Simon Lynch (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Simon Lynch is a former Scottish
professional football
er who ended his career at Stenhousemuir
.
as a child, started his career at Celtic
and managed three goals in seven appearances (his father, Andy Lynch, captained Celtic in the 1970s). He turned down an improved contract offer from Celtic to join Preston North End
in 2003 for £130,000. With just two goals in thirty-six appearances, Lynch had loan spells with Stockport County
and Blackpool
before returning to Scotland with Dundee
in 2005. He managed 13 goals in 31 league appearances for the Dark Blues, but Dundee's financial problems meant he was unlikely to remain.
He then took his tally to three from four against . He formed a deadly partnership with Reinaldo
and Ante Milicic
in the opening nine rounds until he suffered a hamstring
injury which kept him on the sidelines for a long period of the season and this huge blow saw the Roar lack in attack, spark and goals which slowly brought them down and out of the top four. His solid start to the season saw him come tied for 8th in the Johnny Warren Medal for Player of the Year.
While the 2007–08 Season was approaching, Lynch had showed impressive form scoring three times in four matches including a superb goal in Queensland Roar's 4-1 win over SuperSport United in a friendly at Suncorp Stadium
. After having surgery during the off-season, Lynch had shown mountains of confidence and was looking forward to continue his solid form come the start of the third A-league
season. At the end of the 07–08 season, after not getting much game time due to injuries, Lynch was released by Queensland.
in July 2008. He joined East Stirling
a season later before moving on to Stenhousemuir at the start of the 2010–11 season, He decided to retire at the end of the season as he lost his enthusiasm for the game.
, scoring six goals.
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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who ended his career at Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
.
Early career
Lynch, who was born in Canada but moved to ScotlandScotland
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...
as a child, started his career at 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 managed three goals in seven appearances (his father, Andy Lynch, captained Celtic in the 1970s). He turned down an improved contract offer from Celtic to join Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 2003 for £130,000. With just two goals in thirty-six appearances, Lynch had loan spells with Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
before returning to Scotland with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in 2005. He managed 13 goals in 31 league appearances for the Dark Blues, but Dundee's financial problems meant he was unlikely to remain.
Queensland Roar
On 3 July 2006, it was revealed that Lynch had signed a two-year contract with . Despite being unable to participate in the pre-season cup due to visa problems, Lynch wasted no time in making an impact for his new team and quickly made a name for himself in round 1 in his debut game scoring the first goal in Queensland's 3-nil win over . He continued his hot-form and was quickly become a crowd favourite of the faithful when he scored the winner against the with just seconds remaining.He then took his tally to three from four against . He formed a deadly partnership with Reinaldo
Reinaldo
Reinaldo can refer to:*Reinaldo da Cruz Oliveira , Brazilian football player*Reinaldo Elias da Costa , Brazilian football player*Reinaldo Felisbino , Brazilian football player...
and Ante Milicic
Ante Milicic
Ante Milicic is an Australian former football player. He is currently one of the assistant managers of A-League club Melbourne Heart. He is of Croatian Australian origin....
in the opening nine rounds until he suffered a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury which kept him on the sidelines for a long period of the season and this huge blow saw the Roar lack in attack, spark and goals which slowly brought them down and out of the top four. His solid start to the season saw him come tied for 8th in the Johnny Warren Medal for Player of the Year.
While the 2007–08 Season was approaching, Lynch had showed impressive form scoring three times in four matches including a superb goal in Queensland Roar's 4-1 win over SuperSport United in a friendly at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
. After having surgery during the off-season, Lynch had shown mountains of confidence and was looking forward to continue his solid form come the start of the third A-league
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
season. At the end of the 07–08 season, after not getting much game time due to injuries, Lynch was released by Queensland.
Return to Scotland and end of his career
Lynch signed for Airdrie UnitedAirdrie United F.C.
Airdrie United Football Club are a Scottish professional football team based in the town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. They are currently managed by ex-Airdrieonians player and former Airdrie United Under 19s coach Jimmy Boyle. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the...
in July 2008. He joined East Stirling
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
a season later before moving on to Stenhousemuir at the start of the 2010–11 season, He decided to retire at the end of the season as he lost his enthusiasm for the game.
International career
Lynch played ten times for Scotland under-21sScotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
, scoring six goals.