John Lawless (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Lawless is an English
footballer who currently plays for Burscough
in the Northern Premier League Premier Division
. He is a Striker.
, the club's Academy director and former winger. However, the club released Lawless at the age of 15.
from August 2002 to July 2003. He had a key role in the club’s against-the-odds FA Trophy
win in May 2003, helping to create both goals.
In July 2003 he began an enduring association with Welsh football when he signed for Aberystwyth Town
.
After one season, he moved to TNS
in August 2004. It was an excellent season for the club, winning the Welsh Premier League and then, thanks to a Lawless goal, winning the Welsh Cup
as well.
In July 2005 Lawless played in a Champions League
qualifier tie against his boyhood heroes, Liverpool FC
. Lawless is a lifelong Liverpool fan - he has the club's badge tattooed on his arm - and two months earlier he had travelled to Istanbul for the Champions League final
where Liverpool won their fifth European Cup.
TNS terminated his contract in December 2005 after he failed to appear for training for almost a month. He moved to Vauxhall Motors
where he played throughout 2006.
He made his debut for Colwyn Bay
in January 2007. He stayed with the club for a year and a half, moving back to Liverpool to play for Marine
in the summer of 2008.
. It was seen by sections of fans of both teams as a non-league extension of Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United F.C. rivalry. FC United were formed by Manchester United fans disgruntled with the ownership regime, and Marine's patron is Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish
.
Reports allege taunts of 'murderers' from FC United fans, referring to the Heysel
disaster. Lawless and team-mate Shaun Tuck were alleged to have made aeroplane gestures to the crowd as a taunt about the Munich air disaster
. The FA looked into the incident and, after viewing video of the whole match, issued the players with a written warning but did not find evidence to warrant any disciplinary action.
Lawless spoke out denying he had made such a gesture, saying it had been a palm extended vertically with all fingers pointing out meaning ‘five’ – a reference to Liverpool’s five European Cup wins. Video footage of the incident shows the gesture to be ambiguous, and Tuck's gesture after scoring a penalty - arm forwards, palm flat, fingers extended - is quite unlike an aeroplane. Lawless added that he had friends who play for FC United, and an FC United spokesperson said, "We have a brilliant relationship with Marine and what happened after the last fixture was over-played."
Lawless' contract with Marine was terminated by agreement of both parties.
but only played one game and left after 13 days to join Witton Albion
by the end of January 2009. He left them in April 2009.
In January 2010 he signed for North West Counties Football League
side Formby
. Despite only playing for the second half of the season, he was the club's top scorer. In July 2010, Formby manager Mark Maddox moved to Leigh Genesis, and took Lawless and eight other players from the Formby squad with him.
After a dire start to the season that saw the club greet December at the bottom of the table with just 7 points from 17 games, Maddox left Leigh Genesis in December 2010. Lawless was swiftly re-signed by Formby, who were
now managed by Gary Martindale
, the other forward with whom he created the two goals at Burscough’s 2003 FA Trophy triumph. He only played in two games before Martindale and the entire first team resigned in January 2011. Lawless, with his Leigh Genesis and Formby team mate Adam Farley
, was swiftly signed by Burscough
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who currently plays for Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
in the Northern Premier League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
. He is a Striker.
Background
A talented footballer as a schoolboy, Lawless won a place at Liverpool FC's academy, where he found himself under the tutelage of Steve HeighwaySteve Heighway
Stephen Derek "Steve" Heighway is a former footballer who was part of the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:...
, the club's Academy director and former winger. However, the club released Lawless at the age of 15.
Senior career
He played for BurscoughBurscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
from August 2002 to July 2003. He had a key role in the club’s against-the-odds FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
win in May 2003, helping to create both goals.
In July 2003 he began an enduring association with Welsh football when he signed for Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
.
After one season, he moved to TNS
The New Saints F.C.
The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League...
in August 2004. It was an excellent season for the club, winning the Welsh Premier League and then, thanks to a Lawless goal, winning the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
as well.
