Jimmy Lawlor

Jimmy Lawlor
Personal information
Full nameJames Joseph Lawlor
Date of birth10 May 1933
Place of birthFinglas Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
Date of death5 April 2012 (aged 78)
Place of deathBradford, England
Playing positionCentre half
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Transport
Shamrock Rovers
Drumcondra
1952–1955Doncaster Rovers9(0)
1955–1957Coleraine
1957–1962Bradford City153(5)
Total162+(5+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

James Joseph Lawlor (10 May 1933 – 5 April 2012), also known as Jimmy Lawlor or Jim Lawlor, was an Irish former professional footballer who played in both Ireland and England as a centre half.

Career

Born in Finglas Bridge, Dublin, Ireland,[1] Lawlor spent his early career with Transport, Shamrock Rovers and Drumcondra.[2] In August 1952, he was signed for English club Doncaster Rovers by manager Peter Doherty.[3] He made his debut for Doncaster on 16 October 1954 in a 5-1 defeat against Lincoln City,[3] and made a total of nine appearances in the Football League for Doncaster during the 1954–55 season.[4] He also scored two goals in a friendly match against Scottish club Celtic on 18 November 1952.[5] After leaving Doncaster, Lawlor had a spell in Northern Ireland with Coleraine, before signing with English club Bradford City in March 1957.[6] After scoring five goals in 153 appearances in the Football League for them,[7] and 176 appearances in all competitions,[2] Lawlor retired at the age of 28 in 1962, due to a broken leg injury.[1][2]

Later life and death

Lawlor died on 5 April 2012, at the age of 78, following a period of illness.[8]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 400. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 David Markham (11 April 2012). "Obituary: Jim Lawlor’s bad break cut Bradford City career short". Telegraph & Argus.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Profile". Doncaster Rovers F.C.
  4. "DONCASTER ROVERS : 1946/47 - 1997/98 & 2003/04 - 2010/11". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database.
  5. "DONCASTER ROVERS 3 CELTIC F.C. 2". Celtic Programmes Online.
  6. Markham, David; Sutton, Lindsay (2006). The Bradford City Story: The Pain and the Glory. Breedon Books Sport. p. 75. ISBN 1-85983-499-X.
  7. "BRADFORD CITY : 1946/47 - 2010/11". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database.
  8. "Jimmy Lawlor - 1933-2012". Bradford City A.F.C. 8 April 2012.