FAI Chief executive John Delaney has paid a heartfelt tribute to Johnny Lyons. Johnny’s friends, family, and colleagues here in 98FM are united in grief following the passing of our beloved sports editor.
Social media is littered with hundreds of funny, heartfelt, and grateful tributes to Johnny Lyons. John Delaney joined the tributes and spoke of his respect and admiration for Johnny.
“I was deeply saddened last night when we were coming up from Kerry after opening a pitch with Martin O’Neill, we got texts telling us Johnny had passed”
“Really shocked because Johnny was such a guy who was full of life, he was a great football man a great commentator a really proper interviewer who was always balanced with how he approached things. Johnny Lyons was a great guy who always put a smile on your face”.
People have been remembering Johnny's kindness, his love of music and his encyclopaedic knowledge of football and cricket. Johnny’s love of cricket was matched by his adoration for Dutch football.
In 2001 Johnny rocked up to a press conference sporting a Netherlands jersey. This would not have been noteworthy if not for the fact that the Republic of Ireland were about to play the Netherlands in a World Cup play-off.
John Delaney recalls the moment then manager Mick McCarthy spotted Johnny sporting the bright orange shirt: “Mick would give him the Mick McCarthy stare, but Johnny was always the centre of the party and always fun loving. I was shocked last night. It’s one of those texts you get you look at it a couple of time wondering if this can be true, has this really happened has Johnny passed”
Johnny had been working on match days at the Aviva Stadium, interviewing fans and former players pitch side. The FAI CEO says Johnny always had a great affinity with the fans.
“He had that tall look, the loud voice. People would notice him, I’m not surprised that he’d walk down the street and he’d know everybody. He was just very popular”
“He was popular with the fans on the pitch, he was a larger than life character that would get the best out of everybody. Every time he interviewed me he always got more out of it then you were prepared to give because he was such a likeable lad. His approach was always friendly.”
“He’ll be sadly missed by everybody in 98FM, but certainly everybody in the football family”
