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2 unusual facts about John Lyall


Dave Swindlehurst

A good record for Derby saw John Lyall take Swindlehurst to Upton Park for £160,000 in March 1983, but injuries hampered his chances of regular first-team football.

John Lyall

When West Ham played Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Semi-final on 23 April 2006 at Villa Park, a one-minute silence was held in Lyall's honour, although after only a few seconds the West Ham fans started a chant of "Johnny Lyall's Claret and Blue Army" in tribute to their most successful ever manager.


1979–80 West Ham United F.C. season

Winning the Cup for the third time, West Ham manager John Lyall tactically outsmarted his Arsenal counterpart Terry Neill by paying a 4–5–1 system, stifling Arsenal's creative midfield that included future West Ham signing Liam Brady and the steely Brian Talbot.


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