 he returned to Walsall and played 12 matches in 1900-01 but they lost their League status at the end of the season and he joined Southern League Bristol Rovers in 1901. In 1903 he joined First Division Manchester City, but played only 6 times before transferring to Preston North End in April 1904, helping them to the Second Division Championship at the end of the season. He spent the next 7 seasons at Deepdale, all of which were in the First Division, including finishing runners up in the League Championship in 1905-06, making 223 appearances and scoring 9 goals, leaving in 1911 to join non league Hyde. He later played for Lancaster Town in 1913.