In July 2005 Lawless played in a Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualifier tie against his boyhood heroes, Liverpool FC
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Lawless is a lifelong Liverpool fan - he has the club's badge tattooed on his arm - and two months earlier he had travelled to Istanbul for the Champions League final
2005 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The showpiece event was contested between Liverpool of England and Milan of Italy at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005...
where Liverpool won their fifth European Cup.
TNS terminated his contract in December 2005 after he failed to appear for training for almost a month. He moved to Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors F.C.
Vauxhall Motors Football Club is an English football club based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, who play in the Conference North. It was originally the works team of the car manufacturer Vauxhall...
where he played throughout 2006.
He made his debut for Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
in January 2007. He stayed with the club for a year and a half, moving back to Liverpool to play for Marine
Marine F.C.
Marine Football Club is an English football club in Crosby, Merseyside. The club, which was founded in 1894, is a member of both the Liverpool County and Lancashire County Football Associations, and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.Marine is notable for having the...
in the summer of 2008.
The FC United incident
On 20 December 2008 Marine played an away match against F.C. United of ManchesterF.C. United of Manchester
F.C. United of Manchester is an English semi-professional football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester that plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. It was formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover of the...
. It was seen by sections of fans of both teams as a non-league extension of Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United F.C. rivalry. FC United were formed by Manchester United fans disgruntled with the ownership regime, and Marine's patron is Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
.
Reports allege taunts of 'murderers' from FC United fans, referring to the Heysel
Heysel Stadium disaster
The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool of England and Juventus of Italy...
disaster. Lawless and team-mate Shaun Tuck were alleged to have made aeroplane gestures to the crowd as a taunt about the Munich air disaster
Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes",...
. The FA looked into the incident and, after viewing video of the whole match, issued the players with a written warning but did not find evidence to warrant any disciplinary action.
Lawless spoke out denying he had made such a gesture, saying it had been a palm extended vertically with all fingers pointing out meaning ‘five’ – a reference to Liverpool’s five European Cup wins. Video footage of the incident shows the gesture to be ambiguous, and Tuck's gesture after scoring a penalty - arm forwards, palm flat, fingers extended - is quite unlike an aeroplane. Lawless added that he had friends who play for FC United, and an FC United spokesperson said, "We have a brilliant relationship with Marine and what happened after the last fixture was over-played."
Lawless' contract with Marine was terminated by agreement of both parties.
2009 onwards
He returned briefly to Welsh football, signing for Caernarfon TownCaernarfon Town F.C.
Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance. The club ia nicknamed The Canaries because of its yellow and green strip. Caernarfon Town plays at The Oval, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.-History:...
but only played one game and left after 13 days to join Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
by the end of January 2009. He left them in April 2009.
In January 2010 he signed for North West Counties Football League
North West Counties Football League
The North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2011, the league covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Southern Cumbria, Northern Staffordshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire, and the far west of West Yorkshire. In the past, the...
side Formby
Formby F.C.
Formby F.C. are an English football club based in Formby, Merseyside. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Division One and are members of the Liverpool County Football Association...
. Despite only playing for the second half of the season, he was the club's top scorer. In July 2010, Formby manager Mark Maddox moved to Leigh Genesis, and took Lawless and eight other players from the Formby squad with him.
After a dire start to the season that saw the club greet December at the bottom of the table with just 7 points from 17 games, Maddox left Leigh Genesis in December 2010. Lawless was swiftly re-signed by Formby, who were
now managed by Gary Martindale
Gary Martindale
Gary Martindale is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. After retiring as a player, Martindale started coaching.-Playing career:...
, the other forward with whom he created the two goals at Burscough’s 2003 FA Trophy triumph. He only played in two games before Martindale and the entire first team resigned in January 2011. Lawless, with his Leigh Genesis and Formby team mate Adam Farley
Adam Farley
Adam Farley is an English footballer who currently plays for Formby. He is a defender.He joined Everton as a schoolboy and was part of their 1998 FA Youth Cup winning team, he was man of the match in both legs of the final...
, was swiftly signed by Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
.