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"It has been a privilege to be a part of the Whitecaps organization for the past 11 years," Lyall told the Whitecaps official website. "I've been very fortunate to have played my career in such an amazing city. The players I played with, the championships we won, and the fans that supported us, will never be forgotten."
Lyall leaves the professional game after 11 straight seasons with the club, arbeit with a few breaks one with Walsall in 2007 and short spell with Indoor Soccer during 2000/01.
Having first seen action with the Blue and White during the 1999 campaign. The speedy fullback is ranked 15th on the Whitecaps all-time appearance list with 193 matches played and 12th all-time in minutes played for the club with 14,969. Born in Toronto, he scored five goals and contributed five assists during his Whitecaps career.
The defender won both the 2006 and 2008 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) championship titles as a member of the Whitecaps, with 2006 proving to be his best season with the club. Lyall's efforts that year earned him a spot in the USL-1 All-League First Team and a nomination for the league's Defender of the Year award. It was this which prompted former manager to bring him to Walsall, but after a few injury problems he left without a first team appearance to his name.
"Geordie was a dedicated member of our club," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi speaking to his club's official website. "As his one big asset was speed, Geordie demonstrated over the years that he had attacking qualities, while also proving to be one of the most difficult defenders for opposition players to beat. On top of that, Geordie is a solid individual that was always a good team player. We're fortunate that he was with us for 11 seasons and wish him well in his future endeavours."
In December 2003, Lyall was a member of the Canadian Futsal national team that claimed a bronze medal in a four-nation tournament in Anaheim, California.
