Geordie Lyall extends contract

Last updated : 21 January 2009 By Andy Van Hagen
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced former Walsall defender Geordie Lyall will return for the 2009 season after signing a new one-year contract with the Whitecaps.

Lyall, 32, returns for an 11th straight season with The Blue & White, having first appeared for Vancouver during the 1999 campaign. He endured a frustrating 2008, as injuries limited him to just 438 minutes of action.

In ten seasons with the 'Caps, the speedy and versatile Lyall has scored five goals and recorded five assists in 185 career appearances. During the club's championship season of 2006, Lyall was named in the USL-1 All-League First Team and was also nominated for the league's Defender of the Year award.

Though he has appeared in each of Vancouver's last 10 seasons, Lyall missed the first half of 2007 following a short spell with Walsall FC of England's Football League Two. The defender made 11 appearances and scored one goal with Walsall's reserves before the Saddlers released him in May of that year where he rejoined his home club.