Joe Lawless (born 13 February 1962) is an Irish footballer who was active during the 1980s and 1990s.

Joe Lawless
Personal information
Full name Joseph Lawless
Date of birth (1962-02-13) 13 February 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1976–1978 Shamrock Rovers
1978–1985 Cherry Orchard F.C.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1987 Bray Wanderers 23 (5)
1987–1989 Bohemian 55 (11)
1989–1991 St Patrick's Athletic 52 (9)
1991–1994 Bohemian 65 (11)
1993–1994Omagh Town (loan) 5 (0)
1993–1995 Derry City 34 (5)
1995–1997 Waterford United 27 (4)
Total 261 (45)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lawless was a forward who represented Bray Wanderers, St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemian F.C. (2 spells), Derry City F.C., Waterford United and Drogheda United during his career in the League of Ireland. He also had a spell in the Irish League on loan to Omagh Town. He is one of a select few to have won both the FAI Junior Cup (with Cherry Orchard F.C.) and FAI Senior Cup.

He went to Glenmalure Park at U17 level and spent two seasons in the reserves under Eamon Dunphy. Frustrated at his lack of opportunities he moved back to Cherry Orchard.

He moved into the League of Ireland ranks in January 1986 when he moved from Orchard to Bray Wanderers. He made his League of Ireland debut for Bray on 19 January in a 2–1 win away to E.M.F.A. He made 5 appearances in the league that season as Bray clinched promotion to the Premier Division. After 2 seasons with Wanderers, he moved to Dalymount Park and Bohemians in 1987. He was on the move once again in 1989 when he moved to St. Pats where he picked a League winners medal that season.

He returned to Bohs for a 2nd spell in 1991 and helped to a FAI Cup victory that season.[1] He scored 9 times in 31 league appearances that season for the "Gypsies" - his best ever scoring return. After a loan spell at Omagh at the beginning of the 1993/94 season, Joe headed to the Brandywell and signed for Derry City in October 1993. He picked up another winners medal that season by winning the League Cup. However, he was soon on the move once again when he signed for Waterford United and narrowly missed out on collecting the only domestic medal he hadn't got when his old club Bray beat Waterford in the final of the 1995 League of Ireland First Division Shield. He then moved to Drogheda United where he picked up a severe ligament injury which ended his league of Ireland career.[2]

Honours edit

Sources edit

  • St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers programme 27 August 1999

References edit

  1. ^ Irish Times, 10 May 1992
  2. ^ "'My mother told me to stick with the butcher's trade as she said I'd need it more than the football'". The 42. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.