Tom Lyons

Alfred Thomas Lyons (5 July 1885 – October 1938) was an English footballer and cricketer. He played as a wicket-keeper for Staffordshire in the 1913 Minor Counties Cricket Championship.

He played for Aston Villa from 1907 to 1915 and then joined Port Vale in January 1917. Five years later, he moved on to Walsall as a player-coach. He helped Villa to win the First Division in 1909–10 and the FA Cup in 1913. They also finished second in the league in 1907–08, 1910–11, 1912–13, and 1913–14, and was also on the losing side in the 1910 FA Charity Shield.

Career Lyons played for Hednesford Town and Bridgtown Amateurs before joining Aston Villa as a professional in April 1907 after a trial three months earlier.

He made his debut in December 1907 in a 5–0 away defeat to Liverpool. The "Villans" ended the 1907–08 campaign in second place in the First Division, nine points behind champions Manchester United.

They dropped to seventh spot in 1908–09, before being crowned champions of the Football League in 1909–10. He played at Stamford Bridge in the 1910 FA Charity Shield, which ended in a 1–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Villa finished the 1910–11 season in second place, just one point behind Manchester United. They then dropped to sixth in 1911–12, before finishing second in 1912–13 just four points behind champions Sunderland. He played against Sunderland in the 1913 FA Cup final at Crystal Palace, which ended in a 1–0 victory for Villa. They then finished second in the league once again in 1913–14, finishing seven points behind champions Blackburn Rovers. Villa dropped to 14th place in 1914–15, and league football was suspended due to World War I. In his eight years at Villa Park, Lyons played 238 competitive games.

Lyons joined Port Vale, initially on guest terms, in January 1917. He was a member of the side that lifted the Staffordshire Senior Cup and shared the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup in 1920.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1907–08 First Division

1908–09 First Division

1909–10 First Division

1910–11 First Division

1911–12 First Division

1912–13 First Division

1913–14 First Division

1914–15 First Division

217!!0!!20!!0!!1!!0!!238!!0

1919–20 Central League

1919–20 Second Division

1920–21 Second Division

71!!0!!3!!1!!0!!0!!74!!1 Walsall 1922–23 Third Division North

289!!0!!23!!1!!1!!0!!313!!1

Honours Aston Villa Football League First Division: 1909–10 FA Charity Shield runner-up: 1910 FA Cup: 1913

Port Vale Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1920 North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup: 1920