- Birthdate: 24 September 1889
- Birthplace: Enniscorthy, Ireland
- Date of death: 30 May 1969
- Other clubs: Shelbourne (1906-08), Everton (1908-12); Shelbourne (2), Belfast United, Linfield (wartime guest), New Brighton (1924-25), Shelbourne (3 / 1925-27), Cork Bohemians (1927-31)
- Signed from: Everton
- Signed for LFC: £150, 27.02.1912
- International debut: 13.02.1909 vs. England
- International caps: Northern Ireland 23/3 (12/2 at LFC) - Ireland 3/1
- Liverpool debut: 02.03.1912
- Last appearance: 12.03.1924
- Debut goal: 16.03.1912
- Last goal: 06.01.1923
- Contract expiry: June 1924
- Win ratio: 43.08% W:112 D:62 L:86
- Games/goals ratio: 8.97
- Honours: League Championship 1921/22, 1922/23
- Wartime games/goals: 1 / 0
- League games / goals: 231 / 18
- Total games / goals: 260 / 29
Player Profile
"As for kicking Lacey as a hobby, I can assure you it’s a waste of time, the boy is made from Solid Rock. Dynamite could not shift him off the ball." - A 1923 match report captured Billy Lacey perfectly. After impressing in Ireland with Dublin's Shelbourne, Everton spotted him and he joined the Blues in May 1908. He featured regularly in the 1910/11 season, scoring eight goals in 24 league appearances but rarely got a look in the following season, only playing 37 league games and scoring 11 goals in three and a half seasons. Liverpool made one of their shrewdest transfer deals ever when they paid £300 for Lacey and Tom Gracie as well as letting Harold Uren go in exchange in February 1912. The Liverpool Echo wrote in September 1923 of Lacey's capture: "Was there ever a transfer that turned out so profitable to the Livers!" Lacey immediately went into the first team, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough on 2 March 1912. The scribe at the club programme was impressed. "I have always had an idea that Lacey would make a better man for Liverpool than Everton. He has, it is true, been more than useful to the Blues, but he is the type of player that has always been associated with Liverpool than Everton. We as a rule play more robust football, due to the fact that our forwards have been bigger men. And Lacey, while he is capable of clever work, is also a dashing, fearless forward. He was distinctly the personality on the home side against Middlesbrough, and had there been another of equal calibre I am sure we must have won." Lacey played in the last 11 fixtures of that season with one goal to his credit, against Spurs on 16 March 1912.
Lacey was never renowned as a goalscorer, just 29 from 260 League and cup appearances for Liverpool, but his tricky wing-play usually on the left set up numerous chances for his colleagues. Lacey helped Liverpool reach their first major cup final, but it was Burnley who took the FA Cup home with them after their 1-0 victory at the old Crystal Palace ground. Lacey returned to Ireland to feature for, among others, his first club, Shelbourne, during World War I and as the English League recommenced he showed his versatility by playing at half-back between 1919-1921, revisiting a role he had successfully tried for Liverpool in the second part of the 1914/15 campaign. Once he returned to his old role as right-winger he was an important part of the side that won the first division championship two years running in 1922 and 1923. You could spot Lacey a mile off as his "jutting chin was the delight of the cartoonists." He was also said to have a "rounded, lovable personality" and he was certainly popular with the Liverpool faithful. Lacey was only selected nine times during 1924/25, by which time he was approaching his mid-30's, and it was no real surprise that he was allowed to leave Liverpool and move across the Mersey to join New Brighton. He moved back to his native Ireland in 1925 and retired from the game in 1931 at 42 years of age!
Appearances per season
Please note
Lacey played 23 games and scored 3 goals for the Belfast-based Irish Football Association (IFA) between 13.02.1909 - 22.10.1924. He also played 3 games and scored 1 goal for the Irish Free State between 23.04.1927-11.05.1930 whose association, Football Association of Ireland (FAI), was a rival to the IFA.
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
15 |
1350 |
Sunderland |
15 |
1350 |
Newcastle United |
14 |
1260 |
Sheffield United |
14 |
1260 |
Everton |
14 |
1260 |
WBA |
14 |
1260 |
Arsenal |
13 |
1170 |
Bolton Wanderers |
13 |
1170 |
Manchester City |
12 |
1080 |
Chelsea |
12 |
1080 |
Burnley |
11 |
990 |
Bradford City |
11 |
990 |
Oldham Athletic |
11 |
990 |
Preston North End |
10 |
900 |
Middlesbrough |
10 |
900 |
Aston Villa |
9 |
810 |
Manchester United |
8 |
720 |
Blackburn Rovers |
6 |
540 |
Huddersfield Town |
6 |
540 |
Derby |
6 |
540 |
Bradford Park Avenue |
6 |
540 |
Tottenham |
5 |
450 |
Birmingham City |
5 |
450 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
4 |
360 |
Notts County |
3 |
270 |
West Ham United |
2 |
180 |
Stoke City |
2 |
180 |
Cardiff City |
2 |
180 |
Barnsley |
2 |
180 |
Gateshead |
1 |
90 |
Gillingham |
1 |
90 |
QPR |
1 |
90 |
Wolves |
1 |
90 |
Bristol City |
1 |
90 |
Luton Town |
Total |
Venue |
130 |
Away |
127 |
Home |
3 |
Neutral |
Goals per season
Please note
Lacey played 23 games and scored 3 goals for the Belfast-based Irish Football Association (IFA) between 13.02.1909 - 22.10.1924. He also played 3 games and scored 1 goal for the Irish Free State between 23.04.1927-11.05.1930 whose association, Football Association of Ireland (FAI), was a rival to the IFA.
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season |
Appearances |
Goals |
1915-1916 |
1 |
0 |
Milestone Appearances
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
47 |
16.03.1912 |
Tottenham |
Anfield |
League |
Related Articles
The Liverpool Echo on February 27 1912.
The Liverpool Echo report on Barnsley 0 - 1 Liverpool on 15 January 1914.
The Liverpool Echo on 15 February 1949. Written by William Charles Cuff, former chairman of Everton and President of the Football League from 1939-49.
Related Quotes
"As for kicking Lacey as a hobby, I can assure you it’s a waste of time, the boy is made from Solid Rock. Dynamite could not shift him off the ball."
1923 match report on Billy Lacey's toughness
Scrapbook
Billy Lacey and Ken Campbell profile pics
Billy Lacey remembers this derby 56 years later!
Lacey congratulates the Lawlers - May 1965
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Shelbourne |
1905-1908 |
Irish Football League |
10 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
Everton |
1908-1909 |
England First Division |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Everton |
1909-1910 |
England First Division |
6 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
Everton |
1910-1911 |
England First Division |
24 |
8 |
26 |
8 |
Everton |
1911-1912 |
England First Division |
6 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
New Brighton |
1924-1925 |
England Third Division North |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Shelbourne |
1925-1927 |
League of Ireland |
66 |
12 |
66 |
12 |
Cork Bohemians |
1927-1931 |
League of Ireland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
120 |
26 |
123 |
26 |