Bill Lacey

Shelbourne

Lacey first played senior football with Shelbourne in 1906 and in 1908, together with Val Harris and Joseph Ledwidge, he helped them reach the final of the Irish Cup. Lacey scored in the 1–1 draw against Bohemians at Dalymount Park and also played in the replay which Shelbourne lost 3–1. After a successful career in the English League, Lacey returned to Shelbourne for a second spell in May 1925 and, together with Harris, helped them win the League of Ireland title in 1926. During his second spell with Shelbourne, he also played three times for the League of Ireland XI.

Everton

Lacey followed Val Harris to Everton in February 1909 and made his club debut, leading the forward line, in April 1909 against Bradford City. During his time at Everton, he also played as a half-back. While at the Blues he made 37 English League appearances and scored 11 goals. He also played a further 3 games in the FA Cup. Lacey helped Everton finish League runners-up twice and reach the semi-final stage of the 1910 FA Cup. Apart from Harris, his teammates at Everton also included another Irish international, Billy Scott.

Liverpool

In February 1912 Lacey joined Liverpool. He arrived, along with Tom Gracie, as part of swap that saw Harold Uren join Everton. Lacey made his Liverpool debut, as a left-winger, on 2 March 1912 in a First Division match against Middlesbrough. The game finished as a 1–1 draw. He scored his first goal for the club on 16 March in a 2–1…

FAI XI

During the 1930s, Lacey also coached the FAI XI on several occasions. At the time the team was selected by a committee of selectors and coaches were appointed on a game by game basis. Lacey took charge of the FAI XI on at least four occasions. On 13 December 1931, he was in charge of the FAI XI that lost 5–0 to Spain. He had little chance to influence the result as he was unable to get in touch with all the players until the morning of the game. On 25 February 1934, Lacey was also in charge of the first FAI XI to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. The team, featuring Paddy Moore, Jimmy Kelly and Joe Kendrick, drew 4–4 with Belgium with Moore scoring all four goals for the FAI XI. Lacey also coached the FAI XI that played the Netherlands on 5 December 1935. In terms of preparation, the team did better than usual, with Lacey organising three coaching sessions the week before the game. Despite this, the FAI XI still lost 5–2. However, on 17 October 1936, Lacey coached the FAI XI to one of their best results of the pre-Second World War era when a team featuring Paddy Moore and Tom Davis, beat Germany 5–2 at Dalymount Park.

Bohemians

Lacey was appointed coach of Bohemians at the start of the 1933–34 season. With a team that included Fred Horlacher and Billy Jordan, he subsequently guided them to a League of Ireland and League of Ireland Shield double. He also guided them to an FAI Cup win in 1935.

Player

Shelbourne

Irish Cup runners-up:1907–08 League of Ireland winners: 1925–26 League of Ireland Shield winners: 1926 Everton

First Division runners-up: 1908–09, 1911–12 Ireland

1914 British Home Championship: 1914 Liverpool

Football League champions:1921–22, 1922–23 FA Cup runners-up: 1914 Linfield

Irish Cup winners: 1918–19 runners-up: 1917–18

Manager

Bohemians

League of Ireland champions: 1933–34 FAI Cup winners: 1935 League of Ireland Shield winners: 1934