Andy Lynch (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andy Lynch is a Scottish
former football player and coach.
Lynch moved to Queens Park from Renfrew Juniors in his teens, however he quickly returned to the Junior
ranks with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
. He earned a second chance in senior football when he joined Heart of Midlothian
, signing for the Maroons in 1969. In 4 seasons at Tynecastle
, Lynch scored 21 goals in just over 100 appearances from the left wing position.
In February 1973, Jock Stein
paid £30,000 to sign Lynch for Celtic
and, although Lynch was initially ineffective as a winger at Parkhead
, Stein successfully converted him in to a left back. While with Celtic he won three Scottish league
titles and the Scottish Cup
twice. He scored the only goal in the 1977 Scottish Cup final and eventually became club captain.
Lynch moved to North America in 1980, where he continued his playing career in the North American Soccer League
with the Philadelphia Fury
and the Montreal Manic
before moving into coaching. In 1983, he coached the Montreal Manic
. He spent time as the assistant coach to the Canadian national team
in the mid-1980s, before returning to Scotland at the end of the decade to run a public house, "Andy Lynch's Bar", Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow, followed by the Riverside Tavern in the Gorbals. He was briefly assistant manager at Albion Rovers
in 1993.
In 2008, Andy was initially the coach for Sunshine Coast F.C in the new Queensland State League (association football)
. (George Cowie replaced him after Round 5 of the competition.)
His son Simon
is also a former professional footballer.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former football player and coach.
Lynch moved to Queens Park from Renfrew Juniors in his teens, however he quickly returned to the Junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
ranks with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C.
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed The Rabs or The Roy, they were formed in 1878...
. He earned a second chance in senior football when he joined Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, signing for the Maroons in 1969. In 4 seasons at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
, Lynch scored 21 goals in just over 100 appearances from the left wing position.
In February 1973, Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
paid £30,000 to sign Lynch for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and, although Lynch was initially ineffective as a winger at Parkhead
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
, Stein successfully converted him in to a left back. While with Celtic he won three Scottish league
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
titles and the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
twice. He scored the only goal in the 1977 Scottish Cup final and eventually became club captain.
Lynch moved to North America in 1980, where he continued his playing career in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
with the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
and the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
before moving into coaching. In 1983, he coached the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
. He spent time as the assistant coach to the Canadian national team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in the mid-1980s, before returning to Scotland at the end of the decade to run a public house, "Andy Lynch's Bar", Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow, followed by the Riverside Tavern in the Gorbals. He was briefly assistant manager at Albion Rovers
Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland)
Albion Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football team from the North Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who are currently playing in the Scottish Football League Second Division...
in 1993.
In 2008, Andy was initially the coach for Sunshine Coast F.C in the new Queensland State League (association football)
Queensland State League (association football)
The Hyundai Queensland State League, often abbreviated to the QSL, is a men's semi-professional association football league in the Australian state of Queensland...
. (George Cowie replaced him after Round 5 of the competition.)
His son Simon
Simon Lynch (footballer)
Simon Lynch is a former Scottish professional footballer who ended his career at Stenhousemuir.-Early career:...
is also a former professional footballer.
External links
- Profile at londonhearts.com
- http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player3/andylynch.htm
- NASL stats