MARSH GIBBON 12:06 Mon Apr 18
John Lyall 10th anniversary
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Today marks the 10th Anniversary since we lost John Lyall. The family lost a loving Husband, Father and GrandFather this day in 2006.
John was just 66 years old.
Last Friday I had the pleasure of organising a private event for the family and managed to contact many of the former players and they also attended.
As I said, the Lyalls lost a very special family member and we as fans lost a legend. A part of West Ham died that day. Football lost a gentleman, a man who many thought should have been the England manager.
So as I have done in the past on this wonderful forum, please add your own thoughts and messages to the family and as I always do, I will print them off and pass them on to the family.
cheers all
Tony H
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
Johnson
12:09 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Am too young to properly remember the Lyall era but will never ever forget that day at Villa Park just after his death where we showed the world what he meant to the club.
One of the real proper hairs up on the back on the neck moment I've had in football.
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mashed in maryland
12:13 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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I still remember that minutes "silence".
Imagine what was going through that bloke's head who was the first to go "Johnny Lyall's claret & blue army".
Imagine no one had joined in.
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mashed in maryland
12:13 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Love to know who that was
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El Scorchio
12:15 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Shame we couldn't celebrate this with an appearance at Wembley this weekend.
Fucking refs.
I've always thought that about the bloke who started the chant. Bollocks like watermelons.
On a side note, one of my colleagues from work is friends with Murray Lyall.
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zico
12:29 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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When John Lyall took over as Manager I was 6 years old, when he left I was 21. He was Mr. West Ham for so many of us fans of a certain age. He seemed to have such integrity as a Manager and although I never met him seemed a genuinely great fella.
Should have been at the Club in another role until he retired, such a pity the board at the time treated him so badly.
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hammer4ever
12:30 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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My thoughts are with you and your family. A true legend at West Ham and one of the architects of the West Ham way. I am sure the John will be pleased that we are back playing his way.
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JGW1
1:11 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Some of the most exhilerating days of my life were thanks partly to this man. It's not just a game of football, it's feeling like you're part of something bigger with the 30,000 people around you .... and the way John led the club made it feel special to be a part of. I'm a firm believer that whatever the stats show there was nothing finer than being a fan of West Ham United in the 80s. John Lyall will live long in my memory as the man that led more than a football club.
I always wanted to know what John's family felt about the singing during his minute's silence at the cup semi final. I'm sure you've been asked before but I'd love to know that they approved.
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holyhandgrenade
1:22 Mon Apr 18
Re: John Lyall 10th anniversary
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Managed to meet him just once when a few of us were hanging around the ground, bunking off school in the early 80's.
Us lot - "Alright John how's it going?"
John - "Never mind how I'm going what are you lot doing off school!"
Us lot - "Day off for teachers training or summink John"
John - "Summink?" with a glint in his eyes. "You lot need some language lessons!"
And with a ruffle of our hair and a smile he sent us on our way. Us lot overjoyed that we had met the great man.
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holyhandgrenade
1:29 Mon Apr 18
Re: John Lyall 10th anniversary
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No real point to my story other than John LYALL commanded respect, displayed an air of authority with charm that, from what everyone who had experienced him, built a real strong bond and loyalty.
A real leader, a gent and a real representation of what West Ham are about. Maybe the true 'West Ham Way' whatever that is.
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Takashi Miike
1:30 Mon Apr 18
Re: John Lyall 10th anniversary
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it was an honour having John manage us. he always handled everything with class and wanted the team to play the right way. he'll always be loved by the fans and never forgotten
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FHB
1:35 Mon Apr 18
Re: John Lyall 10th anniversary
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A man who oozed class and dignity.
Also a great tactician, and another treated shabbily by the board.
Gave me one of the great days in 1980.
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Lily Hammer
1:42 Mon Apr 18
Re: John Lyall 10th anniversary
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He was the manager when I started watching West Ham and was Mr West Ham for me. An absolute gentleman whose class was evident in the way the players tried to play the game, and you will not find one person in all the world of football with a bad word to say about him.
(to the chimes of Big Ben).....
LYALL WEST HAM!
WEST HAM LYALL!
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Northern Sold
1:49 Mon Apr 18
Re: John Lyall 10th anniversary
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mashed in maryland 12:13 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Love to know who that was
One of CS's mates so I was told... lot of talk in the pub at Villa Park that it would happen so just needed someone to kick it of... was an amazing experience and after that was guaranteed to beat Boro...
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MARSH GIBBON
2:19 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Your right, I have been asked this many times. They loved it,,,
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JGW1
2:29 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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nice one
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LYALL OUT
3:03 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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He was West Ham for me and I was gutted when he was sacked.
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normannomates
3:17 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Lily hammer 1.42
Sums up exactly how I felt about the man.
Gutted it ended how it did..with the fans on his case..and eventually the tin tac.
He didn't that.
Dont know if anyone on here has read his Autobiography..
John Lyall. JUST LIKE MY DREAMS.
.written a few yrs after he left...but as ever the Gentlemen didn't show any bitterness...in fact wrote WHU fans were special.
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gph
3:21 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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Greenwood and Lyall ARE West Ham for me.
When we fall below their standards, we somehow become less ourselves.
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Mart O
8:44 Mon Apr 18
Re: JOHN LYALL 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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For me also, John Lyall more than anyone else set the standard for what the club - and sport in a broader sense - is supposed to be about: style on the pitch; class off it.
Just as my father is a better man than I'll ever be, so too there'll never be another man like John Lyall in top flight football. For better or worse, the world's changed too much for that.
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